136 



Commercial Gardening 



Peaches and Nectarines in Pots. Although nurserymen and private 

 gardeners grow these fruits in pots or tubs, the practice has not yet 

 been adopted by market growers to any extent. There is no reason, 

 however, why it should not be, especially where there is already plenty 

 of glass, and where the grower is sometimes at his wits' end to know 

 how to utilize it to the best advantage. Even cool houses, or houses 

 with very little hot-water piping, might be utilized for growing a crop 

 of Peaches and Nectarines. Young trees two or three years old, trained 

 pyramid fashion, as shown in the sketch (fig. 371), or as half -standards 



(fig. 372), may be obtained from the nursery- 

 man to save time, or maidens may be bought 

 more cheaply and grown on. 



Fig. 371. Pyramid Peach 



Fig. 372. Half -standard Peach 



They should be potted up in October or early November, using a com- 

 post of rich turfy loam, and about half the quantity of well -rotted 

 manure, with some bone meal and crushed mortar rubble. The pots 

 should be well drained, and the sizes may vary from 10 to 12 in. 

 The soil should be rammed firmly round the roots, the plants afterwards 

 being plunged in a border or in a bed of ashes so that the rims of the 

 pots are covered by 2 or 3 in. This will guard against frost. The plants 

 may be brought under glass early in January, and might well follow 

 Chrysanthemums. The cultural treatment would be practically the same 

 as for Peach trees planted in borders permanently, attention being given to 

 syringing, ventilating, and heating. Watering will require more attention, 

 as the plants are in pots, and there will be no trouble in tying in shoots. 



