THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 1 67 



the heat husbanded, so that very moderate firing 

 keeps the heat up in the fore part of the night higher 

 than I have named, and under such circumstances 

 there is no objection to this. 



Of course when forcing is commenced later in the 

 season, and the trees are more easily excited, and pro- 

 duce their blossom and young wood more strongly 

 under the influence of increased light, the temperature 

 may range with safety a few degrees higher. For in- 

 stance, a house started in December, for which 50° 

 with fire - heat would be sufficient, might, if not 

 started till far on in February, with more genial 

 warmth, and more sun by day, be started at 55° with 

 fire-heat, after the trees are moving naturally. In 

 bright weather, early shutting up with sun - heat 

 should always be preferred to hard firing without sun. 



VENTILATION. 



The peach dislikes a close, stagnant atmosphere, 

 and should be as freely ventilated as circumstances 

 will admit of all through the process of forcing. If 

 the house is kept too close and moist before the 

 blossom expands, such conditions are sure to produce 

 weakly blossom, and also dispose the wood -buds to 

 too much precede the blossom, always an evil to .be 

 guarded against. Therefore give air more or less daily, 

 as weather permits, from the time the house is first 

 shut up ; and when the blossom is open, air freely on 

 all dry days, and leave a little on all night, but guard 

 against currents of cold frosty air. Most early forcers 

 of the peach will have observed that if cold gusts 

 of frosty air have reached any part of the tree, at 

 that particular part the process of setting has been 



