139 



border is sound, and a healthy action of root is known 

 to exist. We use guano water after the rate of six 

 ounces to a gallon, blending therewith soot water, 

 both highly clarified. The latter can scarcely be too 

 strong. They will require such applications on the 

 average about once in a fortnight up to the period 

 when the last swelling commences, increasing the 

 amount progressively. "When the fruit begin to change, 

 watering must immediately be withheld, but resumed 

 again as soon as the last peach is gathered. More facts 

 bearing on this part of the question will be found 

 both in the preceding and succeeding matter. 



Prevention of Bruised Fruit , — When it is quite ripe, 

 the border should be covered with moss, or some soft 

 substance, or nets suspended under the trees, to pre- 

 vent those which drop off from being bruised ; but 

 the best flavour is obtained by gathering the fruit a 

 day before it is dead ripe, and ripening it for twenty 

 or thirty hours in the fruit-room. {Suburban Gard. 

 476.) 



Removal of Glass, — It was the old-fashioned sys- 

 tem to remove the sashes from the peach-house so 

 soon as the fruit was ripened, and many ancient gar- 

 deners went the length of stating their conviction that 

 the trees would cease to be fruitful unless they were 

 thus exposed. That theirs was an erroneous convic- 

 tion is proved by the fact that Mr. Errington, who is 

 celebrated as a successful peach-grower, has peach- 



