14 



deformity or debility. If showing fruity and blos- 

 soming in short days or in gloomy dark weather^ the 

 blossom is naturally weaker, of a lighter colour, 

 fructification is not so vigorous, and the formation of 

 the fruit is more liable to malformation. These are 

 practical facts, and must be well known to every observ- 

 ing gardener. Be assured that if a pine plant of any 

 age or size, well established, with healthy roots, and 

 placed so that the roots may be maintained fully in a 

 vigorous condition by the application of the other 

 requisites methodically, there is no more need of shad- 

 ing it than there is for shading an old forest oak. 

 Shading moderately certainly is requisite for fresh 

 potted suckers, or occasionally, a short time, for newly 

 potted, or planted out plants ; but, generally speaking, 

 for the latter even I do not practise shading, but 

 apply a little extra humidity. The quick progress 

 the plants will make managed methodically upon this 

 system is astonishing ; there is no stand-still about 

 it." 



Mr. Hamilton is more friendly to shading, and 

 states that, various experiments have led him to be- 

 lieve that partially intercepting the rays of the sun 

 for a few hours in the middle of very bright days, 

 and occasionally dewing the plants in fruit in the 

 early stages of their growth, does not injuriously 

 affect the flavour of the fruit, provided that water is 

 entirely withheld three weeks previously to the time 



