148 FRUIT GROWING FOR AMATEURS 



feet drainage and are covered with some rough turf soil. The 

 tree is then put in, and should be at such a depth in the pot 

 that the uppermost roots are within from 1 inch to 2 inches 

 of the rim. Prepared compost is filled in and made thoroughly 

 firm by means of a wooden rammer ; the trees will not thrire 

 unless the soil is made firm. 



When potting is finished the trees are placed out of doors, 

 the pots plunged to the rims in ashes. The soil must be kept 

 moist though not saturated. During the following season it 

 is not advisable to force the trees, therefore they may remain 

 out of doors until they are in bud. In future years they may 

 be placed under glass in January if an early crop is needed. In 

 that case they must be kept quite cool ; fire-heat ought not to 

 be used except ^n cold weather, for a temperature of 40 to 

 45 is quite high enough before the trees have started growth. 

 As spring advances the minimum temperature of the glass- 

 house will increase naturally, but air must be admitted freely 

 in favourable weather with the object of keeping the growth 

 of the trees sturdy and short- join ted. When the trees are in 

 bloom, and throughout the summer, the ventilators ought to be 

 opened widely. Peach and Nectarine may be forced to some 

 extent after the fruits have " stoned," by closing the glasshouse 

 in the afternoon before the sunshine has left the roof, and 

 moistening the floor and walls, but cooler conditions again be- 

 come necessary when the fruits are fully developed. Apples, 

 Pears, and Plums cannot be forced ; they will, however, ripen 

 considerably earlier than those in the open. 



Disbudding is an item of importance in the cultivation 

 of fruit trees in pots ; it is far better to remove superfluous 

 shoots early than to allow them to grow, and be obliged to cut 

 them off later. All shoots not required for extension purposes 

 are summer pruned, and are again shortened in winter, except 

 in dealing with the Peach and Nectarine. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

 Diseases of Fruit Trees 



Apple. Two of the most alarming diseases affecting the Apple 

 are Apple Scab and Brown Rot. Apple Scab disfigures the 



