596 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



The following interesting mode of treatment is practised, 

 for the purpose of inducing in the trees a disposition to form 

 blossom-buds. The spring subsequent to their being planted, 

 the blossom-buds are taken off as they appear, and by the end 

 of June, or beginning of July, such shoots as have formed 

 have their points taken off, leaving not more than six buds ; 

 these buds, by this practice, become all blossom-buds. 



The exposing them to a degree of cold, previous to their 

 being taken in to force, equal to fourteen degrees is considered 

 a leading feature in this practice, as well as thinning out the 

 flower-buds to a very considerable extent, often to three-fifths 

 of their M'hole number. We may here observe, that the thin- 

 ning of the blossom-buds is much too little attended to by 

 English forcing-gardeners, and it is not going too far to say, 

 that those upon the open walls should also be considerably 

 thinned. In the Prussian royal gardens, the temperature 

 commences at or about 46 degrees, and during their growth, the 

 trees are frequently sprinkled with water, rendered moderately 

 warm. The roots also are watered with warm water, of a 

 temperature equal to that of water when boiled, mixed with an 

 equal quantity of cold. As soon as the plants are placed in 

 the cherry-house, they are well soaked with this water, which 

 watering is continued till within fourteen days of their coming 

 into bloom. The roots, previous to their being brought into 

 the forcing-house, are kept perfectly dry for some time. When 

 the trees are coming into blossom, the watering over head 

 is suspended, but the stems and principal branches are kept 

 moist by rubbing them two or three times a-day with a wet 

 brush. While the trees are in blossom, the temperature is 

 gradually raised to 67 degrees. Air is freely admitted, and 

 during bright sunshine, the houses are shaded. In admitting 

 air during cold and windy weather, pieces of gauze are placed 

 over the parts opened, to break the keenness of the air. The 

 temperature of the house is kept steadily between 544 and 65| 

 degrees, from the time the fruit sets until it has considerably 

 swelled previous to stoning ; but while stoning, it is lo .v-red 

 to 59 degrees for two or three weeks during this crisis. Shading 

 is particularly attended to during sunshine, a practice that 



