2o6 PcacJi-Trecs hi Pots. 



PEACH-TREES IN POTS. 



The general opinion among fruit-growers is, that, when the mercury falls 

 as low as ten degrees below zero, the fruit-buds of the peach will be killed. 

 This may not be strictly true : but it is true that the peach often fails when 

 the winters are severe ; and this repeated failure has led many persons to 

 abandon the culture of this most luscious fruit. Now, there is not, per- 

 haps, among all the fruits that can be grown in a Northern climate, one 

 more generally esteemed and admired than this ; and the question is often 

 asked, How can it be raised where the winters are so unfavorable ? We 

 would suggest growing them in pots or tubs, and placing the tubs in a 

 house or warm barn-cellar in winter, where they will be perfectly protected 

 from the severe weather. This cannot be done on an extensive scale, per- 

 haps, or in such a way as to yield a profit, but may be, to some extent, 

 by every lover of this fruit, to supply his own table. V/e take great 

 pains to raise grapes and other fruit under glass ; and why not take 

 some trouble to raise peaches in this way ? The expense is not large : for, 

 if earthen pots are used, they will last many years, and serve for several 

 generations of trees ; or a cheaper article can be made to answer the pur- 

 pose. The large size iron-bound white-lead kegs, sawed in two, make very 

 good tubs for this purpose ; and even the light Malaga grape and raisin 

 casks will last as long as one set of trees can profitably be kept. Each 

 tub or pot should hold about three-fourths of a bushel of good earth and 

 compost well prepared. The trees may be set in the spring, the roots 

 shortened, and the tops well cut in ; and, if they are in pots, the pots may 

 be plunged in the ground in some position not too much exposed to the 

 hot sun the first year. They will need to be watered once in a while, but 

 not noarly as often as those not so treated. If they are in tubs, they can- 

 not be put into the ground, because of the danger of rotting the wood, so 

 that they would not last long enough for even one set of trees. When they 

 have made a fiir growth, the shoots should be pinched in for a double pur- 

 pose, — to have them ripen up their wood, and also to cause them to form 

 fruit-buds for the next year ; for they ought all to produce some fruit the 

 second year after being planted. They may require several successive 



