ON FRUIT CULTURE. 985 



any way. Frost and hail are frequently responsible for wounds, 

 into which the spores of the fungus enter, and in spring the deep 

 red perithecia may be seen without the aid of a glass. Trees 

 badly affected ought to be uprooted and burned ; while those 

 slightly affected may have the injured parts removed, smearing 

 the wound with tar. 



Apple Rot (Glceosporium fructigenum) is possibly known to 

 everyone who has eaten apples, though its cause to the majority 

 is obscure. The fruits attacked not only have an unsightly ap- 

 pearance, but also a nauseous, bitter flavour. Distinct spots may 

 be found" at a comparatively early stage, though it is not until 

 much later that the brownish, diseased, black-dotted parts are 

 noticeable. Potassium sulphide should be sprayed on the trees 

 once or twice when the fruit is getting of fair size, by way of pre- 

 vention ; while it should be resorted to directly the disease can 

 be recognised. Infected fruits should never be stored with sound 

 ones, but should be burned, or the whole crop stands a risk of 

 being lost. Similarly fallings from trees should be destroyed. 



Apricots. 



In the Open. — Comparatively few people care for the Apricot 

 as a dessert fruit, but everyone thoroughly appreciates it for 

 preserving, and the supply for that purpose is seldom equal to 

 the demand. Unfortunately, there are many places where the 

 trees refuse to grow, or in other gardens, even if they make good 

 growth, they rarely produce a crop. On the other hand, in some 

 districts they thrive splendidly, and annually bear, abundant crops 

 of really magnificent fruit, with scarcely any attention, trees 

 against walls, and even bush-trees, being alike productive. Several 

 theories have been propounded as to the causes of success 

 or failure — situation, elevation, aspect, climate, &c. — but our 

 experience is that soil is the chief factor. There is some 

 ingredient in the heavy and light soils on which the Apricot is 

 a success ; but as to what that particular element is we are at 

 present somewhat doubtful. Lime, in some of its many forms, 

 is known to be very serviceable ; potash, on light soils, is 

 excellent ; magnesia has also been known to prove beneficial ; 

 so has nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, or sulphate of 

 ammonia. Where the trees have not been fruitful, or weak in 

 growth, one or even all the above constituents may be tried with 

 safety. Gardeners and others can seldom choose their soil; 

 they are obliged to make the best of that at hand, whether 

 good, bad, or indifferent. Though all fruit-trees resent stagnant 

 moisture about their roots, the Apricot specially dislikes bad 

 drainage, and for that reason extra care is desirable in preparing 

 the sites, not only in seeing that they are well drained, but also 

 on heavy or tenacious soil that the surplus water can pass away 

 freely into the drains. Where there is a good natural drainage, 



