90 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMEK. 



Marca 



The objects sought to be obtained by this mode, 

 are, so to enclose and protect the house that the 

 temperature may be suffered to decline naturally 

 during the night, without endangering the plants — 

 to economize fuel, simplify the management and 

 lessen the cost of heating apparatus. 



If cisterns, or subterranean air-chambers are 

 used in connection vrith this kind of enclosure, they 

 ■will increase the volume of air enclosed, without 

 otherwise increasing the dimensions of the house ; 

 and whenever the temperature of the air in the 

 house approaches forty degrees, its density will 

 exceed that of the air below, and will circulate and 

 become warmed in passing through the lower cham- 

 ber, the temperature of which can hardly be re- 

 duced below forty degrees, thus affording security 

 against frost. 



"Writers on the subject of forcing, all agree that 

 the injuries resulting to plants from high night- 

 temperature, which is unavoidable in severe cli- 

 mates, subject to severe vicissitudes and sudden 

 changes, are among the most serious and difficult 

 to obviate. We are advised to " leave on a little 

 air all night," with so many cautions and counter- 

 instructions, which, put together, amount to just 

 as little as possible in the very coldest weather, when 

 the greatest fire-heat is required, and, consequent- 

 ly, the moat ventilation needed. 



To apply this house to the purpose of forcing fruit 

 economically, put up the frame and shutters, and 

 plant the trees in the border at the base of suitabl* 



trellisses, and after training the first season, close 

 the shutters over them until the next spring. Con- 

 tinue the training, and allow a few specimens of 

 fruit ; in the fall again enclose for the winter, and 

 the third summer a moderate crop may be raalized. 

 Thus we secure a perfect condition in the trees, 

 and raise " peaches without glass." As soon as 

 the trellises are- filled and the trees in condition for 

 a full crop, and for forcing, cover the frame with 

 hot-bed sash, and when desirable to start the trees 

 open the shutters daily to the sun, and close up 

 securely at night. A common stove and pipe, or 

 simple flues, will be necessary in cold, cloudy 

 weather, and in extremely cold nights ; but there 

 are many warm days in winter when the sun would 

 afford all the heat wanted. 



The following directions, from the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, for the rranagement of peach trees in 

 pots, indicate that the peach requires much less 

 heat in forcing than the grape : 



''The trees started in December should be com- 

 menced with the temperature of about 40 ° by 

 night and 45 ° by day. After the first fortnight 

 the temperature should rise to 45 ® by night and 

 60 ° by day, with an increase of about 10 ° with 

 sun heat. At the end of another fortnight, the 

 temperature should rise to about 50 ® b^- night 

 and 55 ® by day. The night temperature should 

 not exceed this until after the fruit is set. This is 

 the rock on which so many beginners suffer ship- 

 wreck. They forget that the peach must be flow- 

 ered under a comparatively low degree of tempera- 

 ture ; they are frightened to give air, especially if 

 the air be cold and frosty ; they keep a close, warm 

 atmosphere, and the results are that the petals all 

 drop off without any fruit setting. Whilst peach 

 trees are in blossom, air must be admitted abun- 

 dantly by day, and a little also at night ; precau- 

 tions must of course be taken in severe weather to 

 place some material over the openings to break the 

 cold draughts of air. So long as the temperature 

 is kept above 35 ® the blossoms are safer but on- 

 ly keep a close atmosphere and a warm tempera- 

 ture, and there is a certain end to the crop. This 

 is a point which cannot be too much insisted on, 

 as everything as regards the crop depends on it. 

 By admitting plenty of air and keeping a night 

 temperature of from 45 ° to 50 ® , if the wood 

 was, previous to forcing, well ripened, a much 

 greater quantity of fruit will set than is ever need- 

 ed for a crop. When the fruit is all set and about 

 the size of large peas, the temperature should be 

 raised to about 55 ° to 60 ^ by night, and 65 ° 

 by day, with an increase of sun heat of 10 ® . Air 

 should be freely admitted. The night temperature 

 should not exceed 60 ° until the 'stoning' is over, 

 for this is a very critical period in peach-forcing. 

 After this the temperature should be raised to 65 

 ° by night, and 70 ° by day. Peach trees will 

 stand a high temperature after this. When the 

 fruit is approaching maturity, which, when the 

 trees are started in December, and the foregoing 

 treatment attended to, will be about the beginning 

 of June ; it should have all the exposure to light 

 and air possible. Trees treated thus will be in the 



