WATERING THE BORDERS. 63 



light and sunshine, and in these circumstances a 

 good " set " of fruit may be obtained by syringing the 

 expanded flowers with a fine spray of clean tepid 

 water about noon on bright days. Tapping the trees 

 with the hand or a light stick on dull days to disperse 

 the pollen will also produce the desired effect. 



WATERING THE BORDERS. 



The knowledge of when to apply water to 

 trees and plants growing in pots and borders 

 of limited and unlimited root-space is only to be 

 acquired by. practical experience and a thorough 

 acquaintanceship with the growing requirements of 

 the trees during their various stages of growth, 

 together with a cognition of the manner in which 

 the said borders were formed as regards drainage, 

 natural or otherwise. As soon as the trees have 

 been pruned and arranged in position on the 

 trellis, the woodwork and glass having been pre- 

 viously washed with clean water, and the brick- 

 work with hot liquid lime, the border pricked 

 over and top-dressed with about three inches thick 

 of horse-droppings or well-decayed stable dung, the 

 whole should receive a good watering prior to 

 closing the house in the initial stage of the process 

 of forcing the trees. This watering, as a rule, will 

 suffice, in early forced houses, until the fruit is set 



