124 BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



Insects. Mr. NicoPs method, and also that by 

 M'Phail, are both quoted with approbation. The 

 following wash is directed to be applied exclusively 

 to the building, and by no means to the plants. 

 " At the annual cleansing of the house, if insects 

 are supposed to breed in the building, introduce 

 the wash with a brush into the cracks and joints of 

 of the wood- work, and the crevices of the wall. 



Recipe for the Wash. " Of sulphur vivum take 

 2 oz. soft soap, 4 oz. Make these into a lather, 

 mixed with a gallon of water that has been poured 

 in a boiling state upon a pound of mercury. The 

 mercury will last, to medicate fresh quantities of 

 water, almost perpetually." 



Fruit produced. To ripen eminently large fruit, 

 he directs the removal or destruction of suckers; to 

 retard the progress of fruit that have appeared too 

 early, he shifts in NicoPs manner ; and when fruit 

 is ripening too fast, or too many advancing to a 

 ripe state together, he retards a part of the plants 

 by setting them into a dry airy place, affording both 

 shade and shelter. " Give no water as long as you 

 wish to suspend their progress. For the same pur- 

 pose, others may be set out green ; but whilst the 

 excitment of these is lowered, they must be kept in 

 a growing state." Practical Gardener, 643. 



