18 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. 



problem will easily be solved. The trees will be 

 placed under glass during the flowering stage, 

 and it is at this period, and in the first stages of 

 growth, that the trees are liable to attacks from 

 A'arious kinds of insects. The work of the birds 

 will therefore have to be substituted by artificial 

 means, a iz. by fumigating or by using an insec- 

 ticide for insects, and remo^'ing all caterpillars 

 by hand. 



By way of comparison, it should be borne in 

 mind that trees, when grown absolutely under 

 glass, are shut away from the birds, and if the 

 wire enclosures cannot be fumigated, the aphides 

 (whenever they appear) can be easily destroyed by 

 the use of an insecticide, which can be applied by 

 a sprayer or a small brush. 



Water. — AVater is an absolute necessity for 

 plant and tree life. Although it may not appear 

 that the construction of houses has much to do 

 with the water supply, yet the two are really 

 very closely associated with each other. When 

 building a house, it should always be borne in mind 

 that rain-water is better than any other, more 

 especially for syringing the trees, and also for 

 watering, should the supply be suflScient. It is 

 an excellent plan to ha^'e a water-trough running 

 all round the house and leading into a tank, and 

 if this is inside the house, so much the better. 



