44 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



malt combings can be had they are useful combined with 

 the dung. This rim prevents waste of water, and at each 

 application some stimulant reaches the roots ; the upper 

 fibres will soon root into the manure itself. 



If there seems any check in leaf or fruit development, 

 or the leaves lose colour, a teaspoonful of sulphate of 

 ammonia can be given each tree, watering it in, and a 

 bag of soot may be substituted for the cow's manure in 

 the tank. 



In order to get colour in the fruit, about the first week 

 in August the pots may be shifted out-of-doors to a spot 

 previously prepared for them on an ash bottom ; but the 

 trees must be carefully netted to protect the fruit from 

 birds. We use a cage about 80 feet long and 9 feet wide, 

 made with iron supports and covered in with half-inch 

 meshed wire netting. It is remarkable how soon the fruits 

 develop colour with the outdoor treatment, especially after 

 rains and wind. 



If the fruits are not wanted for any special purpose, 

 the trees may remain in the house, as the flavour will be 

 good even if the fruits lack that high colour to be seen at 

 the exhibitions. 



When a tree has been stripped of its fruit, it should be 

 placed outside on an ash bottom and watered regularly ; 

 some loose, long manure may be placed between the pots 

 to prevent drying out. 



We will now suppose that the fruit is all gathered and 

 the pot trees have been placed outside to "summer." 

 The next step is to prepare soil for the annual repotting. 

 This should consist of turfy loam which has been laid up 

 a year previously, with a layer of short manure between 



