FORCING DEPARTMENT. 341 



FORCING OF THE PEACH TREE. 



The season for commencing the forcing of the 

 Peach-House, must be regulated according to the 

 time ripe fruit is wanted at the table, with due re- 

 spect to such a season as that the trees will sustain 

 the least injury by it. 



When this fruit is wanted at a very early period, 

 there should be a small compartment devoted solely 

 to this purpose. In a narrow house, or pit, of limited 

 dimensions, the fruit could be brought to maturity 

 with a much less consumption of fuel or dung, 

 than would be necessary for its preservation in a 

 house of greater extent. The Peach Tree may be 

 also successfully forced in pots ; and by placing 

 them at different periods in the Pinery, or any other 

 forcing department, they will come in at an early 

 season. 



Where there is not an extensive range of the 

 Peach-Houses to follow each other in rotation, the 

 beginning of February is a very good time to com- 

 mence forcing for a general crop. The Peach- 

 Houses here, were all planted in the month of Oc- 

 tober, with the trees grown on the premises, and in 

 pots, as already noticed ; these, having formed hand- 

 some heads of very fine bearing wood, required but 

 little cutting or thinning out, and shewed a strong 

 disposition for fruit. The house was got in readiness, 

 and the fires lighted about the middle of January, 

 when they were gradually excited into blossom, 

 the temperature, however, being kept as low as 



