160 



PBACH CTJLTUEB. 



as to promote and accelerate the ripening of the fruit. 

 Soap-suds are excellent for this, as they not only keep 

 the trees clean, but afford a safe and very appropriate 

 nourishment. 



CULTIVATION IN POTS. 



Fig. 26. 



The peach, like almost every other fruit tree, can be 

 successfully grown in pots or vases. When this is desir- 

 ed, procure a pot about two feet deep, and 

 fifteen inches wide at the greatest diameter, 

 and of the usual shape. It may be larger or 

 smaller as the taste of the amateur inclines 

 him. Fill this with a rich mould, mixed freely 

 with ashes or bone-dust. In this, plant a 

 thrifty young tree from the nursery, which 

 you will cut down to one foot, and the lower 

 branches to the height of six inches, cut off close to the 

 stem, and the remaining buds shortened-in to two buds 

 each, as in fig. 26. This should be done in autumn, and the 

 pot kept in the cellar during winter. 

 The next spring it should be set out 

 early. It will grow very fast and 

 vigorously, and become quite stout 

 and stocky. In the full, say about 

 the first of September, north of the 

 fortieth parallel, and south of that, 

 the first of October, the season's 

 growth should again be shortened- 

 in to three buds, as shown by the 

 cross-lines in figure 27, and thus ^'^S- 27.-pot oultdke. 

 prepared for a crop the next year. If the tree has been 

 well attended, and met with nothing to injure or retard 

 it, well developed fruit-bufls will be formod, and the next 

 season you will have a crop of beautiful fruit. And if you 

 yut it in a conservatory, or cold grapery, you can h»ve 



