APRICOTS VENTILATION AND PROTECTION. 77 



The border may be prepared as advised for trees against walls, and it is essential 

 that the roots be under complete control. Trees trained three or four years and lifted 

 annually are the most suitable for planting in glass structures. This should be done early 

 in the autumn, transferring them, if possible, with soil adhering to the roots. The 

 roof lights should be removed when the trees have shed their leaves. Thoroughly 

 cleanse the house, prune the trees, adjust them to the trellis unless the border has not 

 settled, mulch this with manure, as advised for outdoor culture, and nothing more will 

 be needed by the trees until the buds commence swelling in the spring. 



Eain or snow will soak the soil through to the drainage. If not, repeated waterings 

 must be given to thoroughly moisten the whole border. "When the first blossoms 

 show colour, replace the roof lights, opening the top and bottom ventilators to their 

 full extent, and keep them so when the external temperature is 40 or more. 

 Eeduce the ventilation to a chink about an inch wide at the top and bottom when the 

 temperature outside falls below 40; if it fall ,to 35 close the front lights, but 

 leave the top lights open not less than half an inch, and they must always remain so, 

 except when the house temperature is below 35. A still atmosphere is then desirable, 

 and the top lights may be closed, but they must be opened again when the temperature 

 has risen to 35. Open the front ventilators as well as the top when the temperature 

 inside is 40 ; increase the ventilation between 40 and 45 ; do not allow the heat to 

 exceed 50 without full ventilation, and close with the reservation of top and front air 

 before named for the day between 40 and 45, yet not so early as to raise the tem- 

 perature above 50, as indicated by a shaded thermometer. 



When a sharp frost is apprehended, the protective covering should be placed over the 

 roof. This will only be needed in severe weather, but it is not safe to dispense with it 

 when there is likely to be 6 or more of frost. In case of frost by day the protection may 

 remain ; never in mild weather or when the sun is not obscured, for the blossom cannot 

 have too much light. In case of continued frosty nights the light covering need not be 

 removed daily from the top lights, and in no case must it be withdrawn until the 

 temperature has risen to a safe degree 35. Then air must be admitted, so that the 

 heat of the house will rise gradually with that of the external .air, before the blossoms 

 are exposed to the full influence of light. 



After the blossoms are fully expanded a gentle rapping of the trellis will insure 

 the dispersion of the pollen, or it may be distributed with a camel's-hair brush and 

 applied gently to the flowers, or the blossoms may be brushed over with a bunch of 



