HORTICULTURAL OBSERVATIONS FROM FRENCW AUTHORS. Q,^^ 



of the fruit is hastened by inserting a drop of oil in the eye. Artificial ri- 

 from the point of a pen, or tooth-pick. penmg. 



l! is necessary in dry seasons to water ^g trees ; the nature in dry seasons 

 of the plant requires to have its root cool, while its head is ex- ^^^J require 

 posed to the hottest sun. If planted against the south wall of a 

 house near a spout that brings water from the roof, it thrives q^^^ .jtu^- 

 luxuriantly. Figs do well also in a paved court ; the stones tions. 

 keep the ground under them moist and cool, while the 

 surrounding buildings reflect and increase the heat of the sun's 

 rays. 



Apricots. 



Our gardeners believe that the Moor-park apricot is the fruit Apricot, 

 called ahricot peche by the French j but this is a mistake, the 

 ahricol pkhe is a large tree, which may be raised from the 

 stone without grafting : it ripens later than the rebt, not till the 

 end of August. The stone is so soft, that a pin will pierce 

 through it : the kernel is bitter. 



Pears. 



The crassa?ie may be improved, and all its harshness de- Pear. 

 stroyed, by grafting upon the doyenne', a pear known in our 

 gardens. 



Apples. 



The golden pippin (reinette d' Angleterre) is described not Golden pip- 

 only as an excellent fruit, but as a very productive bearer ; in ^^^' 

 England it appears to be in its last stage of decay. It is pro- 

 bable that trees decay by age sooner in colder than in warmer 

 climates. 



The French do not suffer their apple or their pear trees, to shape given to 

 form wild heads as ours do, and shade all things planted near standards, 

 them ; their standard trees, of all kinds, when in gardens, are 

 trained in such manner a^ to cast the least shade possible, A 

 form like a pyramid, called by them quenouille, is very gene- 

 rally used. 



Plums, 



The green gage, called in French la reine Claude, is much Green gage, 

 iraprored, if grafted on an apricot or a peach stock*. 



Maize, 

 * The name of p'ee7i gage is said to have originated from the fol- Etymology. 



