2l8 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



much the better, because they are then almost sure 

 to have the female blossoms expanded and ready for 

 being impregnated at the same time, which is very 

 desirable, as the frame requires to be kept dry and 

 the plants not watered while the crop is being thus 

 secured. As soon as the blooms are perfectly ex- 

 panded, the pollen loose and powdery in the male 

 tlower, remove from the latter the corolla and apply 

 it to the centre of the female, giving it a turn round, 

 and leaving it resting in the centre of the bloom. 

 This simple operation should be performed in the 

 middle of the day, when the sun is out and air on the 

 frames, under which circumstances the pollen is most 

 likely to be dry and effective. They must be daily 

 examined and attended to in this way until a full 

 crop is set. This is easily known by the blossoms 

 shutting up, the fruit to which they are attached be- 

 coming of a shining healthy hue, and swelling rapidly. 

 If two plants are planted every 2 feet, as already 

 recommended for early or indeed any crops, two fruit 

 will be sufficient to each plant, which will yield eight 

 fruit to every light, or 4 feet run of the frame. Of 

 course, if more fruit are desired, they will not be so 

 large and fine. Immediately the fruit are set, and it 

 is evident they are swelling, the superfluous ones 

 should be removed and the soil watered, as it 

 generally is dry after the setting - time, and the 

 rapidly swelling fruits make great demands on the 

 plants. Let the water be soft rain or pond water, in 

 all cases a few degrees warmer than the soil in the 

 frame. It is very undesirable to be giving driblets 

 of water at short intervals. Let each watering be 

 thorough, so that it be the seldomer necessary. Gen- 

 erally two waterings after they are set are sufficient to 



