322 
THE FLORIST. 
tribunal already referred to. We regard it as one of the 
most chaste-looking and pleasing varieties in cultivation. 
There is a growing opinion unfavourable to the Verbena as 
a subject for bedding out in high class geometrical gardening, 
especially where, for the sake of regulating the development 
of other plants, it is necessary to avoid a tolerably stimulating 
soil; but despite this, the flower will, we are sure, continue 
to hold its place as a garden ornament applicable to a variety 
of uses, and affording almost endless variations of colour, 
some of which cannot yet be dispensed with, even in the 
style of gardening to which allusion has been made. We 
have, therefore, much pleasure in presenting our readers with 
portraits of two varieties which will be found to possess 
high-class qualities, rendering them desirable for general 
cultivation. M. 
SPUR-PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES. 
Fruit trees are now in a very different state to that which they 
were in at this time last year. The young wood and buds were then 
not half ripened, and the trees were exhausted from the heavy crop 
of fruit they bore. The prospect of a fruit crop was then any¬ 
thing but cheering. Now, however, the case is different. The 
crops of the past season being in general light, and, in many places, 
a failure, and the weather being hot and dry, the wood and buds of 
all trees are, in consequence, thoroughly matured; indeed, it is 
not often that the blossom buds are so plump and prominent as they 
are at the present time. The prospect of a good fruit crop next 
year is most encouraging. If the weather next spring be favour¬ 
able, the crop will be a very heavy one. 
Overbearing is an evil to be guarded against as much as possible, 
as it enfeebles the constitutions of trees and brings on premature 
decay. Spur-pruning and thinning of the fruit are the best means 
of preventing this. We would, therefore, strongly advise that 
all trees should be carefully and judiciously spur-pruned, Avhen the 
state of the weather permits it to be done. Through the almost 
total neglect of this, one of the most important operations in fruit- 
tree culture, we generally see trees one year bent to the ground 
with the weight of fruit, and the following year no fruit at all ; 
and this goes on year after year. One season a heavy crop of 
inferior fruit, the next year none. 
When the trees bear these heavy crops, the fruit is never so fine 
as it would be if it had been properly thinned, and the trees are 
thereby greatly debilitated. It is very bad management to allow 
trees to become exhausted by over-bearing. The thinning of the 
blossom and fruit is an operation Avhich cannot be properly carried 
out to a very great extent, as it is in general a busy season when 
such work requires to be done. Spur-pruning should therefore 
be regularly attended to and carefully performed. Go where you 
