"FIKST SWELL." 91 



When the young 'trees are in bloom they re- 

 quire much care they should be well watered*, 

 or the fruit will not set, and a gentle shaking 

 will tend to facilitate this important operation. 

 A rather high and constant temperature is also 

 now very necessary. When, about the end of 

 April, the fruit begins to " make its first swell," 

 (as gardeners say), begin to syringe but gently, 

 and under the leaves only, and do not neglect to 

 water the trees, especially in warm weather. 

 Ventilation is now of great importance, and, in 

 May, all these cares are doubly needed. Worsted 

 netting will diminish draughts, and keep out 

 sooty particles, so that Orchard-houses, by this 

 simple precaution, succeed admirably in large 

 towns. The summer pinching-in of the young 

 shoots on the spurs will now have fairly com- 

 menced, and the amateur be in full career, as 

 this is an important period. 



Syringing early, say before 8 o'clock, and 

 late, after 6 o'clock in the evening, when there is 

 little sun to hurt, must now be carefully at- 

 tended to, under penalty of insects' tyranny. 

 Trees three years old require two or three quarts 

 of water at a time, and I find it far better (as in- 

 deed it is in the case with flowers), to soak them 

 occasionally than to sprinkle the surface daily. 

 Trees seven or eight years old require one gallon 



* No syringing is here meant. 



