HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 25 



individual peculiarities of various kinds of fruit trees — the soil and 

 situation most suitable for them — their exemption from diseases — 

 their constitutional hardiness in withstanding extreme and sudden 

 changes of temperature, — how they are influenced by early and late, 

 winter and summer pruning ; all this, and much more requiring 

 observation, and well authenticated experiment, before an ultimate 

 decision can be arrived at, avoiding as far as possible the frequent 

 occurrence of mistaking a consequence for a cause. We hope to 

 see much valuable information of this kind in the " Florist," from 

 experienced cultivators. These we do not pretend to instruct. Our 

 aim will be to assist beginners, and that numerous class of amateurs 

 who laudably prefer to spend their leisure in attending to the vari- 

 ous practical operations of horticulture ; and as the interest taken 

 in these matters will generally be in proportion to the amount of 

 success, we hope to be able to suggest an occasional idea which will 

 assist in the enjoyment of one of the most agreeable and pleasant 

 pursuits. For 



"These are arts pursued without a crime, 

 That If ave no stain upon the wing of time." 



Site for Fruit Trees. — The situation in which a tree is placed 

 influences in a great degree its welfare and productiveness. What 

 are called early situations are not commendable, since it is not de- 

 sirable to have them early into flower, thereby increasing the liabil- 

 ity of losing the crop by late frosts. A somewhat exposed situation 

 on a northern slope is preferable to a southern or sheltered spot. — 

 Early growth should be avoided if possible, as an early development 

 of blossom is almost sure of being caught by spring frosts while 

 the tree is unprotected with foliage. Apricot trees, more especially, 

 should be planted where the sun will not reach them before mid- 

 day. They are easily excited in spring, hence we often find them 

 producing regular, good crops in city yards where they are shaded 

 by buildings, while in more exposed and warm, places they as often 

 fail. 



Plums. — Much discouragement has been experienced in the cul- 

 ture of this fruit, on account of its destruction by the Curculio, or 

 Plum Weevil, and many remedies have been suggested and tried, 

 the most of them being only partially successful. Our reason for 

 alluding to this at the present time is to make the remark that we 

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