Apples.--Apples delight in a moist, cool climate. All apples will not
succeed on the same soil, some preferring clay, while others grow best
in sandy loam or in well-drained peat. For a deep, good soil and a
sheltered situation the standard form grafted on the Crab-apple is
generally considered to be the most profitable. For shallow soils it
is better to graft on to the Paradise stock, as its roots do not run
down so low as the Crab. The ground, whether deep or shallow, should
receive a good mulching in the autumn; that on the deep soil being dug
in at the approach of spring, while that on the shallow soil should
be removed in the spring to allow the ground to be lightly forked and
sweetened, replacing the manure when the dry, hot weather sets in. The
best time to perform the grafting is March, and it should be done
on the whip-handle system, particulars of which will be found under
"Grafting." Young trees may be planted in the autumn, as soon as the
leaves have fallen. Budding is done in August, just in the same manner
as roses. In spring head back to the bud; a vigorous shoot will then
be produced, which can be trained as desired. Apples need very little
pruning, it being merely necessary to remove branches growing in the
wrong direction; but this should be done annually, while the branches
are young--either at the end of July or in winter. If moss makes its
appearance, scrape it off and wash the branches with hot lime. The
following sorts may be specially recommended:--For heavy soils,
Duchess of Oldenburgh, equally suitable for cooking or dessert;
Warner's King, one of the best for mid-season; and King of the
Pippins, a handsome and early dessert apple. For light, warm soils,
Cox's Orange Pippin or Bess Pool. The Devonshire Quarrenden is a
delicious apple, and will grow on any good soil. In orchards standards
should stand 40 ft. apart each way, and dwarfs from 10 ft. to 15 ft.
Apricots.--Early in November is the most favourable time for planting
Apricots. The soil--good, sound loam for preference--should be dug 3
ft. deep, and mixed with one-fourth its quantity of rotten leaves and
one-fourth old plaster refuse. Place a substratum of bricks below each
tree and tread the earth very firmly round the roots. They will not
need any manure until they are fruiting, when a little may be applied
in a weak liquid form, but a plentiful supply of water should be given
during spring and summer months. The fan shape is undoubtedly the best
way of training the branches, as it allows a ready means of tucking
small yew branches between them to protect the buds from the cold.
They may be grown on their own roots by planting the stone, but a
quicker way to obtain fruit is to bud them on to vigorous seedling
plum trees. This should be done in August, inserting the bud on
the north or north-west side of the stem and as near the ground as
possible. To obtain prime fruit, thin the fruit-buds out to a distance
of 6 in. one from the other. In the spring any leaf-buds not required
for permanent shoots can be pinched back to three or four leaves
to form spurs. The Apricot is subject to a sort of paralysis, the
branches dying off suddenly. The only remedy for this seems to be to
prevent premature vegetation. The following are good sorts: Moor Park,
Grosse Peche, Royal St. Ambroise, Kaisha, Powell's Late, and Oullin's
Early. In plantations they should stand 20 ft. apart.
Aquatics.--All aquatics grow best in wicker-baskets filled with earth.
Cover the surface of the earth with hay-bands twisted backwards and
forwards and round the plant, and lace it down with tarred string, so
as to keep the earth and plant from being washed out. The following
make good plants:--White Water Lily (_Nymphaea Alba_) in deep water
with muddy bottom; Yellow Water Lily (_Nuphar Lutea_); and Nuphar
Advena, having yellow and red flowers; Hottonia Palustris, bearing
flesh-coloured flowers, and Alismas, or Water Plantain, with white,
and purple and white flowers. Water Forget-me-nots (_Myosotis
Palustris_) flourish on the edges of ponds or rivers. The Water
Hawthorn (_Aponogetou Distachyon_) does well in a warm, sheltered
position, and may be grown in loam, plunged in a pan of water.
Calla Ethiopica bears pretty white flowers, so also does the
before-mentioned Aponogeton Distachyon. The Flowering Rush (_Butomus
Umbellatus_), produces fine heads of pink flowers. The Water Violet
merely needs to be laid on the surface of the water; the roots float.
For shallow water Menyanthus Trifoliata (Three-leaved Buckbean) and
Typha Latifolia (Broad-leaved Cat's Tail) are suitable. Weeping
Willows grow readily from cuttings of ripened shoots, planted in moist
soil in autumn. Spiraea does well in moist situations, near water.
Aquatics are propagated by seed sown under water: many will allow of
root-division. Tender Aquatics are removed in winter to warm-water
tanks.
Aquilegia (_Columbine_).--Very ornamental and easily-grown hardy
perennials. Sow seed in March in sandy soil, under glass, and
transplant when strong enough. Common garden soil suits them. The
roots may be divided in spring or autumn. The flowers are produced
from May to July. Height, 2 ft.
Arabis Alpina (_Rock Cress, or Snow in Summer_).--Pure white hardy
perennial, which is valuable for spring bedding. Not particular to
soil, and easily raised from seed sown from March to June, placed
under a frame, and transplanted in the autumn, or it may be propagated
by slips, but more surely by rootlets taken after the plants have done
flowering. Plant 3 in. apart. Height, 6 in.
Aralia (_Fatsia Japonica_).--Fine foliage plants, very suitable for a
shady situation in a living-room. They may be raised from seed sown
in autumn in a gentle heat, in well-drained pots of light sandy soil.
Keep the mould moist, and when the plants are large enough to handle,
pot them off singly in thumb pots, using rich, light, sandy soil. Do
not pot too firmly. Keep them moist, but do not over water, especially
in winter, and re-pot as the plants increase in size. Be careful not
to let the sun shine on them at any time, as this would cause the
leaves to lose their fresh colour.
Aralia Sieboldi (_Fig Palm_).--This shrub is an evergreen, and is
generally given stove culture, though it proves quite hardy in the
open, where its large deep-green leaves acquire a beauty surpassing
those grown indoors. Slips of half-ripened wood taken at a joint in
July may be struck in heat and for the first year grown on in the
greenhouse. The young plants should be hardened off and planted out
in May in a sunny situation. It should be grown in well-drained sandy
loam. Is increased also by off-sets, and blooms (if at all) in July.
Height, 3 ft.