UNDER HAND-GLASSES. 73 



much water as will moisten the surface of the 

 soil, from a pot with a rose, without wetting the 

 leaves more than can be helped ; but discontinue 

 watering a few days before the blossoms open, 

 until after the fruit has swelled as large as a 

 walnut, when it must again be resumed as 

 before, and carried on two or three times a- week 

 up to the period of the fruit ceasing to grow, 

 which will be shown by the plants sending forth 

 fresh laterals. Here again the watering must 

 be suspended for the ripening of the fruit, which 

 will be in about fourteen days from the time it 

 finished growing. When ripe it will give out a 

 fine perfume, and will crack round the feeder or 

 stalk. Cut it in the morning, and let it be put 

 in a cool place until wanted ; observing to cut 

 it before it gets too ripe, or it will lose much of 

 its fine flavour. The first crop removed, water 

 as before, decreasing as the days decline, and 

 leaning at all times to an arid or dry state. 

 The less water given the higher will be the 

 flavour of the fruit. 



