298 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



not be required for next season's bearing, remove them at 

 once, so that all light and air may play about the trees freely. 

 If there be any red-spider about them, syringe them with sul- 

 phured water till not one remains ; and otherwise give every 

 possible attention that is necessary to retain the foliage to 

 the last in a healthy state, so that well-developed buds and 

 matured wood may be the result. Expose fruit that are ripen- 

 ing to all light and air possible. Late crops in cool houses 

 in their last swelling should be well supplied with water at 

 the root till they begin to colour. 



Figs. Early trees from which the second crop is all gath- 

 ered must not be neglected. If in pots, keep them well sup- 

 plied with water, and free from insects by frequent syringing. 

 Should they have more wood about them than is necessary 

 for next season, remove it, and expose them to full light and 

 air. Where fruit are ripening, the atmosphere must be com- 

 paratively dry, with a free circulation of air, or the fruit will 

 be deficient in flavour. Supply trees swelling off their crop 

 with manure -water at the root a moist atmosphere and 

 frequent syringing are necessary to keep the foliage healthy. 



Melons. Attend to the impregnation of late crops, and 

 avoid overcrowding with shoots and foliage. Give those 

 swelling off full crops occasional heavy waterings with man- 

 ure-water. If grown in houses on trellises, cover the surface 

 of the bed with a coating of rotten manure 1 inch or so in 

 thickness. Expose ripening fruit fully to the sun, and to a 

 circulation of warm air. 



Cucumbers. Those that have been in bearing all summer 

 may now be partially cut in, all fruit removed, be top-dressed 

 with rotten manure, and kept at 75 at night, and they will 

 soon make young wood and begin bearing, and give a sup- 

 ply till late in autumn. See that those in full bearing do not 

 want for water at the roots, and syringe them freely on fine 

 afternoons. About the middle of the month is a good time 

 to sow for winter-bearing plants, or they may be produced 



