336 VILLA GAKDENING part iv 



advanced to 50° or 52°, -vvith an increase of 10° in the daytime, or 

 more if the sun shines. When the Peaches are set the temperature 

 may be raised a little, say to from 55° to 58° at night. With the 

 most careful stoking it is possible that a sudden change of wind 

 may cause the thermometer to run up above these figm'ss. When 

 that is the case a little air should be given to keep down tempera- 

 ture ; in fact, if a little ventilation near the ground line could be 

 kept on always, without causing a draught, it would be beneficial 

 In tying the branches of the trees to the wires, room must be left 

 for them to swell, especially in the case of young trees whose 

 growth is rapid. Tight ligatures are often injurious by cutting 

 the bark, and such injuries will, if the predisposition exists, produce 

 gimiming. During tlie time the buds are swelling, the syringe, 

 with a fine rose, should be used twice a day, morning and afternoon, 

 to dew over the trees, letting it fall in the form of very fine spray. 

 Heavy syringing is not required at the dull season, as saturated 

 borders are dangerous, and on dull cold days less moisture will be 

 needed. When the blossoms expand a buoyant atmosphere must 

 be created by a perfect state of ventilation, with just enough 

 artificial heat and a limited amount of moisture. Usually there is 

 no ditficulty in getting the blossoms to set under such conditions ; 

 but there are various ways of disseminating the pollen of the flowers 

 in the fertilisation of the blossoms of Peaches, and so important is 

 the crop that even if it be necessary to iLse the camel-hair pencil 

 to each individual blossom it should be done. If the weather 

 outside is bright and sunny, and the air consequently dry, the 

 flowers will set more freely than when the atmosphere outside is 

 damp. Very frequently, imder the former condition, the blossoms 

 will set well with only a shaking of the trellis in the middle of the 

 day when the flowers are dry. The syringe, too, in judicious 

 hands has during a week or two of bright weather been brought 

 to bear with advantage, eff'ectually scattering the pollen grains, and 

 causing the fruit to set thickly ; but the brisk buoyant atmosphere 

 is indispensable. When the blossoms are well set, damping in the 

 morning and afternoon may take place again on fine days, and as 

 soon as the quality and character of the young shoots can be fairly 

 made out. 



The Disbudding may begin, removing first all fore-rights, 

 taking care in thinning the side shoots to leave one at the 

 base to keep up the supply of young wood in the tree, and a leader 

 to draw up the sap, and for the purpose of extension. Sometimes 

 in the case of open-air trees more wood is left for a time than 

 is needed, for the sake of the shelter afforded ; but under glass this 

 is not required, and with trees in vigorous health the disbudding 



