1040 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Apple The Queen, splendid for cultivation in pots. 



off about an inch of the old surface soil, 

 replace with a layer of fresh turfy loam, to 

 which bone - meal has been added (| pint 

 to each peck of soil) ; make this firm by 

 means of a wooden rammer. Then let the 

 trees be arranged in the house 18 inches 

 or 2 feet apart. Throughout January the 

 ventilators are kept open in all except frosty 

 weather, but in February they may be 

 closed at night and on dull days, though 

 air must be given in bright weather. The 

 night temperature should not exceed 45 to 50 

 degrees, air being given in the morning when 

 the thermometer registers 55 degrees. A 

 cool airy atmosphere is essential, so that the 

 trees break into growth slowly. 



When the blossoms begin to open it is a 

 good plan to have a little heat in the pipes, 

 as it greatly helps to secure a good " set " of 

 fruit, providing air is freely admitted. To 

 make doubly sure of a good crop it is 

 necessary to resort to artificial fertilisation. 

 This is best effected by using a soft brush 

 or rabbit's tail to distribute the pollen, mak- 

 ing sure that it comes in contact with the 

 stigma or centre column of the flower, and by 

 shaking the trees gently. Those possessing 

 bees should place a hive inside the house 

 while the trees are in bloom. 



After the fruits are formed the tempera- 

 ture may be slightly increased by giving 

 less air on cold nights and slightly heating 

 the pipes, while the floor and spaces ought 

 to be syringed once or twice daily in bright 

 weather. 



Disbudding. At this stage many wood 

 buds start into growth, and it is necessary 

 to reduce their number. Only three buds 

 are left on each of the leading shoots of the 

 previous year's growth (those that were cut 



back to half their length at winter 

 priming), all others being rubbed off. 

 If on any other branches the fresh 

 shoots appear to be crowded, do not 

 hesitate to remove a few of them. 

 As soon as the shoots, whether on 

 the leading branches or any other 

 part of the tree, have developed five 

 leaves they should be "stopped," and 

 all subsequent growths are stopped 

 after the second or third leaf. This 

 is what is termed summer pruning, 



1 



Plum tree grown in pot. 



