1 66 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE, 



the earliest variety is ripening, while, at the same time, the later sorts require a closer 

 and moist er atmosphere, which would prejudice the latest varieties in stoning, so that 

 none receives the correct treatment, and the results are unsatisfactory. 



Instead of aiming at a long succession of fruit in one house, there should be compart- 

 ments large enough to supply fruit to meet the requirements of the establishment 

 over a short period only, say, a month, and each house separately heated, the flow and 

 return feed-pipes having screw valves where they enter. Proper treatment can then 

 be given to the trees through their different phases of growth an advantage which 

 cannot be over-estimated. Trees in pots, or those planted in lean-to houses, with the 

 roots confined to inside borders, are the best to force for an early supply of fruit, as the 

 potted trees may be placed outdoors after the fruit has been gathered, the wood suffi- 

 ciently hardened, and the weather propitious, whilst the roof lights can be taken off 

 where the trees are planted. This invigorates them, the buds form perfectly, and growth 

 starts at the customary time with little excitement. It is better to proceed on these 

 lines than to subject permanent trees of the midseason varieties to very early forcing. 



Time of Starting. This depends entirely upon the season the fruit is required. 

 Early fruit is always prized at table, and commands good prices in the markets, but the 

 quality does not equal that grown and ripened with plenty of sun. Express forcing 

 driving trees of Alexander peach or Advance nectarine to produce ripe fruit in thirteen to 

 fifteen weeks from starting, say, January 1 st, to have ripe fruit at the end of March or 

 early in April ; or to start Stirling Castle peach in November to supply ripe fruit in 

 March is, apart from a display of cultural skill, inadvisable, for the trees make growth 

 at the most unfavourable time and must rest at the hoi test period of the year, this so 

 exhausting their energies as to render the after-crops unprofitable. The early varieties 

 require not less than four months, the second early four and a half, the midseason five, 

 and the late sorts six months from the time of starting to the first fruits ripening. 

 All should be given a fortnight more time, that is, the house should be closed, damped, 

 and fire heat employed to maintain a temperature of 50 by day and prevent it falling 

 below 35 at night. This gently promotes the activity of the sap and the swelling of 

 the buds. 



It is customary to calculate the time of the fruit ripening in any house from the 

 time of starting by the standard of the surest forcing varieties, Koyal George peach 

 and Elruge nectarine, but other varieties are generally associated with them, such as 

 Hale's Early peach and Lord Napier nectarine, to afford an earlier and longer 



