701. 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



such walls also should be so built that have eastern and west- 

 ern aspects also. These latter, however, will not be of ge- 

 neral utility, unless in warm situations in the north, and in 

 all situations in the south of England. This species of forcing 

 has been practised by many to an injurious extent; and, in- 

 stead of doing good, has done much harm to the trees, by an 

 injudicious application of the means that otherwise would have 

 been of the utmost benefit to them ; for this reason, few hot 

 walls have been built of late years, and many that have been 

 so constructed have not been used. 



Trees planted against hot walls arc not to be considered as 

 to be forced, but to be assisted in bad situations and unfavour- 

 able seasons. The failures, therefore, hitherto experienced, 

 have originated in the want of due caution being paid to the 

 times of api)lying heat and the quantity so applied. 



" Fire-heat," saysNicol, "should never be applied to naked 

 walls in the spring, so as to force the plants, which should be 

 allowed to vegetate of their own accord, to flower and to 

 shoot. But. after vegetation has commenced, and when the 

 flowers, foliage, and infant fruit are in a perilous state, if 

 bad weather overtake them, the help of the flues may be called 

 in, and they may be employed in an auxiliary manner for their 

 defence. If further aided by the application of nets, or of 

 canvas screens, {see Protecting BlossomSy in Fruit Garden) 

 their mutual help might, with proper attention, be reckoned 

 upon as the sure pledge of a crop, and of well-matured fruit. 

 The fires, if any be made at this season, should be very mo- 

 derate. The flues should never be heated so as to feel much 

 warmer than the hand after being kept in the bosom for a few 

 minutes ; that is to say, they should seldom be above blood- 

 heat, or what is termed milk-warm." 



Much injury may be done by attempting to force these trees 

 placed with one side against a hot wall, while the other side is 

 exposed to all the vicissitudes of the season. The greatest use 

 of hot walls, and which is really of considerable importance, 

 is their assistance in the end of August, September, October, 

 and the beginning of November, in forwarding the maturation 

 of the fruit, and ripening the wood. The trees upon such 

 walls, if fire-heat be applied to them, will require to be pleu- 



