the Genus Citrus. By Mr, Ric h a r d A y r ,es . 311 



if in good health, will begin to shew blossom ; the fire-heat 

 should then be encreased to 55 degrees; but the houses 

 ought not to be warmed above 6o° at this time by sun-heat, 

 the excess of which must be checked by the admission of 

 air ; and indeed the more air the trees have during the time 

 of blossoming, the more certain will be the crop of fruit. My 

 trees are washed with a hand syringe about twice a week in 

 the winter months, advantage being taken of the middle 

 of the day for that work in cold weather ; in summer they 

 are washed in the morning, and it is then done every day. 

 During the time the trees are in blossom they require more 

 care in respect to watering, I therefore then use a syringe 

 with a top, the holes of which are so small that they will not 

 admit a fine needle to pass through them. Clean soft water 

 from the cistern in the conservatory is used for all these pur- 

 poses. As soon as the fruit is set I begin to water the trees 

 at their roots with the composition -water above described, 

 giving more or less according to discretion ; the trees having 

 no other sort of water during the summer months, except 

 what little falls from their leaves when they are syringed 

 each morning. 



In the early part of June the green-house plants are taken 

 out for the summer, and I then begin to force the trees, by 

 keeping the heat in the house up as near as possible to 75°, 

 for J do not consider that either Citrons, Oranges, Lemons, or 

 Limes can be grown fine and good with less heat. Whilst the 

 forcing is going on particular attention is paid to the waterings 

 above described. In June I also give the trees, whether in 

 the borders or in tubs and pots, a top dressing of the rich 

 compost before mentioned, this is of the greatest advantage 



