FEUIT. 177 



compost of strong fibry loam with a third of well-decomposed 

 leaf-mould and a sprinkling of old lime rubbish, all well mixed 

 and packed rather firm in the bed, grows it well. For early 

 exhibitions, in May or June, the seed must be sown in 

 January and February in the same compost, putting a seed 

 in a three-inch pot, or planting them two inches apart in pans, 

 covering the seed with a pinch of sharp sand, and setting the 

 pots or pans in strong bottom-heat till the seeds vegetate. 

 As soon as they are fairly above ground they should be placed 

 close to the glass to keep them sturdy, and care must be taken 

 to shade them from the sun. When they have made the first 

 leaf, they should be re-potted or potted singly into five-inch 

 pots, using the compost in a warm mellow state, and being 

 careful not to bruise the stem of the plant while firming the 

 soil. Every precaution must be taken not to bend or bruise 

 the stem when it is young and tender, as it renders the plant 

 more liable to disease or canker. Grow then in plenty of 

 heat near the glass, and give air on all favourable occasions 

 to keep the plants healthy, vigorous, and sturdy. The plants 

 will be ready for planting oirt in the bed in about six weeks 

 from the time when they were sown. The bed should be 

 made up a few days beforehand, to warm the soil to the desired 

 temperature, about 75°. In planting, set the plants about two 

 feet apart, and place the earth firm around the balls, which 

 should not be covered, but just level with the surface of the 

 bed. Carefully train the plant up the wires till it has reached 

 within a foot of the top, when it should be stopped, and the 

 fruit-bearing laterals will soon push forth along its entire 

 length. The laterals should be all stopped at the second or 

 third leaf; and as soon as the female flowers expand, they 

 must be gone over daily about one o'clock, and "set" or 

 impregnated, by picking off a male flower charged with pollen 

 and placing it on the stigma of the female flower or fruit. As 

 soon as four fruits are set on a plant and swelling freely, no 

 more need be set, and any more swelling should be removed. 

 For exhibition specimens, two to four fruits on a plant are as 

 many as it can bring to perfection. From the beginning water 

 must be cai'efully applied, and a moist temperature kept up of 



