I7O FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



down the pistil by means of water, as well as air. It 

 is, in as far as it can be aided, a mechanical process. 

 I consider the chief thing is to produce a strong healthy 

 bloom and fructifying organs, by cautious forcing, and 

 then the setting of the fruit is almost a certainty. 



WATERING. 



It is difficult to lay down directions as to the time 

 that peaches require to be watered at the roots, so much 

 depends on circumstances, such as the nature of the 

 soil, &c. &c. In the case of trees having their roots 

 both in inside and outside borders, it is never neces- 

 sary in early forcing to water the outside border. The 

 inside border should be thoroughly moistened to the 

 bottom when the house is put in order for forcing. I 

 have an objection to peach borders becoming dusty 

 dry at any time ; for if they once become too dry, and 

 are then copiously watered, and started soon after, they 

 are apt to cast their bloom-buds after they begin to 

 swell. Under ordinary circumstances, I have found a 

 good watering when the house is about to be started, 

 another after the fruit are set, sufficient. After this 

 the constant syringing and damping keep the border 

 from drying, and the watering after they are set will 

 carry them to the stoning process. After they are 

 stoned, two waterings will be enough till the fruit be- 

 gin to ripen. Then mulch the border with short dung, 

 and no more water should be applied till the fruit 

 are all gathered, after which the border must be kept 

 moist till the wood is ripe, and the leaves dropping. 



Manure-water may be freely applied at all times of 

 watering in the case of full-grown, free-bearing trees. 

 Young trees growing vigorously should not have man- 



