1 66 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



regular way should commence, and the night tempera- 

 ture 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 circumstances 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 5 5°, with a corresponding rise by 

 day with sun. After the fruit are set, raise the 

 temperature by degrees to 60° at night, and with sun 

 it may safely run to 70° or 75° by day, according to 

 the intensity of the sunshine. Until the fruit are 

 stoned the night temperature should not exceed this. 

 After they are stoned it may be raised to 65°, and to 

 80° with sun-heat by day. In the case of early forc- 

 ing, of which I am now treating, I do not recommend 

 a higher temperature for peaches than the last named 

 — not that there is any fear of the fruit dropping off' 

 with a higher temperature after the stoning process is 

 past, but I have always found that the moderate rj,te 

 of forcing produced finer peaches and wood than are 

 attainable with more rapid forcing. Of course very 

 much depends on the state of the external atmosphere, 

 as every experienced forcer knows. With mild 

 weather the temperature I have named may be ex- 

 ceeded by a few degrees with impunity, even with 

 advantage. On the other hand, in time of very 

 severe frost, when hard firing is necessary to keep up 

 the proper temperature, it is wisest to let the heat 

 decline a few degrees. After a day of bright sun- 

 shine, which more or less heats up all surfaces, the 

 house can be shut up with a higher temperature, and 



