March Sowing and Planting 



the weather is warm and sunny, to increase the amount 

 of air during the morning. In the afternoon, early or 

 late according to the weather, the glasshouse should be 

 closed with the object of increasing the temperature 

 by natural warmth. When cold winds prevail, air should 

 be admitted with greater caution and always if possible 

 on the leeward side. 



As the side shoots of the Vine increase in length, 

 it becomes necessary to attach them to the trellis ; this 

 needs to be done with great care or they may break 

 off at the base. In the first place, a piece of raffia is 

 passed over the upper end of the shoot (which is pulled 

 down slightly) and tied loosely to the trellis. In a day 

 or two the shoot may be pulled down still farther and 

 made secure. 



Disbudding Peach Trees. The chief work in con- 

 nection with Peach trees is that of disbudding, of which 

 an understanding is essential to correct cultivation. The 

 fruits of the current summer will be produced upon the 

 shoots that grew last year, and, similarly, the fresh 

 growths now developing will bear next year's crop. 

 These are so numerous that it is obvious they must be 

 thinned or disbudded. When disbudding is completed 

 there should remain two or three fresh shoots only 

 on each of last year's growths ; one of them must be 

 at the top, another, at the base, while, if there is room, 

 another may be left at the middle. Thus it is of impor- 

 tance, before disbudding is begun, to select the three 

 shoots that are to remain finally. All superfluous growths 

 must not be removed at once ; the work ought to be 

 completed in about three weeks, and be carried out on 

 three occasions. In this way the growth of the tree 

 is not checked. As the remaining shoots increase in 

 length they are attached to the trellis. While the trees 

 are in bloom air ought to be admitted to the Peach trees 

 as freely as the weather will allow, and it is wise to draw 

 a soft brush gently over the flowers to disperse the pollen. 



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