DESSERT CHERRIES IN POTS. 



191 



advance of the potting, being stored in a dry place, away from the influence 

 of autumnal rains. This is all-important ; otherwise it does not handle 

 so well in the potting, being made pasty in the process of ramming. 

 It is almost superfluous to say that the pots should be clean and well- 

 seasoned. The drainage should be of a like description too. 



The soil best suited for the cultivation of cherries in pots is a strong 

 loam ; the top spit of an old pasture of a fibrous character will suit well. 

 A calcareous loam is much to be preferred to a sandy loam. A good 

 example of what I mean is the loam obtained in the neighbourhood of 

 Kettering ; this we use with another loam from Surrey that is rather 

 lighter and rather more fibrous ; the two combined make a good mixture. 

 To this we add a sufficient quantity of old mortar rubble for its presence 

 to be noticed in the soil. A small amount of well-decayed manure, 

 worked through a sieve, is used to foster root action. Failing old mortar 

 rubble I would use well-pulverized oyster shells. After potting, as our 

 trees are all intended for forcing, we store them close together in a 

 cold house. If not forced it is not really essential to do this, but in that 

 case the pots should be plunged in ashes to guard against frost. The 

 attacks of birds have also to be considered and guarded against when the 

 trees are out of doors. 



The most troublesome pest that I have had to deal with is the black 

 aphis ; this, if not taken in time, will soon disfigure the foliage and 

 deposit filth upon the fruit. A small caterpillar is, under glass, rather 

 troublesome if not taken in time. It knits the leaves together and 

 also injures the fruit. Red spider has to be guarded against also, 

 but it is not so generally to be feared. A winter dressing of alkali 

 wash serves a good purpose during the dormant stage. Before growth 

 has commenced a fumigation should be given, and again before the 

 flowers expand. The syringe will keep down the red spider, but it 

 may be necessary to repeat the fumigation if there be any signs of the 

 caterpillar. 



Under pot treatment pruning is very limited. Generally speaking 

 more can be accomplished by pinching the shoots during the earlier 

 stages of growth than by later pruning. What has to be aimed at is 

 the development of the fruit-bearing spurs and the basal flower-buds of 

 the longer shoots. Extension in the case of a vigorous tree should also 

 be allowed, but in a uniform manner, so as to balance the growth. 

 Canker very rarely occurs ; one is not absolutely free from it, but it cannot 

 be said to cause much anxiety. 



More than thirty years ago I used often to admire the handsome 

 fruits of black Tartarian that used to be shown, during May generally, 

 by the late Mr. Geo. Miles, of Wycombe Abbey Gardens. These, I 

 think, were from a trained tree. It is, however, much better to adopt the 

 pot system for early forcing and to depend upon planted- out trees for the 

 second early crops. Our trees are all in pots and, with an average 

 season, the first fruits are ripe by tne first week in May. A fortnight 

 may be gained, but the gain in time is not commensurate with the 

 attendant risk. Early spring fogs and dull, sunless weather have to be 

 considered and guarded against, whilst the cherry is also most impatient 

 of fire heat. Our practice is to commence syringing the trees by the 

 middle of January, closing for a time afterwards, but always allowing air 



