1879. ] 
THE CULTURE OF WALL-FRUITB—XVII. 
49 
NYMPH^EA ALBA, vak. KOSEA. 
[Plate 487.] 
beautiful hardy Water-lily repre- 
sented in the accompanying plate 
originated in Sweden, where, however 
it is exceedingly rare, since it is known to occur 
wild in one lake only. The mode in which it 
originated seems uncertain ; it has even been sug¬ 
gested that some peculiarity in the water may 
have had an influence in producing the colour. 
However this may be, it is a most beautiful 
acquisition for our hardy aquaria, and seems 
to have become a perfectly constant form, as 
we have seen flowers from various sources, all 
presenting the same showy character. 
The plant is no doubt a vaiiety of the white 
Water-lily of our own country, Nymphcea alba, 
which it exactly resembles in habit, and in the 
character of the flowers, which differ only in 
the central petals being of a deep rosy-red 
colour, and the outer petals more faintly tinted 
with a warm blush. These colours contrast well 
with the rich yellow of the stamens, and render 
the flowers very attractive. 
This new Water-lily has flowered at Kew 
and in other establishments in this coun¬ 
try ; and Messrs. Froebel, of Zurich, sent over 
cut specimens of great beauty last year, 
so that we ma}' expect it may soon become 
sufficiently plentifirl to find a place in all gar¬ 
dens where suitable accommodation can bo 
found for it. What an enrichment will such a 
lovely flower add to the many charms of our 
pleasure-grounds, when it is sufficiently abun¬ 
dant to be introduced into our ornamental lakes 
and lakelets. The list of showy hardy aquatics 
is not so long, but that this novelty may be 
welcomed with empressement. —T. Moore. 
THE (^ULTUKE OF WALL-FKUITS. 
XVII.— The Apricot, &o. {continued.) 
)N continuation of my subject, I may observe 
<51 that the thinning-out of the fruit, when 
it sets very freely, is an object of sufficient 
importance to render necessary a few observa¬ 
tions regarding it, and its influence on the 
future well-doing of the trees. The number 
and consequent weight of fruit which a tree 
should be allowed to bring to perfection should 
always be regulated by its strength and vigour ; 
also its age, and the space it covers. Very 
robust and vigorous trees are often greatly 
benefited, as regards inducing a fruitful habit 
of growth, by the check which the exhaustive 
process of carrying fruit to perfection always 
exercises upon them. We may therefore allow 
such trees to carry double the number that it 
would be wise to leave on trees of a less 
vigorous habit of growth, even if it comes to 
leaving four or six upon a square foot, instead 
of two. What may be called full crops of this 
most useful and delicious fruit are, however, 
the exception rather than the rule, and the temp¬ 
tation to take a great number, when a good 
opportunity occurs, is very great; but this is 
the very thing that ought to be resolutely 
avoided, for the good of the trees in after¬ 
years, because the taking of an excessive 
amount of fruit in one year is often the cause 
of scarcity for several seasons after. 
No. IG. IMPERIAL SERIES. 
The cause of this appears to me to be very 
obvious, for bearing in mind that the fruit 
draws largely upon the resources of both roots 
and branches, and contributes nothing in re¬ 
turn, but rather the contrary, by absorbing the 
strength that would otherwise be expended in 
the healthy development of the wood and 
foliage, it is obvious that the latter should be 
encouraged, in order that the power of fruit¬ 
bearing should be continuous, instead of inter¬ 
mittent. Now this can only be done by the 
timely removal of so much of the fruit as shall 
suffice, to prevent the exhaustive process from 
being carried so far as to interfere with the 
fruit-bearing power of future seasons. Weakly- 
growing trees especially should be very severely 
thinned of fruit, and the growth encouraged 
by surface-dressing with rich compost or other 
available means, such as a free application of 
diluted liquid manure during the growing 
season. This is what is generally understood, 
when attention is drawn to the necessity for 
maintaining the balance of the tree—that is, its 
condition for fruit-bearing on the one hand, and 
a healthy development of growth on the other. 
Either condition, if allowed to predominate, is 
opposed to the real object of all fruit-culture, 
which should be so to regulate both, that under 
favourable atmospherical conditions as regards 
E 
