32 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



If grown on the shady, large-pot, and wet-at-the-root 

 system, they will not be in a fit state for the purpose 

 now named ; and even with the best of management 

 to induce them to start without first making a growth 

 in January and February, it is necessary that they 

 should complete their growth early under the influence 

 of plenty of light and air, or they will make a fresh 

 growth when the temperature is raised with the object 

 of starting them, instead of coming up at once into 

 fruit. True, those which make a growth first, I have 

 always found, throw the finest fruit; but where an 

 early summer supply of fruit is required, it must be 

 had from those which start without any growth. In 

 properly preparing plants for this purpose, there are 

 two things which must be guarded against. The one 

 is that of having the plants pot-bound too early, and 

 subjected to a high temperature too long in autumn. 

 In this case the fruit comes up slowly late in autumn, 

 or in winter, a hardened knot like a thimble, and is 

 worthless, especially in the case of Queens. The other 

 is a watery immature growth, from which it is im- 

 possible to get early fruit. 



In September water must be judiciously and very 

 sparingly applied. No more should be given than is 

 just sufficient to prevent the plants from suffering 

 either from aridity of atmosphere or dryness of soil. 

 Give a liberal supply of air on fine days. Towards 

 the end of September they should be as completely at 

 rest as a comparatively low temperature, a dry atmo- 

 sphere, and a proportionately dry state of the soil in 

 which they grow, can place them. I have frequently 

 allowed Queens in this stage to remain without a drop 

 of water at the root from the first week in October till 

 January, and found the plants so treated in the very 



