WATERING TOPS 



75 



by a heavy shower of rain falling at that 

 time. 



Immediately after the fruit is set, watering 

 must be resumed, and be continued twice or 

 three times a week until the fruit is beginning 

 to stone, during which operation, the trees 

 must not be watered more than half of what 

 had been practised before, and very little 

 water must be applied at each time. 



When the fruit begins to swell after stoning, 

 water the trees once or twice every week un- 

 til the fruit is three parts grown, when it 

 must be given up. 



The time of watering them must be regu- 

 lated in the following manner; whilst any 

 danger is apprehended from frost, they must 

 be washed in a morning before the sun acts 

 freely upon the trees, but afterwards in the 

 afternoon about an hour before the sun de- 

 clines from them*. 



After the fruit is gathered, the trees may 

 be occasionally washed over with soap suds, 

 as it is always beneficial to them, and de- 

 structive to insects. Whenever this is done 

 in the winter season, let it be on a mild day, 

 and also on the early part of it. In per- 

 mitting the water to proceed out of the en- 

 gine upon the trees during the time that 

 the fruit is in an infant state, let the finger 



_ * When the fruit is ripening, as little water as possible ought to be 

 given to the tops of the trees, because it makes the fruit insipid. 



