RETARDING THE BLOOMING OF FRUIT-TREES. 



277 



Juniperus squamata, Oxycedrus, echinaeformis,flaccida, humilis, 

 uvifera, pendula, tetragona, rependa, Gossainthania, recur va, 

 phoenicea, lycia, virginiana pendula, bermudiana, canariensis, 

 virginiana glauca, depressa, dealbata, oblonga, o. pendula, 

 Bedfordiana, virginiana variegata, flagelliformis, religiosa, and 

 Chamberlaini have all stood well without protection, and are all 

 fine healthy specimens. 



Smilax sarsaparilla, tamnoides, glauca, quadrangularis, vir- 

 ginica, hastata, aspera, and caduca have not been harmed in the 

 least ; while S. laurifolia has been killed to the ground. 



Ruscus racemosus and aculeatus laxus are uninjured. 



Yucca, stricta, recurvifolia, fllamentosa, f. angustifolia, and 

 glaucescens have proved quite hardy. 



[The names are given as they were received from Mr. Barnes : 

 but some of them are unknown to us.] 



XXX. — On JRetardmg the Blooming of Fruit Trees. By John 

 Saul, Durdham Down Nursery, Bristol. 



(Communicated August 29, 1850.) 



It strikes me that the majority of gardeners proceed upon in- 

 correct principles in regard to protecting the blossoms of fruit 

 trees in spring. I do not consider protection unnecessary ; on the 

 contrary I believe it to be highly beneficial when scientifically 

 and properly applied. In my opinion, the great aim of the fruit 

 grower should be to retard to as late a period as possible the 

 blooming of his fruit trees, and when blossoms do come to pro- 

 tect them with care. In the 6 Gardener's Chronicle ' of April 

 27, Mr. Errington makes some excellent remarks upon this 

 subject, stating at the same time his own experience and re- 

 markable success in the matter. 



In the first place let us consider the native climate of our 

 hardy fruit trees, and we shall arrive with more certainty at 

 correct conclusions. Take for example the Apricot and Peach : 

 in their native country they are subject to intense heat during 

 summer, which well ripens the young shoots ; this is followed by 

 extremely cold winters, which the trees are well enabled to with- 

 stand on account of the firmness and solidity of their wood. In 

 the middle States of North America, where these fruit trees are 

 cultivated to an immense extent, more particularly the Peach, 

 the climate is similar to what I have been describing. The 

 winters are not only severe, but long ; the springs are short, 

 though at night severe frosts frequently occur up to the time 

 when these fruit trees commence expanding their flowers ; about 

 the latter period nearly all frosts disappear, and crops of fruit 



