358 FORCING GARDEN. 



Italian nursery gardens, and this, is the readiest way of 

 procuring large specimens at a cheap rate. The plants 

 are closely packed in boxes, -with SQme- grass or moss 

 around the roots. Upon their arrival they are in a 

 withered and dead-like state, and require considerable 

 care and management to recover them from the effects 

 of the voyage. When propagated in this country, they 

 are budded on citron or Seville orange stocks ; the for- 

 mer recommended' by Miller as preferable. The seeds 

 of the stocks are sown in pots, and the growth -of the 

 seedlings is aided, during the first and second summer, 

 by the application of slight bottom-heat in a hotbed 

 frame. These are usually budded in August. The late 

 Mr. Henderson, gardener at Woodhall, used to graft his 

 trees, employing cions formed of the wood of the second 

 year. He also propagated by cuttings, considering this 

 the quickest mode of obtaining plants. We may add 

 that this most successful cultivator of, the oran-ge tribe 

 made it a rule to keep his trees rather cool, and with 

 plenty of air in mild weather, till the fruit was fairly 

 set; after which he found that he could apply .more heat 

 without the risk of the fruit failing. 



The orange-tree prospers in a rich, fresh, and rather 

 strong soil ; and, in this country, it is the practice to mix 

 with it a considerable portion of well-rotted manure. 

 When grown in pots or boxes, the plant should be shifted, 

 and the earth partly renewed, every spring.. In summer, 

 copious waterings are given, and the leaves aro syringed 

 once or twice a weok. The heads are kept thin, and 

 any branches which inconveniently cross each other 

 are removed. When planted against trellises, they are 

 trained in the fan form ; and in laying in the- shoots. 



