68 FIIUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. iii 



good crops of fruit for 20 or 25 years, and even 

 longer if required. 



Cherries will also grow and give excellent crops 

 for 30 years. I have seen some of the very finest 

 examples of fruit produced on trees 20 years old 

 and upwards. 



Apricots pears, and apples will succeed equally 

 well for 20 years. 



Plums grow more freely than other trees, but 

 their age may be fixed from 12 to 15 years. With 

 proper treatment the ages given will in many cases 

 be reached, if not exceeded. Personally, I am not 

 a strong advocate for old trees (cherries excepted, 

 and these I should always devote the greatest 

 attention to, and not destroy them), but if a tree 

 had done me good service for 15 or 20 years, 1 

 should always consider I had been amply repaid, 

 and should have no hesitation in replacing it. 

 Young trees can be purchased at a small cost, and 

 if a few trees are bought e^'ery year, they will form 

 an excellent reserve. They will serve to replace 

 any old or shapeless trees. This will ha^'e the 

 effect of keeping a house fully furnished at a 

 nominal cost. 



Mulberries and figs will both li-\'e to a great 

 age, with proper treatment. 



In all cases the trees should recei^'e an annual 

 repotting or top-dressing as previously directed. 



