80 RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE. 



should persistently do so when it is injurious to them; the 

 explanation is that they are not natives of this country, and 

 that the habit contracted in the wanner climate from which 

 they came has not been altered by centuries of cultivation 

 here. It is, therefore, advisable to protect the flowers in some 

 way. This is most easily, and most economically done by 

 hanging in front of them some Strawberry netting, folded 

 once or twice. It will not prevent • sunshine and air from 

 reaching the plants, while, by checking radiation from the 

 wall, it will keep the temperature several degrees higher than 

 that of the air outside. The netting should be left in posi- 

 tion until about the end of May 



THE MANAGEMENT OF APRICOTS. 



Apricots fruit principally on spurs. The main branches 

 should, therefore, be allowed to extend as far as possible, and 

 strong side-shoots should be trained in to fill up any space 

 between them. The other side-shoots should be shortened in 

 summer, and cut back in autumn to two or three buds to form 

 spurs. The fruits are often much too crowded; they should 

 be thinned, while small, to a distance of three inches or more. 

 A dressing of manure will increase their size, and also keep 

 the trees healthy. Afiricots, like all other stone-fruits, need 

 lime, and if there is not sufficient in the soil, it should be 

 added. With this object, old mortar or chalk is often dug 

 in before planting, but applications of basic slag or super- 

 phosphate will serve the same purpose, and supply phosphate 

 as well. 



PExr.iii.s AND nfx,tarim:s. 



As Peaches and Nectarines fruit chiefly on the young 

 wood of till' prcvions year, they may be elassed together. 

 They are nioslly trained fan-8hai)ed. Tn order to provide the 

 necessary new wood, a bud should he left at the base of each 

 bearing-shoot, all oilers on it being removed in spring, with 



