184 



THE GAEDENEE'S ASSISTANT. 



temperature while flowering, and we would 

 therefore recommend it. 



Through the day the temperature may be 

 allowed to rise by sun-heat to 60° or 65°, with 

 plenty of air; but any sudden influx of cold air 

 causing a lowering of the thermometer should 

 be avoided. Air must be given to prevent the 



Fig. 989 — Nectarine. Spenser. (§.) 



temperature from rising excessively, but not so 

 as to lower it after it has reached too high a 

 point. Independent of sun-heat the range of 

 temperature between the minimum at night, 

 and maximum by day, may be 5°. For ex- 

 ample, if at a certain stage of growth (as when 

 the trees are in flower) the maximum tempera- 

 ture with sun-heat in January is 65°, and the 

 minimum temperature at night is 50°, a little 

 air should be given at the top when the ther- 

 mometer rises to 53°, to be increased when it 

 has risen 5° more, and a chink of front air 

 should be put on when it reaches 60°, and in- 

 creased afterwards if the temperature is likely 

 to rise above 65°. 



After the blossoms drop, the condition of the 

 expanding foliage should be watched, and if it 

 be tender compared with that in a similar stage 

 on Peach-trees on the open wall, less heat and 

 more air must be given, till by a slower growth 

 the proper firmness of texture is produced. 



When the young fruit are the size of small 

 marbles the heat may be gradually increased to 

 60° at night, and 65° by day or 70° by sun- 

 heat. After the fruit is stoned the temperature 

 may be raised to 65° minimum, 70° fire-heat on 

 dull days, and 80° or 85° by sun-heat. When 



the fruit has stoned, a high temperature can 

 be safely allowed, provided the trees are duly 

 supplied with moisture, and are in a vigorous 

 healthy condition. 



A good washing occasionally with water from 

 a hose-pipe, judiciously applied before closing 

 the house in the afternoon, is the best means of 

 keeping the trees healthy and free from red 

 spider and other insects. Eire-heat ought to 

 be applied early, so as to keep the house 

 above 70° until 10 p.m., allowing it to fall to 

 65° by morning. If insects are troublesome 

 the trees should also have a good syringing 

 before 7 a.m., applying the water with suffi- 

 cient force to penetrate behind the branches. 

 Care must be used not to get the surface of 

 the border soddened, and thereby to exclude 

 air from the roots, or the fruit will not swell 

 evenly. The border will require water at 

 intervals of two to three weeks, and must 

 have enough each time to give it a thorough 

 soaking. After stoning is complete, weak 

 liquid manure may be applied with great 

 advantage ; when the fruit is about half-grown, 

 and commences to colour, more water will be 

 required. 



Air must be admitted cautiously during 

 windy weather so as to avoid cold draughts, 

 which favour the attacks of mildew and aphis. 

 When the fruit commences to ripen, a little air 

 should be left on throughout the night ; this will 

 greatly improve their flavour; syringing must 

 now be discontinued until all the fruit is 

 gathered. 



The fruit must be kept exposed to the sun 

 and light by removing all growths which are 

 not required for furnishing the tree, tying the 

 others to the trellis whenever it is required. 

 The sun will not burn the fruits of Peaches 

 under glass in this country, if they are kept 

 fully exposed during the whole of their growth, 

 and the structure is properly ventilated. Some 

 kinds of Nectarines, however, are apt to be 

 damaged on exceptionally bright days, as they 

 are more tender in the skin, and have not a 

 downy coat like the Peach to protect them. 

 Lord Napier is especially liable to damage from 

 this cause; a light shading of tiffany is there- 

 fore advisable on very bright days when it is 

 ripening. Syringing should also be discon- 

 tinued earlier with this variety, especially in 

 the morning, as that is the time when the sun 

 is most likely to scald the fruits. 



Before the fruit is half-grown, and soon after 

 stoning is completed, the trees should be care- 

 fully looked over to see that no more fruit is 



