P R U 



P R U 



drawing the shoots too weak : and therefore 

 be would not advise that the air of the house, at 

 the tore-mentioned hours, should ever pass 60°. 



With regard to the admission of air, he says, 

 " the house ought to be uncovered all the first 

 season after planting : but, if this is not the 

 case; and if, from the nature of what other 

 plants are placed therein, it is imprudent to 

 leave a little air in the house in the night, it 

 should be opened by sun-rise in the morning, 

 having a large and free circulation all day, shot- 

 ting it up at sun-set. However, when the month 

 of May arrives, it ought, he thinks, to be entirely 

 uncovered. In the second season, he advises, 

 that the glasses be put on by the first of March, 

 large portions of air being admitted, as directed 

 above, and the glasses be removed by the first 

 of August. From the commencement of the 

 forcing, this article must, he says, be more par- 

 ticularly attended to ; the first ten days after 

 which, a very large share of air should be given, 

 to prevent the buds from breaking too suddenly, 

 and of consequence too weakly : besides, vegeta- 

 tion (in forcing) ought always to be brought on, 

 as it were, by stealth : the juices flow more 

 kindly ; and the plant suffers the first impulse 

 of reviving activity with more patience, than 

 when hurried on in a violent manner. But, af- 

 ter the buds begin to appear turgid, a more mo- 

 derate quantity may be admitted ; still having 

 respect to the temperature of the house, and the 

 prevention of frosty winds from hurting the 

 bloom." At all events, '• advantage should be 

 taken of sun-shine; which will allow a larger 

 portion than at other times. Nevertheless, let 

 no day pass (unless a severe frost) wherein less 

 or more air is not admitted ; and, in sun- shine, 

 to the extent that the thermometer may not rise 

 more than 10 degrees above the fire-heat me- 

 dium. After the crop is all gathered, if con- 

 sistent with the welfare of the other articles 

 contained in the house, the glasses should be re- 

 moved, and the trees exposed to the weather till 

 the next season. 



" When planted, the mould should be settled 

 to the roots of the trees by a moderate water- 

 ing; and if the house remain uncovered the 

 first season, little attention (except in dry wea- 

 ther) will be required. Due attention should 

 be paid the second year to keep the border in a 

 moderately moist state, that the plants may 

 grow freely; and when their growth is stopt for 

 the season, withhold the water, that the wood 

 may ripen perfectly before they are exposed to 

 the weather. P'rom the time the forcing is be- 

 gun, plentiful wateiings shonld be given to the 

 border, until the bloom begins to open ; and 

 then in a moderate degree till the fruit is fairly 



set. After which, a&ain increase the quantity 

 till the fruit begins to colour ; and then diniinish- 

 the quantity by degrees till you entirely with- 

 hold it, which ought to be done some time pre- 

 vious to the fruit's being ripe." It is also ob- 

 served, that " washing with the Innd-engine 

 should commence with the day the fire is light- 

 ed ; and, except from the time the bloom be- 

 gins to appear till the fruit is fairly set, should 

 be repeated thrice a week in the evening, and 

 that with a considerable degree of force, till the 

 fruit begins to ripen. And in the interval of 

 washing, (viz. while in bloom, and till the fruit 

 is set) a little water should be poured on the 

 flue every evening when the fire is at the 

 strongest, which causes a fine agreeable steam 

 to arise in the house, greatly to the benefit of 

 the flowers and foliage. Soft and tempered 

 water should be used at all times, and on all 

 occasions." 



With respect to the insects that infest the 

 Cherry House, they are, " the aphis, or 

 green fly ; the acarus, or red spider ; the cater- 

 pillar, and the grub. The first, and least hurt- 

 ful, is easily destroyed by a fumigation of to- 

 bacco. The second, by the process of washing 

 with the engine, which is indispensably neces- 

 sary to the health and vigour of the trees. 

 Therefore, when they begin to make their ap- 

 pearance at any time, the water, in the ordi- 

 nary course of washing, should be thrown 

 against the trees with greater force, making a 

 point of beginning at the contrary end of the 

 house each time ; whereby, if you happen to 

 miss any part the one way, you may strike it 

 the other. The caterpillar and grub have, be 

 says, given him more trouble than the pre- 

 ceding, or indeed any species of insect what- 

 ever ; and, after trying a variety of prescriptions, 

 being at much trouble and expense, he can ven- 

 ture to assure the reader, and the public, he has 

 at last discovered a cure", which is as follows : 



" Take of soft soap, two pounds; flowers of 

 sulphur, two pounds ; leaf, or roll tobacco, one 

 pound ; nux vomica, two ounces ; and oil of 

 turpentine, a gill : boil them all together in eight 

 gallons of soft or river water to six ; and set the 

 liquor aside for use. And any time in winter, at 

 least a considerable time before the trees begin 

 to vegetate, let them be all untied or unnailed 

 the trellis or wall ; brush every part of the 

 branches and buds clean with a soft brush, such 

 as is used for painting : make the liquor milk- 

 warm ; and, with a sponge, carefully anoint 

 every part of the tree, trellis, &c. Dress the 

 trees neatly to the trellis again ; but use none of 

 the old ties or shreds : and let this operation be 

 repeated every winter. The first summer after 



