THE FORCING GARDEN. 



597 



would be rather novel in this country, but probably done from 

 a view to lengthen the period of the flowers remaining in per- 

 fection, and thus giving a greater chance for the office of im- 

 pregnation being performed, which we suspect is not suffi- 

 ciently attended to with us, particularly in the early forcing of 

 stone fruits. We have often observed, that when very hot 

 days occurred while the cherry-trees are in blossom, even on 

 the open walls, that the blossom soon fell and a light crop 

 followed, and this too in a particular degree, when the cherry- 

 trees were unusually covered with bloom. These two points 

 are leading features in Mr. Flintelmann's practice, namely, 

 thinning the blossom-buds, and shading during their expanded 

 state, both of which undoubtedly tend to give additional 

 strength to the parts of fructification of those flowers, which 

 are left. During the period that the fruit begins to swell after 

 stoning, till they are ripe, the temperature is raised to 65 

 degrees, and during this period, both air and sunshine are freely 

 admitted, to color and flavor the fruit. The same intelligent 

 foreigner has successfully used rotten saw-dust, or chopped 

 moss, to which he adds some unburnt lime pounded, as a pre- 

 paration in which to plant his trees intended for forcing. Saw- 

 dust we are not aware has ever been used in this country as a 

 matter in which to plant fruit-bearing trees, neither has it, as 

 far as we know, even entered into compositions for that pur- 

 pose, being considered chemically as mere woody fibre ; little 

 good has been expected from it as a manure, or affording food 

 for plants. 



Moss has been brought into notice by Mr. Street, in a com- 

 munication to the Hort. Soc. and Gard. Mag., as " possessing 

 a power to some extent of regulating temperature, more than 

 most kinds of earth ; that is, it resists extreme heat and ex- 

 treme cold, and is not apt to lose all moisture suddenly, while 

 it discharges a superfluity of moisture. It does not act like 

 some rich earths, giving out all its virtues at first, but becomes 

 gradually richer in decay, when a fresh supply may be added 

 in the same space of pot room." Those interested in this cu- 

 rious experiment should consult the analysis of woody fibre 

 by Gay Lussac and Tlienard. 



