ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



987 



improved. About the middle or end of September Apricots may 

 be finally pruned for the year, shortening back those shoots that 

 throw the tree out of balance, and cutting-in all the spurs to two 

 or three eyes or buds. It should be impressed upon amateurs 

 and others that in young trees the lower branches should be the 

 first consideration ; unless these are secured and a good founda- 

 tion is laid, a well-shaped tree is an impossibility. No anxiety 

 need be felt about the middle filling up : the natural tendency of 

 the tree is to do that. When once good side branches have 

 been made, attention may be paid to filling up the centre. 



The Apricot being one of the earliest kinds of fruit-trees to 

 blossom, it is more subject to damage from frost than many 

 otherS; and unless a certain amount of judgment is exercised in 

 protecting the blossoms, a fine promise of fruit may be ruined. 

 Nothing in the way of coddling is advisable — in fact, protection 

 is, to some extent, injurious when the weather is mild. A piece 

 of ordinary fish-netting, doubled in thickness and dropped down 

 about 2ft. away from the trees on frosty nights, will prevent 

 injury. Such material may be looped up on warm days or 

 nights, and let down in a few minutes whenever the state of the 

 weather renders it necessary. When the fruits have attained the 

 size of peas, no further protection is requisite. 



Thinning of the fruit should be done early and gradually if 

 the set is a heavy one. All the worst-placed fruits — e.g., those 

 facing the wall — are best removed when quite small ; and, when 

 the fruits are about the size of hazel-nuts, they ought to be 

 finally thinned to 6in. apart each way, of course retaining those 

 that are in the best position for light, and employing those 

 removed for tarts, &c. 



The following varieties succeed very well on southern or 

 western aspects : Frogmore Early, large and very sweet ; Grosse 

 Peche, large and of fine flavour; Hemskerk and Kaisha, two 

 medium-sized varieties, of good flavour and free bearers ; Shipley, 

 another good sort ; and Gloire de Pourtales, a large and pro- 

 mising new variety. In the warmer parts of the country Breda 

 may be planted as a bush-tree, as it is hardy and prolific. 



Under Glass. — In many parts of the country the Apricot 

 cannot be successfully grown outside. Where, however, a cool 

 glasshouse or an unheated wall-case is available, very fine Apricots 

 may be produced with a minimum of expense and labour. 



Taking a co/d orchard house first, it is better to have established 

 trees in pots than trees planted out in prepared borders ; there 

 is more labour attached to the former by reason of the daily 

 attention necessary in watering, but the trees are more portable 

 and fruitful, and if any prove barren they can be placed outside, 

 the space inside being filled with other occupants that are 

 productive. Under glass the Apricot is impatient of coddling in 

 a stuffy atmosphere; what it enjoys is a good pure atmosphere, 



