21 8 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



blossoms expanded and ready for being impregnated at 

 ,the same time, which is very desirable, as the frame re- 

 quires to be kept dry and the plants not watered while 

 the crop is being thus secured. As soon as the blooms 

 are perfectly expanded, the pollen loose and powdery'in 

 the male flower, remove from them the corolla and apply 

 it to the centre of the female, giving it a turn round, and 

 leaving it resting in the centre of the bloom. This 

 simple operation should be performed in the middle oi 

 the day, when the sun is out and air on the frames 

 under which circumstances the pollen is most likely to 

 be dry and effective. They must be daily examined 

 and attended to in this way until a full crop is set. 

 This is easily known by the blossoms shutting up, the 

 fruit to which they are attached becoming of a shining 

 healthy hue, and swelling rapidly. If two plants are 

 planted every 2 feet, as already recommended for early or 

 indeed any crops, two fruit will be sufficient to each plant, 

 which will yield eight fruit to every light, or 4 feet run 

 of the frame. Of course, if more fruit are desired, they 

 will not be so large and fine. Immediately the fruit 

 are set, and it is easily seen that they are swelHng, the 

 superfluous ones should be removed, and the soil be 

 watered, as it generally is dry after the setting-time, 

 and the rapidly-swelling fruits make great demands on 

 the plants. Let the water be soft rain or pond water 

 in all cases a few degrees warmer than the soil in the 

 frame. It is very undesirable to be giving driblets of 

 water at short intervals. Let each watering be thorough, 

 so that it be the seldomer necessary. Generally two 

 waterings after they are set is sufficient to carry the 

 fruit to maturity, as the surface of the bed is now com 

 pletely shaded with foliage. No water should be given 



