I 
212 THE FLOBIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
The following hints may be of service to growers:—Choose moderate* 
sized in preference to very large bulbs, the latter sometimes throw two or 
three small spikes instead of one good one. Pot the bulbs in October, using 
a rich compost; soil cannot b! too good for Hyacinths. Place the pots after 
planting in a sheltered position on pieces of slate or tiles to prevent the 
worms working into the pots, and cover the pots with sifted coal ashes to the 
depth of 4 inches for the space of two months. Remove the pots to a green¬ 
house, the inside of a window-ledge, or any suitable place for blooming them 
when ready for removal. Give plenty of water, and preserve the plants from 
cold draughts and frost. 
The culture of the Hyacinth is a very simple process, a little intelligent 
attention is all that is required to ensure a good display of bloom. 
G. "W. Hi 
REMARKS ON FRUIT TREE CULTURE.—No. 13. 
In pursuance of my proposition to offer a few remarks on those particular 
points of culture in which the treatment required by one kind of fruit differs 
from that of another, although in many material points there are certain 
principles to guide practice which are common to all, I will take the Apricot 
next in order, for, although I have placed it next to the Peach, it is second to 
none ; indeed, when we look at its general usefulness, both for dessert and con¬ 
fectionary purposes, we must award it a high position in the domestic economy. 
The culture of the Apricot is peculiarly liable to be influenced by local 
circumstances. For example, in one locality the trees may be planted in the 
natural soil without any previous preparation or additional composts, where 
they will flourish and produce fruit abundantly, and live to a good old age ; 
whilst in another locality it would appear that the greatest amount of prepara¬ 
tion and attention fails to ensure a profitable return for the outlay. Now I do not 
consider that the soil is altogether at fault in this matter, but that there are 
other causes which act more powerfully against the well-doing of the trees 
than even an inferior or ill-prepared soil. To quote an instance bearing on the 
subject, I have known ^ gentleman in whose garden Apricots year after year 
signally failed to grow kindly or to bear even moderate crops, go to the expense 
of making a border in exact imitation of others in a distant locality where the 
trees flourished and bore abundant crops of fruit. His mode of procedure 
was unique of its kind. He first excavated the border in his own garden to 
the depth of 4 feet, and having drained it he carted from the favoured locality 
soil and subsoil to the required depth, and laid it down in his border in pre¬ 
cisely the same order as it was placed in its natural state. Such energy 
deserved success; but I regret to say this did not follow, for the trees still re¬ 
fused to flourish, and I am inclined to think that the failure might in great part 
be attributed to the peculiar locality and atmospherical conditions which were 
very inimical to the well-doing of the Apricot in the early stages of growth. 
The locality was very high and very much exposed, the frosts in spring severe, 
and the average temperature of the spring months considerably lower than 
that of more sheltered localities lower down ; moreover, the winds were often 
very strong, and frequently accompanied with cold rains, which beat against 
the walls with great violence. 
Now, all these things are exceedingly adverse to the successful culture of 
the Apricot, and therefore to be avoided altogether, or means taken to guard 
against injurious effects by an efficient protection. I have no doubt if such a 
border had been formed where other conditions were more favourable, that 
abundant success might have followed; but, then, so also would it be the case 
