75 



shading in intense sunshine, and some equally good 

 do not ; — we are of opinion that where much shading 

 must be had recourse to, it is an argument of either 

 a bad state of root or of insufficient structures — in- 

 sufficient as to a proper supply of atmospheric mois- 

 ture. 



We may here be permitted to offer a few remarks 

 I i on the ripening process. Every one admits that the 

 ! ! roots should be in a drier state at this than at any 

 other period : we would, however, direct attention to 

 another and equally important principle, long since 

 I recognised by the late celebrated Mr. T. A. Knight, 

 ' The principle we allude to is that of slow ripening, 

 or, at least, not a hurried one. We have always 

 found melons, peaches, &c., much higher flavoured 

 when ripened slowly ; and any one who has turned 

 his strawberry-pots out of his houses rather prema- 

 turely in the month of February, into cold pits or 

 frames, must have been struck with the vast increase 

 of flavour under the latter circumstances. Y/hen we 

 consider, however, that the secretions which give fla- 

 vour to the fruit must, under all circumstances, re- 

 quire a given time to be complete in, it is no marvel ; 

 and it becomes evident that all hurry in forcing be- 

 I j yond this point is at least supererogatory as far as 

 I ■ flavour is concerned. 



