in Pots, in Pi?ie-houses. 323 



at night, during this time, will be enough; and 75°, with sun, 

 will not be too much during the day. As the season advances, 

 after the fruit are set, I keep about 65° at night; sometimes, on 

 mild nights, a little higher, on cold nights somewhat lower; but 

 during the day, with sun, I push them on now from 80° to 85° 

 till the fruit are stoned, and begin to smell ; they will then stand 

 a strong heat, 90° to 95°; and repeatedly I have had my house at 

 100° of Fahr. : but recollect that abundance of moisture must 

 accompany this high temperature. Keep the passages and pipes 

 watered often, and the trees will flourish under the glorious heat 

 of the sun. 



Under the above treatment my trees are improving, and during 

 the last two years I have gathered peaches on April 20. At 

 present, my trees are a complete picture : I have eight dozen of 

 fruit on five of my earliest trees, swelled to an astonishing size 

 for the mode of culture. Mr. Brown, the worthy and respected 

 gardener of the Marquess of Hertford, at Ragley, called here on 

 Monday last, the 19th, the day previous to my gathering fruit. 

 On entering my pine-house, Mr, Brown said, " Well ! that beats 

 all the peach-forcing I ever saw." I must say, I was not a little 

 proud of the good opinion of such an authority. And recollect, 

 this is all done without any additional expense, save the getting 

 of the plants and pots in the first instance, as they do not at all 

 interfere with either the pines or grapes. I have a pit in the 

 centre of the house filled with pines, and the rafters covered 

 with grapes, both in robust health. 



In shifting, part of the old ball must be taken away, sufficient 

 to allow for an annual supply of fresh mould. The peach tree 

 roots so fast in rich light mould, that it soon establishes itself. 



In watering, I give it in small quantities, sufficient to keep the 

 trees moderately moist, till after the fruit are stoned, when 1 give 

 it very plentifully, keeping the roots quite wet till they begin to 

 ripen. I then cover the surface of the pots with moss, to save 

 watering, giving as little as possible till the fruit are all off. 



I will now conclude by giving a few words of advice to any 

 of those who may be inclined to try the forcing of the peach in 

 pots, at an early season, in pine-houses. I know of very consi- 

 derable failures having taken place in several establishments 

 during this season, that, were they all known, might deter others 

 from making the attempt. However, no enthusiast will ever be 

 inclined to give up his case as hopeless from one or two failures. 

 Now, I have known gardeners purchase trees from the nursery 

 two or three years old, pot them, and put them into the pine-house 

 at once, and they failed. That will happen again, too, if it be 

 tried. The only plan is, to commence as I have recommended ; 

 and, at the end of two years, your plants will have a mass of 



Y 3 



