74 



CASSELL'S POPULAK GARDENING . 



texture ; therefore, if the two loams can be ob- 

 tained, they should be stacked, separately, where 

 they can be protected from heavy rain and snow 

 through the winter. 



The best correctives or materials for keeping the 

 soil sweet, open, and pervious to water, are old lime 

 rubble, hairy plaster from chips or bits of wood, 

 charcoal, burnt earth, or broken bricks. When one 

 or all of these materials have been obtained — the first 

 is indispensable, as stone-fruit trees revel in old lime 

 rubble — two-thirds of the loam roughly chopped, 

 one-third of rubble, and twelve per cent, of crushed 

 bones should be thoroughly mixed and kept dry for 

 some two or three weeks before the trees are ready 

 for potting. Animal manui-e, unless the soil is very 

 poor, need not be used, at least at first, as newly- 

 potted trees will grow fast 

 enough without it ; but 

 when it is required, old dry 

 cow-dung from the feeding 

 stalls, where corn and cake 

 ai-e given to the animals, 

 will be found an excellent 

 stimulant for mixing with 

 light soils, while horse ma- 

 nure will be most suitable 

 for heavy, clayey loams. 



The owner of broad acres 

 will have no difficulty 

 in obtaining the preceding- 

 materials, which are the 

 best ; but what must be said to the tradesman, the 

 merchant's clerk, and the masses living in and near 

 large towns ? In populous districts where the demo- 

 lition of old, and the erection of new buildings is 

 constantly going on, debris from the one, and the 

 new soil from the foundations of the other, can gene- 

 rally be obtained. It may be too light or too heavy ; 

 but being fresh it can be corrected by the addition 

 of marl, ordinary garden soil, burnt earth, or par- 

 ings and scrapings from lime-stone roads. If the 

 main staple cannot be obtained in sufiicient quan- 

 tity, good ordinary garden soil, lime rubble, and 

 crushed bones will together make up a compost in 

 which any kind of fruit-tree will grow and produce 

 good fruit. 



Selection of Trees. — "Where time is of more 

 value than money, one season can be saved by pur- 

 chasing trees established in pots, but they do not 

 always grow and fruit so well as home-grown trees, 

 at least until they have been re-potted and brought 

 under the practical grower's special treatment. 

 Many nurserymen keep a large stock of established 

 trees by them, and offer them at a reasonable price ; 

 carriage and packing, however, form a heavy item, 



and on this account many growers prefer forming 

 their own trees. 



Assuming then that a selection of Peaches and 

 Nectarines, which justly head the list of orchard- 

 house trees, has been decided upon, the "maiden" 

 tree should always be chosen, as it is young, cheap, 

 and suitable for growing into bush, pyramid, or 

 cordon. If possible, the experienced grower should 

 select his own trees, while others who are not so well 

 skilled may safely entrust their orders to any re- 

 spectable nurseryman. Early autumn, before lifting 

 is commenced, is the best time to choose the trees ; 

 it is also the proper time to pot them up, as they then 

 form fresh rootlets before they go finally to rest for 

 the winter. If well grown on clean stocks which 

 suit them, good " maidens " will be from three to 

 four feet in height, well 

 furnished with side shoots, 

 and the union with • the 

 stock will be clean and free 

 from gum or blemish. 



Potting. — As future 

 success greatly depends 

 upon the way in which 

 the trees are potted, every- 

 thing should be in readi- 

 ness for use on their arri\'al 

 from the nursery. 



Clean pots from nine to 

 twelve inches in diameter 

 will be quite large enough for the first fruiting year, 

 and these should be prepared in the following 

 manner : — With a hammer increase the size of the 

 hole at the bottom, place a large flat crock, convex 

 side upwards, over it, then follow with one and a 

 half to two inches of finer particles, free from dust 

 or dirt, scatter a little soot over the siu-face to keep 

 back worms, and place them handy for use. Prepare 

 trees by cutting away all mutilated pieces of the 

 roots, shorten back the strongest, and arrange them 

 in two sizes. If the compost is dry enough to bear 

 great pressure without becoming adhesive, introduce 

 a few handf uls of the roughest pieces of turf, make 

 it very firm with a short rammer, place the tree in 

 the centre of the pot, and work the finer parts of the 

 soil well in amongst the roots. Ram well as the 

 work proceeds, and finish off one inch below the rim 

 to allow for supplying water. If the autumn is fine 

 and warm, place the trees on a sheltered sunny 

 border out of doors ; if cold and wet, set them in 

 a cold, airy house. When all the trees are 

 potted and arranged, give a little water to settle 

 the soil about the roots, and dew them over 

 with the syringe on fine days to keep the buds 

 fresh and plump. Attach a neat indelible label 



Fig. 4.— True Span Orchard-house (Portable and 

 Tenant's Property). Scale: Sfeet tolinch. 



