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DECEMBER — THIRD WEEK. 



Peaches. — A moist heat, arising from dung or leaves, 

 is as beneficial to Peach trees as to Vines before they 

 break, but as it can but rarely be made use of, in con- 

 sequence of the difference in the structure of the interior, 

 moisture must be supplied by other means, such as 

 syringing and sprinkling the flues, or pipes, when warm. 

 A few trees, in pots, are useful for early forcing, as they 

 can be easily plunged in a pit or any other convenient 

 place where a mild regular bottom heat can be supplied. 

 The trees for this purpose must have been grown and 

 established for some time in pots. 



Pines.— A regular heat, both bottom and atmospheric, 

 to be kept up to carry the general stock of fruiting plants 

 safely through the winter. A high and close tempera- 

 ture to be avoided in the management of the succession 

 plants. 



Strawberries. — If ripe fruit is wanted very early, some 

 of the strongest plants, if treated as advised, should now 

 be selected, and placed in a pit where they can get a 

 gentle bottom heat, or on the back or front shelf of a 

 vinery or Peach-house, just started for forcing, to be 

 placed near the glass with a free admission of air on fine 

 days. 



Vines. — It is advisable, when beginning to force, to com- 

 mence with a low temperature — say. 55° by day and 50° 

 by night, to be increased 5° more until they break, when 

 it may be raised to 60° at night, and 65° in the day, or 

 thereabouts, allowing a rise of a few degrees by sun heat. 

 The Vines to be syringed evening and morning until they 

 break, and the walls and floor kept damp. If the stems 

 of the Vines are near the flues, or pipes, wrap moss over 

 that part, and keep it constantly moist. The Vines in 

 the late houses to be pruned, the loose bark to be re- 

 moved, and the scale, if visible, to be banished by an 

 application of the Grishurst Compound, or by the more 

 ancient composition of sulphur, soft soap, and tobacco 

 water. Where the fruit is ripe, a little fire heat will be 

 necessary in frosty weather to prevent the vapour. that 

 adheres to the glass on the inside being frozen, for 

 the moisture on thawing is apt to drop upon the bunches 

 causing injury to the bloom, and decay to the berries. 



