248 



TREATMENT OF THE 



for fully established trees. This pruning at 

 spring and cutting the shoots shorter, is only 

 to be practised the first year. Do not let 

 the trees be forced the first year with the 

 view to obtain a crop of fruit, but they may 

 the second year. Should the wood not be 

 well matured at autumn, let a portion of 

 leaves be dressed off; (see the Chapter on thin- 

 ning the leaves of fruit trees) also a little gentle 

 fire heat be applied in order to effect the de- 

 sired end. The sashes must be taken off at 

 the end of October. The regulation of hand 

 dressing the trees in spring, of shortening 

 the shoots in summer, also of pruning them 

 in winter, and anointing them with compo- 

 sition, must be strictly attended to in the 

 manner laid down for those against open 

 walls. The directions which are required 

 for treating established trees, in addition to 

 those referred to are the following : — 



First — Of Heat. — When ripe fruit is desir- 

 ed at any particular time, begin to force the 

 trees about eighteen weeks previous to it. 

 Let the sashes be placed over the trees for 

 two weeks before the fire heat is applied, 

 admitting plenty of air during the day, but 

 closing the house at night. If the roots of 

 the trees extend beyond the front wall of 

 the house, let the ground be now loosened to 

 the depth of two or three inches, and some 

 littery manure be placed upon the soil about 

 eight or ten inches deep, and to the extent 



