26 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 



for tarts) ; and in about a fortnight's time they should be finally looked over to 

 see that not more are left on the trees than these can mature without injury. 

 Summer Treatment. — As regardsthis,theapricot does not give much trouble, 



especially if disbudding has been carefully 

 attended to, for when heavily cropped the 

 growth of foliage is not excessive. Stop 

 the lateral growths at the sixth or seventh 

 leaf, and tie in or nail the terminal shoots ; 

 these, so long as there is any portion of 

 wall to furnish, should be laid in and 

 secured without any shortening whatever. 

 When a good crop is assured, a mulching 

 of well-decayed manure should be applied 

 to the roots for 2 feet from the wall. 

 This not only prevents the border from 

 becoming dry, but it will help the trees 

 very materially to develop and mature a 

 heavy crop of fruit by means of the 

 manurial ingredients washed down to the 

 roots by rain. Frequent waterings should 

 be given during hot dry weather while 

 the fruits are swelling. As soon as the 

 crop is gathered, the soil about the roots 

 should be thoroughly watered, so as to 

 recoup the wasted energies of the tree 

 after the ordeal of maturing a heavy crop, 

 and diluted stableyard manure should be 

 given. Two or three light dressings of 

 nitrate of soda in the course of the season 

 will be found of great advantage to the 



Branch 



(A) Side branches ; [i] spurs on two-year-old 

 (preceding season's) wood ; (;') spurs on more 

 than two-year-old wood ; (i) two-year-old 



to a successional shoot, as the finest apricots 

 are produced on wood of the preceding year's 

 formation ; one side branch is shortened 

 back, often necessary to prevent crossing and 

 encroaching on neighbouring branch ; (/) 

 shoots of one year's growth for the succeed- 

 ing year's bearing ; {m) terminal or continua- 

 tion growth ; {n) growth trained in for filling 



wood cut out, after bearing, at the cross lines developing fruit j during the summer look 



over and regulate the growth of the trees. 

 As a rule if a good crop has been pro- 

 duced there is very little superfluous growth 

 to be removed. Should there be any, 

 August is the time to remove it, so that 

 vacant space, or furnishing tree, as well as the remaining shoots may have the advan- 

 for fruiting the following season ; the lower tage of full exposure for the rest of the 

 side of branch and the side branches there ° -..,,. ^ r ■ • 



are shown properly pruned and trained. SeaSOn. When, after truitmg, the trees 



have been once well watered it is best as 

 a rule (unless the season is exceptionally hot and dry) not to give them more ; 

 the rainfall will. supply all that is necessary afterwards. 



Insect Enemies. — The apricot tree suffers as little or even less perhaps from 

 insect pests than any other hardy fruit tree, sca/e being its greatest enemy. 

 Red spider will sometimes make its appearance in very hot seasons and will 

 attack the trees, especially if these are carrying a heavy crop, or suffering from 



