NOVEMBER. 323 



former to one-third of the latter. To this add a very liberal 

 allowance of clean sharp sand, say one-fourth of the \yliole, and a 

 quantity of clean potsherds broken small, and well mix the whole 

 together. The soil should be ready mixed, and before using it 

 placed wliere it will acquire about the same temperature as that 

 of the ball of the plant to be shifted, and it should be in a proper 

 state as reijards moisture. 



WALLS AND THEIR OVERCOATS.— No. IL 



Let us proceed to consider what are the desiderata in a glazed protection 

 for fruit trees ; and in pursuance of the course commenced, I am 

 anxious to go on reducing the question to its simplest form, by banishing 

 therefrom the subject of fruit trees in pots, with the following remarks. 



I beheve the prevailing opinion upon this matter coincides with mine, 

 viz., that the growing of fruit trees in tubs or pots is exceedingly 

 interesting as a practice for amateurs, who are thereby enabled to have 

 a small quantity of a large variety of fruits wnthin moderate compass ; 

 and that it is useful to gardeners in general when it is desired to pro- 

 duce fruit upon plants small enough to be placed upon the table with 

 their crop in a state fit for " plucking and eating." No practical gar- 

 dener, however, will venture to assert that the cheapest mode of 

 growing fruit under glass is to have the plants in the shape of small 

 bushes in pots ; nor yet that it is calculated to produce the finest and 

 best flavoured fruit. We hold that a fruit tree will produce the largest 

 quantity and best quality of fruit when it is allowed to develop itself 

 with a certain amount of freedom — the happy medium between the 

 grossly- grouang, ill-managed tree, and the stunted occupier of a pot. 

 This view of the matter we assume to be the true one ; and if it be 

 not, those who differ from us may if they please bring forward the 

 subject for a separate and special consideration ; it will not interfere 

 with that at present under notice. 



The great object of all the contrivances in use should be first to give 

 the power of accumulating the heat of the sun's rays during the day, 

 and of retaining it as much as possible during the night, in order to 

 make up for the deficiencies of our cHmate, by accelerating the groul;!! 

 of the trees, and to protect them in their consequent tendencies from 

 the natural cold of our nights. Our springs being too late, our summers 

 too short, and our autumns too cold, to enable the Peach tree to develop 

 itself and ripen its fruit, we are under the necessity of ob\'iating these 

 natural disadvantages as well as w^e can. 



The first object, then, is to accumulate the heat of the sun's rays — 

 to keep the heat about the trees — to retain it as much as possible — so 

 that they have the benefit of the warmth of present added to the warmth 

 of past moments. To effect this an al^sorbing substance must be pro- 

 vided — a sponcre, so to speak — something which will quietly take in the 

 heat as it falls upon it during the day, and give it out again during the 

 night. It is necessary, also, that the trees should be in close contact 



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