West London Gardeners^ Associatio7i. 533 



shire, in Scotland. In the north, he was led to adopt spur-pruning out of 

 doors, in order that the buds might be well ripened; and was so successful, as 

 to obtain the first prizes at Edinburgh and Inverness. In the summer pruning, 

 when a shoot is at the fruit, and not wanted, he pinches it off, leaving about an 

 inch, to draw the sap to the fruit, and leaves sufficient to shade it from the 

 sun. He picks off part of the leaves, when the fruit is swelling, to give it 

 colour and flavour. He gathers all the fruit by hand, trying them round the 

 stalk with the middle finger every other day ; and, if placed on stone or marble 

 shelves, they will keep good for a week or a fortnight. Insects he destroys 

 by syringing with lime and tobacco water, befoi'e and after the trees are in 

 blossom. For mildew, he wets the part with a solution formed of 1 lb. of soap, 

 and five gallons of water, and dusts with sulphur vivum. In forcing, he also 

 leaves a few spurs, as it gives a double chance. The borders being examined, 

 houses cleared, &c., he lights a fire in the morning for the first two weeks in 

 January, leaving plenty of air; he lights a fire in the evening in the third week, 

 keeping a temperature of 45°, until the trees are coming into bloom ; when he 

 increases it to 50° and 55°, until the fruit are the size of marrowfat peas; but 

 never allows the house to be higher than 58" with fire heat. When farther 

 advanced, he gives air when the house is at 70° sun heat, but never allows it 

 to exceed 80°. He fumigates the house when the fruit is set, and syringes 

 every morning, unless when in flower, until the nights become mild, when it is 

 done before the house is shut up. He frequently looks over and thins the 

 fruit before stoning. He thins the leaves when the fruit is half swollen, gives 

 air night and day, and very little fii'e during the last stage. He takes off' the 

 sashes when the fruit is nearly ripe, and places them on when the fruit is 

 gathered, for the purpose of ripening the wood properly. The soil he used 

 was a strong clayey loam, mixed with rotten dung and decayed leaves, to keep 

 it open ; and, finally, he attached great importance to cleanliness, for promoting 

 the success of all his operations. 



Mr. Russel disapproved of the essay, as it did not treat upon the whole sub- 

 ject, as many of the omissions were of much importance, and as several of 

 the statements were liable to mislead ; as he was confident Mr. Temple never 

 took prizes for peaches grown on the open wall in Banffshire, without the 

 assistance of fire heat. He stated he had seen peaches 30 miles to the north 

 of Cullen Castle, where Mr. Temple lived, ripen well on the open wall, and 

 ascribed this difference to soil, the subsoil in Banffshire being a cold rock and 

 clay, while, beyond the river Spey, the soil was light, and on a sandy bottom. 

 — Mr. Fish regretted Mr. Temple's absence, but considered that was no reason 

 for finding fault with what the essay wanted, instead of what it contained ; he 

 also contended that an essay was not intended to be a complete treatise on a 

 subject, and was sure, if this one had been much longer, Mr. Russel would 

 have been the first to complain of its length. — Mr. Keane stated there was 

 nothing said respecting the time of planting. He gave, and stated why he 

 gave, the preference to autumn planting, instead of winter and spring. He also 

 stated that the formation of the borders was of great consequence, and that 

 they ought never to be more than 2 ft. deep. He advocated the use of 

 fresh loam, but not much dung, as it made the wood too luxuriant; and stated 

 that the best peaches in America were grown on shallow soils, and on wood- 

 like goosequills. In forcing, he recommended equalising the temperature of 

 the roots and top of the tree, by watering with warm water, covering, &c. — 

 Mr. Russel still contended that the statements in the essay were made in too 

 general terms to be of much utility, and that there was not an original idea 

 upon the subject ; adding that, when he came to a society like this, he expected 

 to receive new ideas, or what Vv'as the use of meeting at all ? — Mr. Fish agreed 

 with Mr. Keane, but thought that borders might be deep, provided they were 

 not crammed with decomposing vegetable or animal matter, which soured v/hen 

 beyond the influence of sun and air ; but, if the requisite manure were placed 

 upon the surface, there would be little danger of the roots going down. He 

 was afraid Mr. Russel would not be long among them ; he would be satisfied 



M M 4 



