32 



GLEANINGS ON HORTICULTURE. 



moved which do not occupy such a position : no buds produced 

 from the lower side will be required. These shoots may be 

 allowed at about eighteen inches distance {accordhig to the strength 

 of the tree) from each other along the branch. This will be better 

 understood by the following sketch. 



An Apricot grafted on an Apkicot Stock of four years' growth, 

 originated by Oswald Mosley. — Seymour's System. 



Pay attention to the individual strength of each shoot. They 

 seldom or never should be retained more than a foot long, and 

 they should be cut back to a wood-bud, which differs from a 

 blossom-bud, in being small and pointed, whereas the latter is 

 large and nearly round. To maintain this system, a shoot, simi- 

 lar to those just mentioned, is annually required to occupy the 

 place of each ; and some others to fill up the fresh spaces occu- 

 pied as the trees extend. Now these are to be obtained by 

 training in a young shoot in a curvilinear direction at the end from 

 the base of each bearing shoot during the Summer, at full length : 

 of course, the one most conveniently placed will be selected, as 

 near the base as possible. The topmost bud must be allowed to 

 grow a few inches, and then stop it, by pinching out the growing 

 point : all others which have not fruit at their base, must be 

 removed, and all that have, should be allowed to develop two or 

 three leaves, and then be stopped. Whenever two blossom-buds 

 are placed side by side on the shoot, the weakest should be re- 

 moved. Whenever, also, a leaf is observed having a blistered 

 appearance, it had better be removed ; if in apricots, by hand- 

 picking. This is the work of insects, and the garden engine 

 must be used to dislodge them, at any period except during 

 bright sunshine, from the time the fruit is set until it approaches 

 maturity. 



To ascertain the ripeness of the fruit, do not press it with the 



