THE APRICOT. 



199 



In hot, sunny weather the fruit of the 

 Apricot is apt to become ripe and soft on the 

 exposed side, while it is yet hard and green on 

 the side next the wall. By partially shading 

 such from the direct rays of the sun, either 

 with netting or by drawing the leaves partly 

 over them, the ripening process, though re- 

 tarded, will be more regular and thorough. 



Forcing the Apricot. 



The Apricot may be forced as easily as the 

 Plum, provided it is not subjected to anything 

 at all like strong heat until the fruits have 

 stoned, after which, if necessary, a fairly high 

 temperature will do no harm. In the open air 

 the Apricot is the most precocious of all fruit- 

 trees, and it therefore need hardly be stated 

 that, when given the protection of a glass roof, 

 but little warmth is requisite to excite it into 

 growth. Such being the case, the structure in 

 which it is grown need only be heated to 40° 

 in severe weather. If possible, a whole house 

 should be devoted to Apricots. A lean-to struc- 

 ture is, on the whole, the best for the purpose, 

 and the trees should be trained on a trellis 

 18 inches from the roof-glass. 



The border should be made as directed for 

 Peaches under glass. Until the trees flower and 

 set, a temperature of 45° to 50° will be ample, 

 and on very cold nights it may descend to 40°. 

 A rise of 5° may be allowed after the fruits 

 begin to mature, and, as far as artificial heat is 

 concerned, it is not advisable to exceed these 

 temperatures. With sun-heat the temperature 

 of the house may rise to 60° before admitting 

 air, but it should be closed early enough to 

 secure a temperature of 65°. 



As the season advances, more air will be 

 required, until the ventilators may ultimately 

 remain wide open both day and night. The 

 house may be closed for a few hours in the 

 afternoon after the stoning period has been 

 safely passed if early fruits are required; other- 

 wise it is much better to leave them to ripen 

 under more natural conditions. 



The flowers require to be fertilized by hand. 

 It is best to allow a little air on the house for 

 an hour or two before operating upon the 

 flowers with a camel-hair pencil, thereby en- 

 suring that the pollen is ripe and dry. Until 

 the flowers are set, it is necessary to keep the 

 atmosphere in the house dry and buoyant; but 

 when the petals have fallen, a light dewing with 

 tepid water will prove very beneficial. 



Should a heavy set result, thinning should 



be done as soon as the fruits are large enough 

 to distinguish the best of them, but the final 

 thinning must be left until the stoning stage 

 is passed. If fruits are required for dessert, 

 they should be left a trifle closer on the trees 

 than would be advisable for Peaches, but if for 

 culinary and preserving purposes leave about 

 one-third more than for Nectarines. 



Syringing may be resorted to, so soon as the 

 fruits begin to swell, in the forenoon only, or 

 early morning, until the season is more ad- 

 vanced and sun-heat becomes more powerful, 

 when it should be performed copiously twice 

 daily, and continued until the time that the 

 fruits begin to colour and soften, when it 

 should be discontinued until after the fruit 

 has been gathered. 



When the trees are started into growth, the 

 borders should receive a good soaking of tepid 

 water, so that the soil is moistened down to 

 the drainage. During the winter months the 

 borders may have a good soaking with liquid 

 manure, but after this it is questionable whether 

 stimulants are not better withheld until the 

 fruits begin to make their final swelling, when 

 manure may be applied with every watering. 

 Should the trees be in a weak condition and 

 need a stimulus when started, a mixture of 

 1 lb. of muriate of potash, 1J lb. of dissolved 

 bones, and 2^ lbs. of bone-meal may be applied 

 at the rate of 2 ounces to each square yard of 

 border surface, just before affording water. 



Pinching the shoots to form spurs, and the 

 laying-in of young growths where they are 

 required for filling blank spaces, must be 

 attended to, and it is at this- time that the 

 caterpillar of the Apricot moth puts in an 

 appearance. This must therefore be watched 

 for, its presence being revealed by the insect 

 drawing the young leaves together, which 

 gives them a rolled and twisted appearance. 

 A sharp pressure of these rolled -up leaves 

 between the thumb and finger is sufficient to 

 despatch the insect, and the trees should be 

 carefully examined every few days so long as 

 any of these insects are to be found. Red 

 spider puts in an appearance either when the 

 internal atmosphere is kept too dry and hot, 

 or when the border is not kept in a uniformly 

 moist condition. If care be taken to afford the 

 trees an abundance of air, to give them a daily 

 syringing, and to keep up a good supply of 

 water at the roots, red spider will not give any 

 trouble. 



In the autumn all necessary pruning should 

 be performed, this being a much better time to 



