THE PEACH. 



595 



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 1st May, 

 when they were placed under glass, the buds at this time being about to 

 expand. Here they were kept till the 15th 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 1st to June 15th, the principal points of management were 

 VENTILATION, which was ample, and WATERING the latter being one of the 

 most important points in the treatment of all trees and plants in pots. 

 Careless watering will ruin any plant, no matter how skilfully or care- 

 fully other points may be managed. DAILY watering is necessary, and, 

 as soon as out of bloom, a free use of the syringe night and morning. 



" Summer Treatment. On the 15th June, when all danger of cold 

 was over, and the fruits set, they were removed from the glass cover- 

 ing and plunged in an open but sheltered border, and mulched with 

 old hot-bed manure. Since that time they have received no care but 

 watering, except an occasional pinch to regulate the growth of shoots. 



" There has not been a single leaf curled on any one of all these 

 trees, showing conclusively that the curl is due to unfavorable changes 

 of weather. Each tree now is a bush about two and a half feet high, 

 and occupies about three feet square of space. 



" The first winter we had potted trees we kept them in a cellar, but 

 most of the buds dropped, and we changed to the cool dry shed, the 

 boxes plunged, and this has been successful." 



In houses where fire-heat is used, and the fruit brought forward so 

 as to ripen in May and onward, the pots are either immersed in beds 

 of tan bark over the flues or heating pipes, or placed on platforms or 

 shelves, the pot containing the tree inside of one, two, or three sizes 



