220 THE FLOEAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



and pistils correct ; a botanist will detect an error of this kind 

 immediately, and the character of the flower is destroyed. The ends 

 may he dipped in gum-water, and afterwards in powder of the 

 requisite colour. 



FERTILIZATION OF FRUITS IN HOUSES AND PITS. 



jHE necessary operation of fertilizing the blossoms of fruits 

 grown under glass, is often overlooked by the amateur, 

 if not by the professional gardener ; and the loss of a 

 crop of fruit is often the consequence, especially if dull 

 and damp weather sets in at the time the trees are in 

 blossom. I some time back threw out a hint respecting the artificial 

 " setting " of fruits in orchard-houses, and doubt not that those who 

 acted upon it have now an abundant " set." Let them beware now 

 that they do not fall into the opposite error of overcropping the 

 trees, merely because it seems a pity to destroy the young fruit. 

 But the season being now at band for the blossoming of the grape, 

 my object in this paper is more especially to direct the attention of 

 our readers to the desirableness of assisting the setting of this fruit 

 also — especially the Muscat section, which I do not consider are to be 

 relied on for a fair and even crop without it; "and I know that it is the 

 secret by which some cultivators are enabled to show that noble 

 variety the Cannon Hall Muscat in perfection, whilst others do not 

 get half-a-dozen full-swelled berries in a bunch. My plan is 

 extremely simple ; it merely consists in drawing the bunches very 

 lightly through my hand twice a day for a few days, whilst the bunch 

 is flowering, and afterwards give the stem a smart rap with the 

 knuckles, to bring off the capsule from the stamens, and set the 

 pollen free. The time for performing this operation may be known 

 by gently shaking the vine, when the capsules that hold the stamens 

 prisoners will begin to fall. If the weather is dry and hot at this 

 period, they will be found to part from the bunch freely ; but if 

 gloomy and damp, it will be well to give the maximum amount of 

 fire-heat allowable, and also to withhold some of the moisture usually 

 thrown on the floors, etc. 



That cucumbers and melons require the aid of the cultivator to 

 assist their setting, by placing the male or " false " blossom (divested 

 of its corolla) within the fruit blossom, is, I presume, known to all. 

 Tet, that it is not sufficiently persevered in, especially early in the 

 season, I know to be a fact ; for as it can always be seen when the 

 pollen is exactly fit for effecting its important office, it oftentimes 

 happens that the first attempt proves abortive, and is only known, when 

 too late to remedy, by the embryo fruit turning yeliow, and dropping 

 away. Therefore, it is safe practice to apply a second or third male 

 blossom at intervals of a few hours to each fruit blossom that is 

 wished should " stand ; " and this applies with greater force to melons, 

 for unless a crop is set at once, one or two fruits taking the lead will 

 prevent all the rest from swelling : and for this reason none should 

 be " set" until a sufficient number of fruits show themselves for a 

 crop in nearly the same stage of growth. H. H. 



