of Durham, 'Northumberland, and Newcastle upon Tyne. 247 



them in that soil till I see blossom appearing, which may be 

 looked for when no thorns push out on the young wood. 

 After that I give them larger pots ; then take compost, half 

 strong brown loam, half vegetable mould; break some bones 

 small, mix some in the compost, and put some in the bottom of 

 the pots, in order to feed the roots a great length of time, and 

 drain off superabundant water. After the fruit is set, I have 

 observed the decaying flowers to be in a corrupt state at the 

 base of the fruit, and cause it to drop off. In pruning orange 

 trees, care must be taken not to shorten any young wood, as 

 the flower generally appears at the extremity, only cutting out 

 any cross, useless wood. I have known some head down their 

 orange trees every year. By that treatment it is impossible 

 for their trees to bear fruit, for in spring they bring forth 

 strong thorny wood, and are no nearer bearing than when 

 one year old. The brown scale is very troublesome to orange 

 trees, and retards their growth, and makes them have a sickly, 

 unhealthy look. If the trees are not kept clear of that insect, 

 little good can be expected where they are. I keep my trees 

 perfectly clear of that insect with three dressings in one year, 

 by taking soft soap half a pound, flower of sulphur a quarter 

 of a pound, nux vomica half an ounce; add to these six quarts 

 of hot water (boiling water steams off a great part of the 

 poisonous quality); keep stirring till the soap be dissolved; 

 when cold, take a sponge and wash every leaf on the upper 

 and under side. Three days after I find the insects all dead. 

 I take the engine and throw pure water all over the trees, 

 which washes all clean off*. The trees look healthy, and keep 

 clean for about four months. The temperature of an orange 

 house should never exceed 50°, or 55° at most, fire heat. In 

 summer I give the trees frequent artificial dews, by throwing 

 water over them with the engine, which I think causes the 

 fruit to be thinner in the skin than it would be in a dry heat. 

 The watering also adds greatly to the health and beauty of 

 the trees. By this management my trees are always clean 

 and healthy, and bear as good crops as can be expected of 

 trees the size I have under my cultivation. I took twenty- 

 five fine-sized oranges off" a seedling tree this spring, and have 

 several in blow at this time. May 12. 1826." 



The silver medal was awarded to Mr. Grey, for this and the 

 preceding papers sent by him. 



14. On the Culture of Potatoes. By Mr. James Tindall, Gardener 

 to John Errington, Esq., at Beaufront House. 



Mr. Tindall observed that, after a favourable wintei', pota- 

 toes which had been left in the soil from defective gathering, 



R 4 



