108 CORDON TRAINING. 



this is perceived, the house should be closed earlier in 

 the afternoon. It will now be time to remove the cov- 

 ering from the pots, that the earth may receive the benefit 

 of warmer air. Commence now to prune the trees, as already 

 directed (page 91) ; after this is done, scrape away the sur- 

 face soil with a sharp-pointed stick or iron down to tlie fresh 

 lively roots, and top dress with a good compost of leaf-mould, 

 old decayed manure, and sound loam. If the weather is 

 favorable, give a good watering, through a fine rose water-pot 

 to settle the soil. Air now abundantly from 9 o'clock till 4 

 o'clock, covering with the shutters at night if any danger of 

 frost. 



April. Early in the month the trees will be in flower, and 

 attention will now be required that the trees receive no 

 check. Ventilate freely during the day, closing early if 

 frosty, to retain the day heat, and put on the shutters if cold, 

 as it occasionally is, up to the middle of the month. But 

 with ordinary care there is not much danger of injury to the 

 blossoms. As soon as the fruit is well set and beginning to 

 swell, syringing may be commenced and continued in fine 

 weather. Always use water of the temperature of the house, 

 and syringe only in the morning until the nights are warm, 

 when it may be repeated at evening. Give the trees proper 

 waterings at the root, and the fruit will soon show the advan- 

 tage of good treatment. If the green fly appears, as it 

 generally does, the house must have a good fumigation with 

 tobacco. 



May. Continue the same treatment as in April, but give 

 more attention to ventilation ; as the season advances the 

 heat will increase, and an abundance of air should be ad- 

 mitted. Be careful, however, not to open the front venti- 

 lators in dry windy days, and at no time during this month 

 only for an hour or two in still warm weather, otherwise mil- 

 dew will be likely to result. The trees will now require a 

 greater abundance of water and a free use of the syringe, to 

 keep away the red spider. If the green fly is again trouble- 

 some fumigate once more. 



