THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 16$ 



with a third of horse-droppings or well-rotted mainire 

 mixed with it. If the inside border is dry, give it a 

 good soaking with tepid weak mannre-water. Presum- 

 ing that these operations have been attended to a 

 fortnight before the house is to be shut up for forcing, 

 still keep the house cool and well aired, but keep the 

 trees dry, so that the dressing does not get washed off 

 them. The outside border should always be protected 

 from cold and wet at the same time by a covering of 

 litter and leaves and a tarpauling, or other means, such 

 as wooden shutters for throwing off drenching rains. 

 This is supposing that forcing is begun before the end 

 of February. 



TEMPEEATXJEE. 



Unless the weather be frosty when the house is shut 

 up, no more fire-heat should be applied than is 

 necessary to keep the temperature from falling at any 

 time below 45° at night. In. mild weather it will 

 necessarily range higher without fire-heat. After the 

 house has been shut up a fortnight, firing in a regular 

 way should commence, and the night temperature be 

 kept at 50°, allowing it to sink a few degrees lower on 

 very cold nights ; with a day temperature 10° higher 

 with sun. If a higher temperature be maintained at 

 first, the trees are subject to start their wood-buds before 

 the blossom-buds, and the blossom under such circum- 

 stances is sure to be weak, and likely to drop off before 

 it expands. By the time the blossoms are open the 

 night temperature should be gradually raised to 55°, 

 with a corresponding rise by day with sun. After the 

 fruit are set, raise the temperature by degrees to 60° at 



