FRUIT CULTURE IN FRANCE 331 



thousands by specialists in nurseries cost much less than when the trees are 

 grown by private individuals. 



Transplanted trees have more numerous and shorter roots than those which 

 are not transplanted, and for this reason derive their nourishment from the surface 

 of the soil. To obtain the best results, trees which have not been transplanted 

 in the nursery should not be older than : Pears and apples, two, three, or four 

 years at the most ; peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, &c., two or three years at 

 the most. Trees which have been transplanted in the nursery : Pears and 

 apples may be three, four, five, and six years old ; peaches, apricots, plums, and 

 cherries, three, four, and five years ; standards not formed, one to three years ; 

 standards formed and transplanted, from three to six years old. 



Fruit Trees in Pots. — This method of cultivation is now spreading more 

 and more among amateurs, and especially in towns where, deprived of gardens, 

 people appreciate not only flowers in their rooms but also fruit trees, which 

 are charming when in blossom and valuable for their fruits. An orangery, 

 courtyard, terrace, or balcony is sufficient for these trees, provided they are 

 sheltered from the frost in winter and not allowed to become too dry in summer. 

 An annual repotting in the autumn with good fresh soil and watering during 

 the summer as often as required are necessary. Once a week liquid manure is 

 given. Cherries, plums, peaches, and grapes are the chief fruits cultivated in pots ; 

 but currants, figs, pears, apples, raspberries, apricots, medlars, and even quinces 

 afford much satisfaction when thus grown. The idea of this most interesting 

 phase of culture is to obtain as much fruit as possible within a minimum space. 



The Soil. — To prepare land for a fruit plantation one must know the 

 needs which the soil will have to supply, its state and nature, and the proper 

 means of modifying the composition in order to ameliorate it. Let us therefore 

 examine these questions in connection with the humidity, physical constitution, 

 chemical composition, and aeration. 



Humidity of the Soil : Drainage. — Moisture in excess is hurtful to the 

 land, because it prevents aeration and warmth, tends to encourage late frosts, and 

 retards vegetation in spring. Trees which grow in a wet soil are more sensitive 

 to frost ; rooting after transplantation is also more difficult. 



To overcome excess of humidity drainage is resorted to ; either by open 

 drains, or by trenches filled with stones, or still better by drain-pipes, the 

 diameters of which vary according to the volume of water to be carried off. 

 The depth of the trenches or drains varies, I mm. inclination per metre is 

 sufficient for pipe-drains, but from their greater resistance to the flow of water, 

 other drains require more. 



To drain a border at the foot of a wail, the foundation must be so placed 

 as to carry the water away from the wall, and turn it aside by some means or 

 other. If the soil does not permit of a slope, recourse is had to wells, into which 

 the drains empty themselves. If none of these methods is sufficient, the only 

 thing to do is to plant upon elevations or mounds, so that by increasing the 

 depth of the soil to be cultivated, the trees may be above the level of the 

 water. Drainage impoverishes the soil a little by carrying away some soluble 

 manure in the water. This must be taken into account. 



