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RETARDING THE BLOOMING OF FRUIT-TREES. 



follow, of the abundance of which we have in this country little 

 conception. This would lead us to infer that frost or cold does 

 little or no injury before the flowers are expanded, a fact I be- 

 lieve now generally admitted by gardeners. Before they burst 

 into bloom in spring, I have seen many varieties of fruits with 

 their bloom buds completely browned by cold winds and frost, 

 which upon fine weather setting in have expanded freely, appa- 

 rently not much the worse for the effects of the previous severe 

 weather, and they have set abundant crops. I am aware of the 

 sad havock frosts make among them when in bloom, an occur- 

 rence which at times also happens in some localities in America, 

 when the crops of the whole district for the season are destroyed. 



Let us now observe the treatment which the same fruit trees 

 receive in this country. They are planted on shallow, well- 

 drained borders, trained with all due care and attention on good 

 south walls, in order that they may have as much heat and light 

 as is possible for them to receive in our murky atmosphere, and 

 which makes up for the deficiency of the bright light and intense 

 heat of America or the East: so far so well; but I fear the 

 autumn management of these trees in general is not what it 

 should be. Growing as they do in countries such as I have 

 been describing, where the burning summer's sun heats the 

 ground intensely, followed by a dry clear warm autumn, the 

 tissue of the w r ood acquires a maturity unknown in a climate like 

 our own. If they cannot have an autumn such as their native 

 country gives them, should not our cultivators meet the difficulty 

 in another way? — Why not protect the borders from wet? This I 

 know is now done by some of our best gardeners, though it is 

 not so generally practised as it should be. And if the Peach 

 and Apricot walls are heated (as they ought to be), they should 

 be kept well warmed during autumn in order to assist the perfect 

 ripening of the wood. 



We shall now pass by their winter treatment and commence 

 with the end of the month of February. The trees are then 

 pruned and nailed. At this season we sometimes experience 

 some warm sunny days. Early in last March we had a week or 

 more of hot sunny weather. During this time the sun is per- 

 mitted to shine on the wall in all his brilliancy; the wall absorbs 

 the heat which he communicates by day, and radiates it at night ; 

 this speedily brings the Apricots and Peaches into full bloom. 

 Protection is then afforded in the shape of fir-branches, canvas, 

 &c, to guard the flowers from cold winds, frost, &c. ; and with 

 all the care a gardener can bestow, he but too frequently loses 

 the greater portion of his crop. While the trees are in bloom 

 cold weather returns, accompanied by severe frosts, piercing 

 winds, sleet, &c. ; and with all the protection at a gardener's 



