September 1, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
183 
A S briefly announced in our last issue, a Conference on Apricots 
and Plums was held on Wednesday, August 24th, in the 
gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, in connec¬ 
tion with the Exhibition reported in the same number. There 
was a fair attendance. In the absence of Mr. R. D. Blackmore, 
who was to have opened the proceedings, Dr. Hogg presided, and 
introduced the readers of the papers. 
Mons. F. Jamin’s paper on Apricots was first given. The essay, 
written in French, and translated by the Rev. W. Wilks, was of 
an extremely interesting character. The essayist dealt with the 
subject in a masterly manner, and detailed the method of Apricot 
culture adopted in France. In that country', he said, Apricots 
ripen more or less irregularly, but when well grown few open air 
products are more choice. The trees do best on a warm calcareous 
soil, and when sheltered from the north-east winds. If only 
sheltered by other fruit trees the Apricots derive considerable 
benefit. They succeed in and around towns, but according to his 
experience shelter is indispensable. Apricots, he said, are culti¬ 
vated extensively in many parts of France. The market growers, 
in many instances, gather the fruit before it is ripe, and not¬ 
withstanding want of quality, it finds ready purchasers, and fair 
prices are realised. Considerable quantities of Apricots, said Mons. 
Jamin, are converted into jam, in the manufacture of which, 
however, Pumpkin flesh largely enters. Regarding the best localities 
for Apricot culture in France, it was stated that in the valley of 
the Rhone they did remarkably well. For twenty miles or so west 
of Paris, on the banks of the Seine, there is a remarkable tract 
of land devoted principally to the culture of this fruit. 
The soil is light and calcareous, admirably adapted for the 
purpose. Everyone there grows Apricots. The trees, as a rule, 
are planted from 12 to 15 feet apart, and are globular or vase-like 
in shape. The growers attach the greatest importance to their 
system of pruning, usually cutting the shoots back to three or four 
eyes. Generally the trees commence bearing three years after 
planting, but are most prolific when from ten to fifteen years old. 
Many of the trees in that neighbourhood, however, are very old 
but still continue to bear large crops annually. The average yield 
per tree each year is calculated at about GO lbs. when in full 
bearing, and it is estimated that the annual sale of Apricots 
from those districts realised a sum of no less than £2000 
sterling. The growers who sorted and packed their fruit care¬ 
fully, of course, secured the best prices, a remark, by the way, 
that fruit cultivators generally might take to heart. All the Apricot 
trees in the districts mentioned are grafted on the St. Julien Plum 
stock. Mons. Jamin’s paper also included some remarks regarding 
the classification of Apricots, observing that many varieties could be 
distinguished by their leaves and stones, some of the latter being 
perforated. 
A brief but instructive discussion regarding Apricots followed 
the reading of the paper. A gentleman present asked why the 
branches of Apricot trees died without any apparent cause. Replying, 
Dr. Hogg observed that the gaps alluded to are mainly caused by 
frost, generally the previous winter. The sap vessels are destroyed 
or lacerated, and in the spring these vessels fail to supply the 
necessary nutriment, hence the withering of the branches when 
the sun gains power. Something might be due also to soil, such 
as deficiency of lime, which always results in a failure with stone 
No. 63G. —Vol. XXV., Third Series. 
fruit. Mr. W. Paul concurred, and reminded those present that 
Apricot trees are much more tender than is generally supposed. 
The branches of some varieties, too, he said, are more liable to die 
suddenly than others. He had had experience of this. Some 
years ago he had a number of Moorpark Apricots growing on a 
wall, and some of the branches died in the manner described. 
The trees were moved, the soil carefully renovated, and other 
varieties, including Blenheim, planted with them. Still, the 
branches of Moorpark continued to die off, but Blenheim never 
lost a shoot, and this variety is now and has always been in a 
healthy condition. He therefore suggested the culture of this 
variety, inasmuch as it is not subject to the disadvantage com¬ 
plained of. Mr. Paul also sensibly observed that everything which 
tends to keep the trees in good health should be done, never 
allowing insects, not even an aphis, to gain a footing. Judicious 
pruning and watering were important factors, too, that the 
cultivator should not overlook. 
The Rev. W. Wilks asked why Apricots are so difficult to 
grow under glass. For some years, he said, he had tried to grow 
them thus, but had failed. The trees were healthy, made plenty 
of growth and foliage, and flowered freely, had plenty of air, but 
yet failed to fruit. Out of seven fine trees in pots he had but one 
fruit this year. Had the stigma of the blooms anything to do 
with it ? He observed that the stigma of Apricot blooms turned 
round instead of pointing outwards as in the Peach and Nectarine, 
and were thus protected from the bees. 
Mr. Bunyard thought the failure to grow Apricots on walls 
satisfactorily in this country was owing to the borders in many 
cases being too closely cropped with vegetables. In October heavy 
rains generally set in, and these have a tendency to start the 
Apricot roots that are growing in the rich soil provided for the 
vegetables, into life, when they required rest. If the borders 
could be covered with shutters after that time he thought Apricots 
would be grown much better. The situation, he said, cannot be 
too hot or too dry for Apricots. As to the branches dying, an old 
cultivator he knew used to cut away the black diseased wood and paint 
the wounds with knotting with great success. With regard to the 
Rev. W. Wilks’ question Mr. Bunyard detailed the method of 
treating Apricots under glass in a private garden of his acquaint¬ 
ance. The trees there, he observed, are kept dry all through the 
winter, and after starting into growth, deluged with water once a 
fortnight until the fruit is gathered. The reason why many fail 
to grow Apricots under glass is owing to there not being sufficient 
nutriment in the soil in the pots to support the quantity of growth 
generally made. He should recommend planting the trees out 
under glass in preference to growing them in pots. The Shipley 
and other old-fashioned sorts, in his opinion, are much hardier 
than the choicer kinds and best for general cultivation. 
Dr. Hogg at this point explained that the perforated stone, 
mentioned by Mons. Jamin in his remarks on classification, and by 
which some varieties could be identified, meant that the channel 
which is usually present in Apricot stones was covered instead of 
being open. Mr. W. Roupell then detailed his experience as 
regards Apricot culture, advocating firm soil for the trees, and Mr. 
T. Francis Rivers advised keeping trees under glass dry in winter. 
Surface dressings also do good, he remarked, and plenty of ventila¬ 
tion is most essential. The atoning period is a critical time, and if 
the house is shut up closely at that period the fruit is liable to 
drop. 
Mr. Rivers next read a paper on “ Dessert Plums.’’ He opened 
his subject by remarking that dessert Plums were likely to become 
an article of great value in the Colonies and other foreign countries, 
where the drying of fruit was adopted. As regards varieties, he 
said none can challenge the Green Gage, of which there are many 
varieties. Among others, the Early Transparent, called the Early 
Apricot in the “ Fruit Manual,” is a useful variety, whilst the 
same can be said of Late Transparent, a variety that will be largely 
No. 2292.— Vol. LXXXYII., Old Series. 
