THE ORCHARD HOUSE. 



277 



thinning, and during the remainder of the 

 growing season, a weak solution of liquid 

 manure may be given two or three times a 

 week, but it must be applied with discretion, or 

 it may injure the young roots. Fertilizers or 

 plant foods sold by vendors of these useful 

 manures, when mixed with at least their own 

 weight in fine sifted dry soil, may with advan- 

 tage be used as a surface-dressing two or more 

 times during summer; after application the 

 dressing should be watered in with a fine rose- 

 pot. 



When the fruit begins to colour, the feeding 

 should be discontinued. 



To ripen the fruit well some care is necessary. 

 Cherries, Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums will 

 finish perfectly in the position in which they 

 have been grown, but syringing must be dis- 

 continued, and as the crop approaches matur- 

 ation the ventilators on fine mornings should 

 be opened to their full extent, and a little air 

 left on all night. Peaches and Nectarines are 

 improved in colour by having any leaves that 

 overshadow them tied up and the fruit fully 

 exposed to the sun's rays. Apples and Pears 

 are very much improved both in colour and 

 flavour by removing the trees out-of-doors just 

 as the fruit commences its second swelling, 

 which is usually about the middle or last week 

 in July. A warm, sheltered, sunny situation 

 should be selected for this purpose, and in the 

 case of large -fruited varieties each Apple and 

 Pear is best tied round the stem with a bit of 

 raffia matting and secured to a branch. This 

 precaution prevents any fruit that may prema- 

 turely drop from falling and being bruised. If 

 the pots are partly plunged, there need be no 

 fear of the trees being blown over. 



Autumn Treatment. — Having gathered the 

 fruit, it becomes necessary to make preparation 

 for another year. The soil required for re- 

 potting and top-dressing should be got ready 

 and placed under cover. The trees should be 

 pruned, and carefully examined for insects. 

 Plants in good health will have filled the pots 

 with roots, and in most cases will require re- 

 moving into pots two sizes larger. Any addi- 

 tional trees that may be required from the 

 nurseryman should be got in the autumn, so 

 that they may be re -potted, plunged, and 

 wintered with the others. 



Before re -potting, see that the trees are 

 thoroughly t moist at the roots. On turning 

 them out of the pot remove the crocks, then 

 with a pointed stick prick part of the soil from 

 all round the sides and surface of the ball, 



prune off any straggling roots, and place the 

 tree into a clean, sound, and properly-drained 

 pot. The top of the ball should be about an 

 inch and a half below the top of the pot. Work 

 the compost round the ball by giving the pot 

 a smart shake, and ramming it firmly with a 



Fig. 1063.— Peach— Crimson Galande (in pot). Tree sixteen years old. 



wooden rammer. Two or three days after re- 

 potting, give sufficient water to thoroughly soak 

 the ball. The trees may now be placed in their 

 winter quarters, and no further attention will 

 be required until spring. 



Orchard House trees in pots, treated as here 

 described, have borne good crops of fruit 

 annually for a quarter of a century, and look 

 as if they would go on for many more years to 

 come. 



Trees that have grow T n as large as is desirable, 

 and are in 16- or 18-inch pots at potting time, 

 need only to be examined to see that the 

 drainage is perfect, and to remove with a hand- 



