86 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. 



weather is suitable and there is no frost. Give one 

 more watering during the first week of this month. 

 The pruning of the trees should be done from the 

 middle to the end of this month, and another 

 watering should be given (see piaming instructions, 

 p. 43). 



March. — The trees should now be arranged 

 in the house, and placed in proper positions for the 

 growing season, ^^''ater the trees once a week, and 

 ventilate freely all day, but close at night. It will 

 be necessary to watch the weather this month, and 

 in the event of the occurrence of frost, care must 

 be taken to protect the blossoms. The trees will 

 probably be in flower some time this month. They 

 may be protected by the use of hot- water pipes, 

 etc. There will be no necessity for a high tempera- 

 ture during the flowering stage, as this would be 

 more injurious than beneficial. The idea is simply 

 to protect the trees when in flower. This can be 

 done safely by keeping the temperature of the 

 house from 38° to 40° Fahr. at xight. 



Where the house is of good size, I would 

 strongly recommend the addition of a suitable 

 boiler, and a 4-in. hot- water pipe running round the 

 house— simply one pipe on each side — to be used 

 only during the time the trees are in flower. This 

 will only be about three weeks or a month. The 

 flow-pipe should always be on the north side of 



