250 DUTCH APRICOT FORCING. 



This treatment appeared to agree well with the tree, as it 

 reiDained perfectly free from insects. 



The young shoots remained unfastened, because, when they are 

 not disturbed nor bent, they grow more vigorously, and attain 

 greater perfection. However slight the bending of a branch may 

 be, it is still in so far injurious to its growth, for the sap, as is 

 well known, always endeavours to rise. By the curvature of a 

 branch, a hindrance is opposed to the circulation of its sap, its 

 maturity is hastened before it has attained so great a degree of 

 perfection as if it had never been bent. 



In the beginning of November the tree had already lost its 

 leaves, a sure sign of the maturity of the wood, and I must 

 confess that the excellent bearing wood it had formed was such 

 as is seldom seen. The tree was now p^erfectly ready for forcing, 

 and this is the most important part of the operation, as upon it 

 depends directly the future results. 



The severe cold which came on in December rendered it 

 necessary to put the lights on the pit to keep the branches from 

 freezing. The roots had already been covered with leaves in 

 November. 



On the 5th of January the pit was prepared for forcing. 

 Before putting in the hot dung I inserted a wooden partition (g), 

 about nine inches below the espalier (/) for the purpose of 

 packing the dung underneath it, and for the reception of a lining 

 of oiled paper on each side which should pi'otect the tree from 

 the strong eflfluvia of the dung. This partition is not in the 

 Dutcli pits, yet I would strongly recommend it as most useful. 

 The Dutch only plant their tree at the time of commencing the 

 forcing. The tree in question had been planted in the spring, 

 and we had so far departed from the Dutch plan in the expectation 

 of more certain success. 



The roots of the tree were slightly disturbed in order that the 

 later formed wood-buds might not follow too closely on the flower- 

 buds, it being necessary that these should expand before the 

 others have grown vigorous ; the tree was thus slightly weakened 

 at the commencement of the forcing. 



Nothing more was now cut from the tree, as the summer 

 training had rendered this unnecessary, only what little dead 

 wood there may have been was removed. The stem and branches 

 were washed with clean water, in order to destroy any insects 

 there may have been. The main branches only and such shoots 

 as would otherwise have touched the glass were fastened down. 



