cue 



sary when the wt-atlierissunny. Tiie glasses shoulil 

 be carci-jliy covered up with mats cvcrv evening 

 before the iiiilueiico of the sun is whollv gone, 

 anil when the w tather is very severe, more than 

 one mat niav of ion l)e tonnd necessary. Tliese 

 sliould constantly be removed tlie first thing in 

 tlie morning, or as soon as the sun is upon the 

 frAnics, w hen the stale of the weather will ad- 

 mit ; but in very severe weather not removed 

 at all. 



The heat of the beds is likewise to be particu- 

 larly regarded at first, by a frequent examination 

 of the trying-sticks, and regulated in such a 

 manner as to promote the healthy growth of 

 the plants. When it continues too great, it 

 should be let off by making holes in tlie sides 

 of the beds, and the use of fresh earth on the 

 surfaces. 



When the heat of the beds begins obviously 

 to decline, recourse must immediately be had to 

 the application of linings of fresh dung round 

 them, so as to keep up a due degree of heat, care 

 being constantly taken to repeat them as fre- 

 quently as may be necessarv, and at the same 

 time to guard against the prejudicial efTects of 

 too great lieat. 



These linings, Mr. Nicol advises, to be co- 

 vered by turf or mould, and to have the sides 

 and ends of the beds cut off and formed into 

 them. 



The earthing the beds between the hillocks 

 should be gradually performed, as soon as the 

 heat is become perfectly moderate, the mould 

 for Uie purpose being previously laid in some 

 part of the frame: Mr. Nicot considers fifteen 

 inches as a good medium for the earth .above the 

 sand or tan, and thinks the business should be 

 done either a few days before or after the appli- 

 cation of the linings. 



The business of pruning or stopping is bv 

 some begun while the plants are in the nurserv- 

 bcds, l)ut others defer it till after the plants are 

 ridged out in the fVuiting-beds. 



Kir. Nicol does not think it at all material 

 to pick out ihe heart-buds as soon as the plants 

 have formed their rough leaves ; as from the 

 most accurate trials, and the most minute obser- 

 vation, he is convinced " it is of no manner of 

 consequence, whether the buds are picked out 

 or not." He "seldom thinks of picking orpinch- 

 ing till the plants begin to put forth runners or 

 vines, nor even then, unless they happen to put 

 forth too few to furnish their sides of the frames, 

 till he perceives the rudiments of the fruit." 



It is tiien, he supposes, time to slop those vines 

 which have fruit ihow/t ; but the others may be 

 suflTered to run to the length of six or eight joints, 

 and be then stopped^ to cause them to put out 



cue 



fertile ones, which ihcy seldom fail to do when 

 the plants arc in a healthy state of st^Jwtli. 



Where an extraordinary quantitv of male blos- 

 soms appears, it is recommended that part of 

 them be rubbed off in a gentle manner with ilic; 

 finger and thumb, as the" knife should never be 

 made use of, unless in cutting out old vines; 

 but this should never be attempted where there 

 is not a very full blow, as it is proper lo 

 assist nature without cither spurring or thwart- 

 ing her. 



When the female blossoms are in a state of 

 sutlicient forwardness, they may be earefidly 

 impregnated with the strongest and most healthv 

 of the males, by which the swelling of the frui^t 

 may be greatly promoted ; for though the fruit 

 may be formed, swell to a tolerable size, and be 

 fit for the table without, it will not ripen it'^ seed. 

 And though the farina of the male blossoms may 

 often be deposited on the females bv means of 

 the wind and insects, it is the safest mode, in 

 the early culture of these plants, to have it per- 

 formed by the hand, as handsome set fruit may 

 be set apart for seed with more certainty. lii 

 the execution of this work, wfiich some sup- 

 pose the most properly performed the day or 

 day-after the flowers of both sorts are fully 

 open, the best way is to gather the male blos- 

 som with a short stem, removing the petal or 

 corolla carefully from about the stamina and 

 antherie, and then take the stalk of the blossom 

 betwixt the finger and thumb, and apply the 

 top of the stamina to the centre of the three 

 stigmas of the fen)ale blossom, and, by giving it 

 a slight twirl, discharge a portion of" the "fa- 

 rina mto the stigmata of the female; makin'-f 

 use of a fresh male blossom for each impreg- 

 nation. 



After this the plants begin to grow vigorously, 

 and produce large quantities of fruit. Great 

 care should therefore be taken to keep the vines 

 in due order, and not too thick or crossing 

 one another; all the withered and decayed leaves 

 being removed, as well as the others \\ hen too 

 numerous. 



Air should now be admitted more freely, in 

 increasing the proportion daily as the season 

 advances. More large and repealed waterings 

 should likewise be given from the rose of the 

 pot, and the advantage of warm showers mav be 

 taken as the weather becomes more warm. Few 

 plants require more of this fluid than these at 

 this period of their growth. When the season 

 becomes line in Mav, the glasses niav be wholly 

 removed during the day-time. About the mid- 

 dle of the following month, a lining, when ne- 

 cessary, may be applied to the fronts of the frames 

 in the same way as advised for the other parts,, 



