54 



THE GARDENER. 



in America and other places subjeot to extreme sum- 

 mer heat. 



If the mean temperature of February amount to 40'', 

 and that of March to 44' or 45^, the peach-tree will 

 be in fall fiovv^er against a wall with a south aspect 

 about the last week In March; and the general crop 

 will be ripe in the last week of August or first week 

 of September, provided the mean temperature of April 

 be 49-\ May 55% June 61", July 64', and that of Au- 

 gust 63". This period oi Jive months required for the 

 maturation of the fruit from the time of flowering, on 

 the open wall, may be reduced to four by means of 

 fire-heat and the protection of glass ; but it cannot be 

 advantageously diminished any further. This fact 

 being borne in mind, it is easy for the gardener to 

 know at what tiniQ to commence forcing his peaches 

 in order to obtain a crop in a given month. 



From the natural climate and habit of the peach- 

 tree, it is obvious that when forced it must be flowered 

 under a comparatively low degree of temperature. It 

 cannot therefore be well forced simultaneously with 

 the vine : for the temperature of Match, which in this 

 climate serves to bring the peach into flower, does not 

 unfold the buds of the vine, this being only effected a 

 month or six weeks farther in the season by a mean 

 temperature of 55-. The peach may be subjected at 

 first to a temperature of 45', but not exceeding 55° 

 till the flowering is over, after which it may be gra- 

 dually raised to 60% and not exceeding 65", till the 

 substance of the stone is indurated, after which from 

 do"" to 70'" may be allowed. This is to be understood 

 as referring to the application of fire-heat. Even in 

 the total absence of the latter, sun-heat will frequently 

 raise the temperature much higher; but in this case a 

 large portion of air should be supplied, not however all 

 at once after the temperature of the house is found too 

 high, but gradually as the temperature increases. Air 



