THE PEACH. 471 



" We have now fruiting, in wooden boxes ten by ten inches, 

 fifty-three varieties of peaches, eleven varieties of nectarines, 

 and seven of apricots. 



"Age, Potting, and Soil. The trees are now three years 

 from the bud. They were taken up in the fall of 1861; 

 heeled-in and covered during winter; potted early in spring 

 March, I think ; soil a mixture of about three parts yellow 

 sandy loam and one part of old hotbed manure. 



" Summer Care. After potting they were kept in a cool 

 house, partly covered with glass, until they had made shoots 

 four or five inches long and the danger of cold weather was 

 over. They were then plunged to the rim of the boxes in an 

 open border until the fall. They were carefully watered 

 when necessary during summer, and the shoots kept as much 

 as possible in uniform vigor by pinching. 



"Pruning. When potted, the yearling trees were cut back 

 to six or eight inches, and in some cases to four inches, or 

 only two or three buds above the union of bud and stock, the 

 object being to grow them in the form of bushes. We now 

 find that those cut back farthest are the best trees. [Fig. 627 

 represents the yearling tree; Fig. 628, the same cut back; 

 Fig. 629, the tree set in a pot ; and Fig. 630, the same after a 

 year's growth.] 



" Wintering. On the approach of very cold weather, or just 

 before the freezing of the ground so as to prevent out- 

 door work, they were removed to a shed, where they were 

 plunged as they had been during summer, up to the edges of 

 the tubs. 



" Spring Treatment. On the return of mild spring weather 

 abundance of air was admitted, and they remained there till 

 ist of May, when they were placed under glass, the buds at 

 this time being about to expand. Here they were kept till 

 the 1 5th of June, at which time the fruits were set, and all 

 danger of cold to affect the foliage past. 



" Ventilation and Watering. During the period they were 

 under glass, May ist to June isth, the principal points of 

 management were ventilation, which was ample, and water- 

 ing the latter being one of the most important points in the 

 treatment of all trees and plants in pots. Careless watering 

 will ruin any plants, no matter how skilfully or carefully 



