1 22 Portable glazed Structures. 



or six seed-pods fairly formed on the flower spike, every succeed- 

 ing flower was pinched off. From the seed saved in this manner 

 I had more than four hundred doubles on one small bed. Whe- 

 ther this success was in consequence of my mode of treatment, 

 remains to be proved by future experiments ; yet I cannot help 

 thinking that it was ; and that, if 1 had left fewer seed-pods on 

 the spikes, the proportion of double plants would have been 

 still greater. 



In conclusion, I shall instance one or two more facts in 

 favour of this theory, which are acted on almost every day : 

 I allude to thinning of grapes, peaches, and other fruits ; a 

 process whereby the quality of fruit is much improved, while the 

 woody part of the plant is not visibly affected. If the albuminous 

 current were alike the source of woody fibre and fruit, any 

 operation tending to produce immediate improvement on the 

 one would, as a matter of course, be observable on the other : 

 this, however, is not the case. Again, when a tree shows any 

 decided determination to fruit-bearing, little or no spray-wood is 

 made ; on the contrary, when an inclination to wood is ex- 

 hibited, fruit is less plentiful : circumstances clearly proving that 

 in vegetables thei'e do exist two principles, and, to a certain 

 extent, opposed to each other. It is in consequence of the con- 

 tention of these principles, that practical men resort to ringing 

 of the bark, shortening of the roots, &c., as remedies bearing 

 the sanction of experience, for counteracting any ascendency 

 which the one may have obtained over the other. I shall only 

 add, that the experience which I have had of the working of 

 tliis theory has determined me to resume my experiments on the 

 first opportunity, the results of which shall be faithfully com- 

 municated. 



Castle AsJiby, Dec. 1837. 



Art. III. On portable glazed Stricctiires. By N. M. T. 



When speaking of portable glazed structures in a former com- 

 munication (Vol. XIV. p. ^i.'}.), I disclaimed all pretensions to the 

 ornamental ; and those I am about to propose would best suit 

 gardens where an abundance of excellent fruit is every thing, ap- 

 pearance nothing. I will not at present attempt to describe all the 

 structures that would be necessary in a large establishment, but 

 merely give an example sufficient to show the principle ; leaving 

 every one to adapt it to his own circumstances. 



In every case, it will be necessary to have an extent of 

 south wall capable of producing the quantity of fruit required 

 for the service of the family. Suppose, then, a wall of any 

 extent, divided into equal lengths, say of 60 ft. each {Jif/. 10.); 



