MAY. 



640 



MAY. 



watering to fruit-trees and bushes, or, what 

 is better, to keep the roots cool and fresh 

 by a thick mulching of well-rotted dung, 

 cocoa-nut fibre, tan, moss, or any material 

 that will prevent the drying influence of the 

 san's rays on the soil, or the exhaustion of 

 water from it by the same means. 



May. Glasshouses for Fruit, 

 &c. 



Brown Scale. The brown scale is some- 

 times troublesome to peaches, and should 

 be brushed off with a small painter's brush 

 dipped in strong soapsuds ; but this pest 

 seldom occurs if the proper dressing were 

 applied to the trees before forcing. French 

 beans, strawberries, and the like, must be 

 removed from houses occupied by other 

 crops as early as possible, as they are 

 generally the means of introducing some of 

 these insect pests. 



Figs. These will now be ripening, and 

 in this stage watering should be discon- 

 tinued, as it injures the flavour of the fruit. 

 When in tubs, however, and a second crop 

 is coming on, manure water should be given 

 in moderation. 



Peach House. The fruit on trees put 

 forward in December will now be approach- 

 ing maturity, and the house should be kept 

 rather dry, giving all the air possible. At 

 this stage they will bear forcing freely ; 

 keep, however, the syringe at work twice 

 or thrice daily ; tie in the shoots as they 

 advance, and expose the fruit to the free 

 action of light, if a high colour is wanted. 

 In the succession house the borders should 

 be kept well watered. Some varieties are 

 very subject to red spider ; to keep this 

 down, ply the syringe well till they are in 

 bloom after the fruit has set ; the inside 

 <walls of the house should be washed with a 

 sulphur mixture. 



Peaches, Ripeningof. That the ripening 

 fruit may enjoy all the advantages of light g the 

 and air, tie close in the shoots intervening 



between the trellis and the glass, and take 

 off any leaves shading the fruit from the 

 sun. Give air freely to peaches during 

 their last stage, to improve the colour and 

 flavour, and allow them plenty of time to 

 ripen, which will improve both their size and 

 appearance. Suspend a net loosely under- 

 neath the trees before the crop is ripe, to 

 receive any fruit overlooked in gathering. 



Pinery. Keep the atmosphere of the 

 swelling fruit humid, and the earth about 

 the roots moderately moist, using occa- 

 sionally weak manure water. Where extra 

 heavy fruit is desired, all suckers should be 

 removed as they appear. On warm after- 

 noons syringe copiously, and close up with 

 a temperature of 90, giving air again to 

 wards evening. When there are indication* 

 of changing colour, withhold water, and 

 see that the bottom heat is kept steady at 

 about 85. 



Pines for Autumn Fruiting. The plants 

 intended for autumn fruiting should now be 

 shifted into their fruiting pots. The best 

 pines for swelling their fruit in winter are 

 the Smooth - leaved Cayenne and the 

 Black Jamaica, with a few Queens. . To 

 insure these showing fruit within the next 

 two months, it will be necessary either to 

 remove them into a house with a drier 

 atmosphere, or to apply it to them while 

 they are growing. They should now have 

 filled their pots with roots, and should have 

 larger pots without delay. Let the pots be 

 large enough to allow a good portion of 

 turfy loam round the ball ; pot them firmly, 

 and rather deeper than the previous potting. 

 On plunging them afresh, allow them con- 

 siderably more room, and bring them near 

 the glass. 



Pines in Open Beds. Pines planted out 

 in open beds must also have the roots kept 

 in a moist state by waterings, which at this 

 period may be given overhead, provided 

 pits are closed up at a high tempera- 

 ture. 



