5SS 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Jan, 



not naturally grow under glass, and therefore should be arti- 

 ficially planted, pruned, and fed. It is a very common prac- 

 tice to dig in a quantity of rotten dung into the borders of 

 peach and grape-houses ; we have, however, always used liquid 

 manure, and consider it preferable, as it can be applied with- 

 out injuring the roots of the trees, and answers all the pur- 

 poses of manure in any other form equally well, if not better. 

 Towards the second week of the month, the house should be 

 covered in, that is, the glasses put on, and the house suffi- 

 ciently ventilated during the day, to keep the temperature 

 nearly equal to the external air, covering up every night and 

 always throughout the day, when there is any danger of heavy 

 rains or snow\ If the sashes be put on before the foregoing 

 operations of pruning and dressing commences, the whole may 

 be done more comfortably, and in that case, the rains or snow 

 will not wash off either the composition put upon the trees, 

 nor wet the flues, which should now be kept as dry as possible. 



FORCING PEACHES IN POTS OR BOXES. 



Peaches and nectarines are well calculated to force in pots 

 or boxes, which should be large enough to contain at least one 

 cubic foot of mould, and constructed like those recommended 

 for cherries. The soil should be both much lighter and richer 

 for plants in boxes or pots, than that recommended for the 

 peach and nectarine borders, and liquid manure should be 

 abundantly supplied to make up, in some measure, for the 

 confinement of their roots. When established for one season 

 in tubs or pots, they are then fit for being brought into the 

 houses for forcing, and if managed as directed for cherries, 

 plums, &c., will answer every expectation. The plants should 

 be first placed in a temperature equal to that of the green- 

 house, and afterwards removed into the peach-house or vinery, 

 when the fruit is set. They will require copious supplies of 

 water at their roots, and the surface of the mould in the pots 

 should be covered with rotten dung, still more to exclude the 

 action of air upon their roots, and if the tubs or pots be co- 

 vered with ropes made of moss or hay, and kept somewhat 

 moist, the success will be greater. Trees thus cultivated are 



