164 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTOBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



[ March 3, 1863. 



old favourite names are so tempting that we are liable to prefer 

 them rather than risk accepting a stranger whose antecedents 

 are unknown. 



Let us now turn to the causes most likely to produce good 

 results amongst us, and examine into the conditions in which 

 Apricot trees are really found to do well. 



In the first place, let us consider the soil as one of the main ad- 

 juncts to success. Naturally, the tree grows in the stiff, moist 

 ,earth of mountain regions ; in confirmation of this, I may mention 

 that the best wall of Apricots I know of is at Lord Verulam's, 

 in Herts, Mr. Bogue, the intelligent gardener there, telling me 

 that although they did remarkably well, he has never been so 

 successful with PeacheB — in fact, Peach trees had done very 

 badly. The soil there is a stiff loam retentive of water, and the 

 situation an elevated one for the district. The trees were trained 

 in the ordinary fan-shape, and did well, producing fruit in all 

 seasons, excepting those adverse ones, when other causes of 

 failure might be traced. The aspect, I believe, was an eastern 

 one, but some on an opposite aspect did well also, while no 

 aspect seemed to coax the Peach into a like healthy, good- 

 bearing condition. 



In contrast with this we now and then find the Apricot do 

 very well against the end of a cottage, but certainly more gene- 

 rally so when the ground is not too light. 



I once met with an Apricot tree planted against the sunny 

 Bide of a low miserable-looking cottage on a common, and from 

 the appearance of the tree Bome attempt had beemmade when it 

 was young to confine it to the wall, and possibly some perse- 

 vering knifeman would have kept it there as long as it lived ; 

 but whether from neglect, change of occupants, or other cause, 

 the tree had been allowed to take its own course, and quickly 

 was not only above the eaves, but reached above the chimney-top. 

 The growth was not without fruit either, for I was told it pro- 

 duced good crops in most years, but that the fruit was smaller 

 than the same kind against walls. The situation was anything 

 but an inviting one. A bleak waste was to the north of it, and 

 no shelter of any kind near ; and as excellent bricks were made 

 a very short distance off, the character of the soil may be thence 

 understood. 



I firmly believe that in a situation like that, with shelter from 

 cold biting winds at some little distance, the Apricot might bo 

 grown to tolerable perfection as an open standard, without 

 any of the pruning or treatment which has advanced into 

 the character of a science with other trees. I believe there are 

 some orchards so planted with Apricots ; but they are far from 

 numerous, and none have come under my notice. 



As to the position for the Apricot in the gardens of those oc- 

 cupying favourable positions in the south of England, I believe 

 a north wall is not at all an unsuitable situation. This is more 

 especially advisable in dry situations, and where the soil differs 

 widely from that recommended as the favourite one for the 

 Apricot. That a south aspect is not required by this fruit in 

 places south of the Thames I firmly believe. 



Other considerations as well as aspect operate on the result ; 

 but so long as pruning must be done we must expect the un- 

 certainty now so common, and against walls trees must be 

 pruned, Whether doing this operation entirely in summer, as 

 with the Pig, may produce the best result is more than I can 

 say ; but I should like to hear the opinions of others who 

 may have had more experience in summer-pruning only. My 

 own practice, like that of many others, has united summer and 

 winter pruning. 



Of the Apricot as a house fruit I have but little hopes. The 

 first time I ever saw it tried was in 1829, and that was a failure. 

 Now and then attempts to work it on the Peach under glass 

 have been tried at various times at places where I have been, 

 but with no better result ; and the recent failure to grow it in 

 an orchard-house, recorded in this Journal, is a confirmation of 

 my views — that a tree occupying so elevated a position, and 

 exposed to the never-ceasing currents of air passing through 

 its branches, can hardly submit to the cramped-up condition 

 of both top and root it is subjected to while in an orchard- 

 house. 



I may conclude by saying that I believe the Apricot tree dis- 

 likes a confined air, a light soil, and a knife ; and that its blossoms 

 are amongst the hardiest we have ; but that the young fruit, 

 long after being set, and, in fact, swelling, is liable not only to 

 injury but destruction from frost is also certain. Shelters, there- 

 fore, that will take off and put on are better than stationary 

 shelters for protecting this tree in spring ; and these shelters 



ought not to be too early removed, as our late frosts must be 

 very hurtful to a tree so forward as the Apricot is by the 1st of 

 Mav. J. Bobson. 



THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 

 FIRST SPRING SHOW. 



This was held on the 25th ult., and, the weather having 

 proved extremely fine, there was a tolerably good attendance of 

 visitons, notwithstanding the unfavourable concurrence of a 

 levee on the same day. 



