Mar.-] 



THE FORCING GAKDEN. 



GDI 



parts of the fructitication, a dry close atmosphere would be 

 v'qually injurious. The fine dews produced by the simple 

 operation of , steaming, will keep the plants in vigour and 

 strengthen their bloom, until the fruit be set, which will be 

 accomplished in a few days after the blossom has attained its 

 full size, and will be readily ascertained by the young fruit 

 appearing like a small swelling at the base of the style, or fe- 

 n)ale organ. All the blossoms in the house will not, however, 

 set at the very same time, a few days allowance must be made 

 for such parts as are more remote from the glass or heat ; but 

 when the fruit has evidently set, the application of the syringe 

 should be again had recourse to. The first two or three days 

 of syringing, the quantity given should not be large, and 

 should be applied with the finest cap upon the syringe, so as 

 to resemble a strong dew more than a rain. When all danger 

 is over of injuring the young fruit, or the late expanding blos- 

 som, the second coarser cap should be put upon the syringe, 

 and the water given with some force to displace the remains 

 of the decayed bloom, and to clear the trees of dust and the 

 first symptoms of insects, which will be sure to make their ap- 

 l)earance before the leaves have attained half their size. It is 

 of much consequence to suppress these intruders at as early 

 a period as possible ; thereby preventing them from getting 

 a-head and injuring the trees in their most tender state. 



The red spider will be entirely subdued and completely kept 

 under, by a timely and unsparing application of water from 

 the syringe, using it from the right-hand end of the house, 

 and again from the left, so that both sides of all the leaves 

 may be subjected to its effects ; this will destroy those which are 

 already formed, and so completely derange their webs upon 

 the back of the leaves, that they will not be likely again to make 

 their appearance ; and should they even gain possession, a little 

 sulphur may be sprinkled upon the flues when at the great- 

 est heat ; but this must be done with great caution, from fear 

 of injuring the tender foliage. It is generally the few days on 

 which the watering is suspended in consequence of the bloom, 

 that enables the spider to burst into existence, while the leaves 

 are rather dry ; but after the watering is resumed, it will be 

 an evident sign of a deficiency of that element if the niseet 



