64 THE BOOK OF THE PEACH. 



perhaps until the process of stoning is completed- 

 when the application should be repeated, using tepid 

 water for this and subsequent waterings where avail- 

 able. The trees being in full leaf and swelling their 

 fruits will necessarily require more copious and fre- 

 quent watering from this stage up to the time the 

 fruit begins to colour occasional surface-dressings 

 of some approved fertiliser applied immediately before 

 giving clear water at the roots, will greatly assist in 

 the development of large fruit of the best description. 

 Alternate waterings of tepid liquid-manure, diluted 

 when considered to be too strong, will also prove 

 beneficial in the same direction. The borders 

 must receive continued attention in the way of 

 watering after the crop has been taken up to the 

 time they shed their leaves as a matter of fact, 

 the soil in which the trees are growing should be 

 uniformly moist at all times. If this sine qua non 

 were duly observed, little, if anything, would be 

 heard of peach trees casting their buds when being 

 forced. But in too many cases the trees cease to 

 receive proper attention in the way of being syringed 

 overhead thoroughly morning and afternoon, and 

 keeping the roots well supplied with water when the 

 ripe fruit has been gathered. No matter however 

 pressing the demands on a limited staff of labour 

 may be in other directions, the above-mentioned 

 highly important cultural details should not be 



