40 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



The trees should be primed and repotted before they 

 are brought into the house. In April they need looking 

 over from time to time, to kill any caterpillars that may 

 hatch out and be feeding on the young leaves or flower- 

 buds before the blossoms open. As soon as the flower- 

 buds expand, all possible air should be given on fine days, 

 and the atmosphere should be kept dry. 



In order to keep the house on the dry side during 

 flowering, give the pots a good soaking a week before the 

 trees begin to flower, and then withhold water. 



Should several dull days succeed each other, it may 

 be necessary to fertilise the blossoms by using (very gently) 

 a dry brush on the end of a stick, made of a hare's tail, 

 soft feathers, or fur. This should be carefully dusted 

 over the blooms, passing the brush from one tree to the 

 other, so that no variety is fertilised with its own pollen. 

 This little trouble ensures a regular "set" all over the 

 trees, instead of clusters of fruit on some spurs and 

 none on others ; and as the fruit will ultimately be 

 thinned to about one fruit on a spur, it is worth the 

 attention. 



As the growths begin to lengthen, watch must be kept 

 for aphides or flies. It is not advisable to fumigate 

 whilst the trees are in blossom, so that patches of aphis 

 found here and there are best dusted with tobacco powder ; 

 but as ,soon as the blossom petals have fallen, the house 

 should be fumigated thoroughly, repeating the operation 

 in two or three weeks' time. As soon as the fruits are 

 easily discernible, the trees may be syringed over in the 

 afternoon, closing the house at about 4 o'clock. The 

 fruits will soon begin to grow ; but do not attempt to 



