HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 221 



ry, and the summer's sun or winter's cold, under ordinary circumstances, 

 effects this perfectly in this climate — the former by perfecting and conden- 

 sing the elaborated sap, and the latter by arresting vegetation altogether 

 Too much moisture and shade cause those parts intended for flower-buds to, 

 be developed as leaves. In the Aloe tribe when the flower stem is thrown 

 up, it is at the expense of the outer leaves, the elaborated juices of which i£ 

 appropriates, the roots at this time not being in action, because it is towards 

 the close of a long period of dryness. If when the flower-stem is begin- 

 ning to rise, the roots are watered, all further development of the stem is ar- 

 rested, the leaves only being developed. The same thing takes place with 

 many bulbs whose period of flowering is not the same as that for leafing. 

 Many Cape bulbs follow this law ; for example, the FLemanthus, the flower- 

 ing of which is at the expense of some one or more of the outer coats. 

 If these plants are watered at the wrong period, or if they have had not 

 that proper rest which Nature designed they should have under the influence 

 of a roasting sun, such as their native country affords, no flowers will be 

 produced, but in their stead a vigorous development of leaves. It would 

 appear, therefore, that the arrest of development of the flowers and fruits 

 of the plants treated with ammonia,, is not so much the result of any specific 

 property possessed by this substance, as by its bringing about artificially 

 those conditions which may occur naturally, or be produced by other means. 

 Also, that the application of ammonia to plants may be attended by results 

 varying adcording to the conditions under which it is applied, and the ob- 

 ject it is desired to obtain. The following is the formula for the solution 

 alluded to in the previous note by Mr. Deane : — Sulphate of ammonia, 7000 

 grains ; sesquicarbonate ditto, 1000 grains ; water, 80 fl. oz. Disolve. 

 Of this solution one fluid once to a gallon of water will make a solution 

 sufficiently strong for all ordinary purposes. — Pharmaceutical Journal. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



Disbudding. — This operation does not appear to be sufficiently recognis- 

 ed in its proper sense as distinguished from pruning and pinching. In per- 

 forming these latter operations we remove a portion of the growing shoot, 

 in the former case the young bud is removed as soon as it can be rubbed off. 

 These operations are therefore quite distinct, and their distinction is of 

 much importance. Most fruit cultivators are aware that trees suffer mate- 

 rially by suddenly depriving them of a large portion of foliage while in ac- 

 tive growth, and expedients are resorted to in order to render the operation 

 less injurious. In spring when the bud3 burst, attention should be directed 



