FRUIT-TREES IN POTS. 



255 



they are all plunged in the open on some waste plot of ground 

 for the winter, and no protection whatsoever is needed, save to 

 prevent the taller ones from being blown over by the wind. No 

 watering will be required until they are moved into the house in 

 February. 



In January we look over the Pears and Plums and finish up 

 their pruning. They should, however, require comparatively 

 little done to them at this time of year if they have been pro- 

 perly pruned in summer and early autumn. The leading shoots 

 on all the branches will, however, need looking to and shortening. 



The last week in J anuary the house, which all this time has 

 been full to overflowing with Chrysanthemums, is thoroughly 

 cleaned out, the woodwork brushed over, the glass (if necessary) 

 cleaned, the side walls lime-washed, and the floor raked and 

 rolled. A day's thorough cleaning up now may save weeks of 

 combating greenfly, &c, in the spring. 



The date of bringing the Peaches and Nectarines into the 

 house is more or less governed by the weather, and varies 

 between February 1st and March 1st. They should not be 

 brought in when severe frost is prevalent, or when the ground is 

 sodden with wet. The first spell of bright, fairly dry, open 

 weather should be seized upon to bring them in. The outside 

 of the pots may be washed if necessary ; but this should be done 

 out-doors, unless sharp frost prevails. 



After the trees are settled in the house no heat whatever 

 is required until they come to bloom, but plenty of free ventila- 

 tion should be given, and they will need watering occasionally 

 with clean water. We always use spring-water for watering, 

 as it contains, in our district, a good deal of lime, which we 

 consider useful to all fruit, stone fruit especially. 



From the day the trees are first brought in, even before they 

 have any leaves, and on until the fruit is colouring with ripeness 

 (except only when they are in bloom), the trees are syringed — - 

 once a day when the weather is damp and gloomy, otherwise 

 night and morning. For syringing rain-water is always used, 

 occasionally with a little soot stirred in it and allowed to settle. 



In about a month, i.e. about the middle of March, the bloom- 

 buds will be showing pink, and two days before we judge the 

 flowers will open we move in the Pears and Plums, and give 

 the house a thoroughly good strong smoking to destroy any infant 



