2 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. 



the shade too dense, and the ventilation insuffi- 

 cient. Another house may have been situated near 

 large trees, whicli ha^'e shut out all — or very much 

 — of the sunlight, which is essential for the well- 

 being of fruit trees. The consequence has been 

 that all fruit produced has suffered in size, colour, 

 and flavour. The wood of such trees, too, has never 

 ripened, and so in the following year the immature 

 buds have given no fruit ; hence the failure. 



Before proceeding further, the following simple 

 directions may be laid down : — 



First. — Choose a favourable site on which to 

 build a suitable, properly constructed house. 



Second. — Use pots of a proper size for the trees, 

 avoiding those of too large a size, as this is one of 

 the greatest mistakes, and one often fatal to the 

 trees. 



Third. — Use the right kind of soil, and pur- 

 chase your trees from a reliable firm. 



The selection of the right stocks for the differ- 

 ent varieties of fruit trees is a matter for the 

 nurseryman, and is a point to which INIessrs. Rivers 

 have always paid great attention. 



The span-roof house : its site. — There are 

 few people who would think of purchasing house- 

 hold furniture unless they had a house for its 

 accommodation, and it would be equally ridicu- 

 lous to purchase fruit trees in pots without a 



