140 



trees in full vigour and productiveness growing under 

 glass which has never been removed since they were 

 planted. 



Notwithstanding this, it is still a custom with many- 

 gardeners, when they have gathered the crop from 

 their peach-house, to remove the sashes immediately 

 and expose the trees to the open air. Though this 

 is a common practice, we cannot immagine for what 

 purpose it is done, or how peach trees can be bene- 

 fited by being exposed to the air ; it is not because 

 the wood ripens sooner, or better, that the sashes are 

 taken off ; for neither of these effects can be produced 

 by such treatment. We have, up to the time the 

 fruit is gathered, treated the trees more like tender 

 exotics than any thing else : for months they have 

 been used to a warm humid atmosphere, many degrees 

 above the temperature of the external air ; their shoots 

 and foliage are consequently tender, the sap is flowing 

 rapidly and thinly, and the trees are luxuriating in a 

 tropical climate. Suddenly, the sashes are removed, 

 and they are subjected to all the vicissitudes of a 

 British climate, exposed to the pitiless storm," the 

 cold nights, and all the variations to which our climate 

 is subject. A diminution in the temperature, of 

 course, causes a diminution in the flow of the sap ; the 

 growth of the tree is partially arrested, and it does 

 not regain its vigour for that season. These checks 

 must have a most mischievous effect on the health of 



