1 68 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



a free circulation of warm dry air is necessary to 

 flavour and colour them. 



MOISTURE IN THE AIR AlfD SYRINGING. 



Although the peach is a moisture-loving plant, I do 

 not approve of heavy and too frequent syringing at 

 mid-winter before the fruit are set. As has already 

 been said, it has a tendency to bring the foliage too 

 much in advance of the blossoms. Notwithstanding all 

 that has been said in favour of syringing heavily when 

 forcing is commenced, to cause the bloom-buds to swell 

 freely, I have never observed that, with the house kept 

 moderately moist without syringing, the blossoms burst 

 at all less vigorous when syringing has never been prac- 

 tised till the fruit are set. The floor and paths should 

 be sprinkled at shutting-time, and on bright mornings 

 after cold nights when extra fire-heat has been applied. 

 As soon as the fruit are set, the syringe should be vig- 

 orously used every dry morning, and especially in the 

 afternoon, when the house is shut up with sun-heat. 



Syringing should be thus continued until the fruit 

 shows signs of ripening. The peach is subject to red- 

 spider, and syringing keeps that pest at bay, and it also 

 likes moisture about its foliage. The morning syringing 

 should always be early, so that rapid evaporation does 

 not take place as ventilation is increased. Clear soot- 

 water — that is, water in which dry fresh soot has been 

 mixed and allowed to stand and become clear — may be 

 applied occasionally with the engine or syringe to ad- 

 vantage. The ammonia from the soot gives a dark 

 healthy hue to the foliage. 



