210 EXTRACT. 



are well exposed to the sun and light, and also produce a beautiful effect, whether 

 in blossom or in fruit, the stakes having more the appearance of supports than of 

 being placed for the purpose of fastening tbe branches to them. The trees in the 

 front border are trained flat on a horizontal trellis in the manner of peach trees in 

 a house, the trellis being two feet from the ground. The borders both in the green- 

 house and conservatory were filled, at the time the fruit trees were planted, with a 

 compost made as follows: to twelve barrows full of strong turf loam, six of good 

 rotten dung and three of vegetable mould were added ; these were properly incor- 

 porated six months previous to being used, and then put into the borders. After 

 I had planted both the house, having a few old trees in tubs and pots which were 

 not in good health, I was induced to try on them the effect of a richer compost, 

 and I also applied to them waterings of a compounded liquid manure. These 

 sickly trees were restored to good health in twelve months, and as they made tine 

 fruitful wood, I was so satisfied of the advantage of my new compost and of the 

 composition water, that I determined in future to use them with all my other 

 plants, whether in the borders or in tubs and pots. I have applied them in the 

 manner hereafter detailed, and the beneficial effects resulting from their use have 

 exceeded my expectations, not only in the vigour and richness of the wood and 

 foliage, but hi the abundance, size, and flavour of the fruit. The compost is 

 formed of ten parts (a wheelbarrow full is my usual integral quantity) of strong 

 turf loam, seven of pigeon's dung, seven of garbage either from the dog-kennel 

 or butcher's yard, seven of sheep's dung, seven of good rotten horse dung, and 

 ten of old vegetable mould ; they must be mixed together twelve months previous 

 to use, that time being necessary to bring the ingredients into a proper state of 

 pulverization. The composition water is prepared as follows : three wheelbarrows 

 full of cow dung fresh from a pasture field, two wheelbarrows full of fresh sheep's 

 dung, and two pecks of quick lime are tln - own into one hogshead of soft water ; 

 the mixture is frequently stirred for a week or ten days before it is used, and when 

 applied to the plants, ought to be about the consistence of cream. Previous to 

 describing my method of cultivating the plants, I cannot avoid observing that in 

 the usual management of Oranges and other trees of the same description in green- 

 houses, however fine the plants, they only serve the purpose of ornament, and are 

 otherwise useless, never producing any fruit fit for the table. The failure arises 

 from the common practice with most gardeners of taking these trees out of the 

 greenhouse when they put out the common greenhouse plants for the summer 

 months ; whereas, the proper course which they ought to follow, is to keep them 

 in the house through the whole season, and to avail themselves of the removal of 

 the other plants to apply the peculiar treatment necessary to bring them into 

 proper bearing. From the experience which my practice has given me, I do not 

 think that Orange and other similar trees require much warmth in the winter 

 months ; I therefore never suffer my house to be heated above 50 degrees by fire 

 heat until the end of February, or the beginning of March, when, the trees, if in 

 good health, will begin to show blossom; the fire-heat should then be increased 

 to 55 degrees ; but the houses ought not to be warmed above 65 degrees at this 

 time by sun-heat, the excess of which must be checked by the admission of air; 

 and indeed the more air the trees have during the time of blossoming, the more 

 certain will be the crop of fruit. My trees are washed with a hand syringe about 

 twice a week in the winter months, advantage being taken of the middle of the 

 day for that work in cold weather ; in summer they are washed in the morning, 

 and it is then done every day. During the time the trees are in blossom, they 

 require more care in respect to watering, I therefore then use a syringe with a 

 top, the holes of which are so small that they will not admit a fine needle to pass 

 through them. Clean soft water from the cistern in the conservatory is used for 

 all these purposes. As soon as the fruit is set I begin to water the trees at their 

 roots with the composition-water above described, giving more or less according to 

 discretion; the trees having no other sort of water during the summer months, ex- 

 cept what little falls from their leaves when they are syringed each morning. 



In the early part of June the greenhouse plants are taken out for the summer, 

 and I then begin to force the trees, by keeping the heat in the house up as near as 

 possible to 75°, for I do not consider that either Citrons, Oranges, Lemons, or 

 Limes can be grown fine and good with less heat. Whilst the forcing is going on, 

 particular attention is paid to the waterings above described. In June I also give 



