FRUIT GROWING UNDER GLASS 211 



and a good cellar or pit in which to store them during 

 the winter, trees of the peach, apricot and nectarine 

 may be grown in pots with a good degree of satisfaction. 

 Small one-year-old trees should be planted in six to 

 eight-inch pots in rich soil in April or May, and be 

 grown vigorously in the open air until October. For 

 the best results they should be shifted once or twice 

 into pots of larger size until, when well grown, they will 

 be in twelve-inch size. They must have a constant 

 supply of water and an abundance of plant food. To 

 prevent too rapid evaporation of moisture from the 

 soil in the pot, they should be plunged to their rim, 

 or an inch or two lower if the soil is dry, in soil, 

 sphagnum moss, or some other material that holds 

 moisture well. They should be plunged where they 

 will have a full exposure to sunlight and air. 



Under no circumstances must the soil become dry 

 for any considerable time, and whenever water is ap- 

 plied sufficient should be used to saturate the soil in 

 the pots and that about it. If the roots are found to 

 grow through the drain hole or over the top of the pot 

 the ball of roots should be pulled from the pot and 

 given a full turn, returning all roots to the inside of the 

 pot, settling the soil firmly in place by tamping. As 

 cold weather comes on less water should be used that 

 the wood may become well ripened. Any mulch about 

 the roots should be removed unless in times of severe 

 drouth. Allow the trees to stand in full exposure until 

 there is danger of bursting the pots by frost, when the 

 pots may be protected or be taken up and placed in a 

 frame where the pots can be protected. 



At any time from December to March, after consid- 

 erable exposure to frost has been given, the trees may 

 be gradually exposed to a higher temperature in a light, 

 airy house, starting at thirty-five degrees at night and 

 forty to forty-five degrees during the daytime, and 



