32 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



on the shady, large-pot, and wet-at-the-root system, 

 they will not be in a fit state for the purpose now 

 named ; and even with the best of management to in- 

 duce them to start without first making a growth in 

 January and February, it is necessary that they should 

 complete their growth early under the influence of 

 plenty of light and air, or they will make a fresh growth 

 when the temperature is raised with the object of start- 

 ing them, instead of coming up at once into fruit. True, 

 those which make a growth first, I have always found, 

 throw the finest fruit ; but where an early summer sup- 

 ply of fruit is required, it must be had from those which 

 start without any growth. In properly preparing plants 

 for this purpose, there are two things which must be 

 guarded against. The one is that of having the plants 

 pot-bound too early, and subjected to a high temperature 

 too long in autumn. In this case the fruit comes up 

 slowly late in autumn, or in winter, a hardened knot 

 like a thimble, and is worthless, especially in the case 

 of Queens. The other is a watery immature growth, 

 from which it is impossible to get early fruit. 



In September, water must be judiciously and very 

 sparingly applied. No more should be given than is just 

 sufficient to prevent the plants from suffering either 

 from aridity of atmosphere or dryness of soil. Give a 

 liberal supply of air on fine days. Towards the end of 

 September they should be as completely at rest as a com- 

 paratively low temperature, a dry atmosphere, and a 

 proportionately dry state of the soil in which they grow 

 can place them. I have frequently allowed Queens in 

 this stage to remain without a drop of water at the root 

 from the first week in October till January, and found 

 the plants so treated in the very best condition. To 