The place selected for the Exhibition was, on this occasion, 

 the portion of the ground floor of the International Exhibition 

 building formerly occupied as M. Veillard's refreshment-room, 

 along each side of which were arranged masses of Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, Crocuses, and forced flowers, making a very effective 

 display considering the early period of the year. 



Class 1 was for 12 distinct kinds of Hyacinths and for nur- 

 serymen only. Here there were but two competitors — Messrs. 

 Cutbush & Son, of Highgate, and Mr. W. Paul, of Waltham 

 Cross ; and the collections of both, as well in this as in other 

 classes, were worthy of the reputation which these gentlemen 

 enjoy. Messrs. Cutbush took the first prize, the sorts being 

 Double Blue, Garrick ; Single Beds, Macaulay, Princesse 

 Clothilde, pink striped, and Von Schiller; Single Whites, 

 Grandeur & Merveille, Mirandoline, and Snowball, with very 

 large finely-formed bells ; Single Blues, Baron von Tuyll and 

 Grand Lilas ; Single Black, General Havelock; and Single 

 Yellow, Ida. 



Mr. W. Paul, who was Becond, had Single Beds, Howard, 

 Princesse Clothilde, and Solfaterre, the latter very fine ; Single 

 Whites, Grandeur i Merveille and Queen of the Netherlands ; 

 Single Blues, Baron von Tuyll, Charles Dickens, Grand Lilas, 

 Marie, and Mimosa ; Single Black, General Havelock' ; and 

 Double Bed, Lord Wellington. 



In the next class, 12 Hyacinths of six kinds, the prizes 

 were offered by Mr. James Cutbush ; and Mr. Carr, gardener to 

 W. B. Noakes, Esq., Highgate, was firBt with Single Blues, 

 Baron von Tuyll, Charles Dickens, and Grand Lilas; Single 

 Beds, Madame Hodgson, Von Schiller, Princesse Clothilde, La 

 Dame du Lac, and Howard ; Single Whites, Mont Blanc, Alba 

 Maxima, and Grandeur a- Merveille ; and Double Blue, Garrick. 

 This collection included several very fine spikes, and the bells 

 were large without being too loosely arranged on the stem. 



The Becond prize was taken by Mr. Taylor, gardener to C. A. 

 Hanbury, Esq., East Barnet, who had also some large and well- 

 grown flowers. This collection consisted of Single Beds, Cosmos, 

 La Dame du Lac, and Macaulay ; Single Blues, Couronne de 

 Celle, Orondates, and Mimosa; Single Whites, Mont Blanc and 

 Grandeur k Merveille ; Double Blues, Garrick, Laurens Eoster, 

 and Van Speyk ; and Double Bed, Duke of Wellington. 



The Tulips formed a most brilliant display, especially the 

 collection of 50 shown by Mr. Cutbush in the Miscellaneous 

 Class, and for which he received a first prize. He likewise 

 obtained a similar award in Class 3, which was for 12 pots 

 of six kinds. Those which he exhibited here were Vermilion 

 Brilliant, Bouge Luisante, Couleur Cardinal, Keizerkroon, 

 yellow and red ; Proserpine, a rich rose ; and Fabiola, rosy 

 violet and white. The only other exhibitor was Mr. W. Paul, 

 who had likewise a very fine display, which well deserved the 

 second prize which was awarded for it. Among the kinds which 

 he exhibited were Keizerkroon, Coligny, Le Matelas (a fine deep 

 rose), Bakhuizen, and Picter d'Hooge. 



In the Amateurs' Class, for 12 pots of four kinds, Mr. Young, 

 gardener to W. B. Barclay, Esq., Highgate, was first with some 

 fine pots of Tournesol, Standard Boyal, Scarlet Due VanThoL 

 and White Pottebakker. Mr. Carr, who was second, had the 

 same kinds, with the exception of Couleur Cardinal instead of 

 Standard Boyal ; and Mr. Blogg, gardener to J. P. GaBiot, Esq., 

 Clapham Common, was third with Gloria Solis, White Potte- 

 bakker, Boyal Standard, and Tournesol. 



Collections of Crocuses were shown in Class 5 by Messrs. 

 Cutbush & Son and Mr. W. Paul. The former received the first, 

 the latter the second prize ; and in each case the competitor 

 made an extensive and very attractive display. Among Messrs. 

 Cutbush's flowers were Jeanne d'Arc, Lina, and Calypso, white ; 

 New Giant, yellow ; Sulphureus ; and a great variety of blue, 

 lilac, purple, and striped kinds, such as Sir Walter Scott, David 

 Bizzio, Prince Albert, Ne Plus Ultra, La Majesteuse, Lilaceus 



