SEPTEMBER. 



131 



dry as dust, with the roots a complete mat of suckers. Even in the autumn of 

 1860, after such an extraordinarily wet cold summer, in removing Pears, Plums, 

 Peaches, and Apricots on a south-west border, all of which trees had occupied 

 the same ground for several years without removal, the Apricots had scarcely 

 ever borne any fruit. I found the soil moist about the roots of all except the 

 Apricots, where it was so dry that the five-pronged steel fork which I use for 

 fruit- tree-lifting was of no use at all — the soil ran through them like dry sand. 



We generally see the Apricot throw tip more suckers than any other fruit 

 tree ; but, I think, we should not for that reason suppose the branches and 

 foliage cannot take all the sap. 



I have seen trees taken up and replanted and well supplied with water for 

 two or three years after, and bear excellent crops of fine fruit without any 

 sucker appearing, although they had never had a full crop before ; and the 

 border for several feet round the trees had been a complete mat of suckers. 



It might be asked, Why should Apricots suffer under the same conditions 

 that other trees do not ? I think that may be accounted for by its having so 

 much more foliage to support than any other fruit tree in the same space, 

 which causes a greater demand on the roots than they can supply, especially on 

 light dry soil, so that the foliage consumes all the moisture it can obtain, and 

 the fruit, if any, drops for the want of it. 



The remedy appears simple enough. Keep the trees well supplied with 

 water while in a growing state ; at any rate it is quite worth the trial. 



I would not plant in a natural cold wet soil, as there the wood would not 

 ripen, and the trees would suffer when not growing ; but if planted in a well- 

 made border and well supplied with water at the proper season, I think we 

 should hear less of the spring frost cutting off the blossom. C. C. 



THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



I have with some difficulty restrained my pen from joining "A Florist of 

 the Old School" and "Florist," contributors to the July Number of your periodi- 

 cal, in commenting upon the liberality of the Council of the Royal Horticultura 

 Society in making their awards, and excluding certain flowers from the great 

 Exhibition ; but as the writer of an article in the Gardener's Chronicle, 

 August 2nd, page 716, remarks, "a little ventilation of this subject may do no 

 harm," I shall trespass on your kind indulgence and make some observations 

 on this subject, sincerely hoping the ventilation may extinguish the " smoulder- 

 ing dissatisfaction " rather than kindle a flame. That there is a just cause for 

 dissatisfaction no one can deny ; at the same time a little courtesv and 

 disposition to consider real or imaginary grievances would put all to rights. 

 " An Old Florist " in your July Number complains of the small awards made to 

 certain flowers in comparison with others. Had he turned to page 398 of the 

 " Transactions of the Royal Horticultural Society " for July, he would find 

 four examples of extreme liberality ; he would there see that extra prizes of 

 the value of Jive shillings each were awarded to four exhibitors for their very 

 interesting collections. What the world will think of this liberality I cannot 

 say ; and how far it may stimulate other exhibitors to bring their collections of 

 plants or cut flowers, I presume not to foretell, but surely it was little short of 

 an insult to those gentlemen who are such staunch supporters of the Societv. 

 But whence this unheard-of spirit of economy ? Are the funds of the Society 

 at so low an ebb ? Or has the expenditure on those two canvass tents, which 

 have so completely failed in their purpose, so crippled the Society's resources 



