PLUMS AND DAMSONS TREES IX POTS. iqi 



borders. Strong calcareous loam, interspersed with flints or stones, needs no admixture for 

 borders. Efficient drainage is necessary. Three parts of stiff maiden loam and one part of 

 decayed manure, with a 9 -inch potful of bone meal and a quart of soot added to every 3 

 bushels of the mixture, make a suitable compost for potting. If the soil is deficient both 

 in grit and lime, add a fifth part of sifted mortar rubbish ; if turfy, use Thomas' phosphate 

 instead of bone dust. Drain the pots thoroughly with crocks or oyster-shells. Pot 

 firmly and allow sufficient room above the soil for the large quantity of water required 

 in the summer. Place the trees on a bed of rough ashes in a sheltered situation outdoors, 

 surrounding the pots up to their rims with finer ashes. After a year's growth outside 

 they may be placed under glass for fruiting. When trees two or three years from the 

 bud or graft can be had established in pots it is better to purchase such than to rear 

 them, as they will fruit the first year. Trees of that age, carefully lifted and placed in 

 10- or 12-inch pots early in the autumn, will produce some fruit the first season, but 

 they are better established a year or more in pots. 



Trees' that are wintered outdoors should be returned to the house before the buds 

 are so far advanced as to show colour, allowing each plenty of room for development. 

 Each pot may stand on two bricks on the flat, with a little space between them, so 

 that the roots will not pass into the soil, whilst there will be a free escape for water. 

 When trees are kept under glass constantly the ventilators should be wide open during 

 the winter, whenever the temperature is above the freezing point. 



The trees should start naturally in the spring and a circulation of air, except in severe 

 weather, must always be maintained by leaving the ventilators open, more or less, day 

 and night. Abundance of air and a dry atmosphere are essential to secure a proper set 

 of fruit. By the time the fruits are swelling the sun will have considerable power 

 and may be taken advantage of to accelerate growth by reducing the ventilation in 

 the afternoon, airing early each fine morning on the sheltered side, when the wind is 

 sharp and cold. In the summer the ventilators should be left open day and night, 

 wire netting being placed over the openings to exclude birds. 



The trees must never suffer by lack of water. Flagging of the leaves ruins the 

 crops. The soil should always be kept moist trees in pots require water twice, some- 

 times three times a day in the summer ; also surface dressings of rich compost, pieces of 

 turf preferably, to encourage surface roots plentifully, which can be fed to any extent 

 by liquid and sprinklings of chemical manures occasionally. Trees in borders require 

 water less frequently, but there must be no deficiency ; yet over-watering should be 



