722 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Mai/. 



Unless the weather be unusually fine, the fires must be con- 

 tinued till the end of this month, and probably longer. The 

 temperature by fire-heat should be kept up to 75° as a mini- 

 mum, and 80° as a maximum ; however, the temperature 

 throughout the day may be allowed to range fi-om that to 100°, 

 without any injury to the plants. Air must be freely admitted 

 upon all occasions, and regulated by opening and shutting up 

 the house, as the state of the weather may require. As the 

 fruit approaches maturity, this is absolutely necessary to en- 

 hance its flavor. 



FORCING PEACHES. 



The temperature in this department should be gradually 

 raised to GO^ as the fruit advances, and the stoning of the fruit 

 has been accomplished. After that time, all danger is over, 

 provided the trees be in a healthy state ; and the final thin- 

 ning of the fruit may then be proceeded with. It should, 

 however, be a maxim, that, however much the fruit may be 

 thinned, it is safest to leave a few to be occasionally picked 

 ofl' as they advance to greater maturity. 



Where fine fruit is an object, they should be thinned, upon 

 healthy trees, to the distance of nine or ten inches apart, or' 

 even twelve ; but where the trees are rather weak, not above 

 half that number of fruit, or even less, should be left. No 

 leaves should be picked off' them at this time, as the fruit will 

 swell much better when partially shaded with them ; neither 

 should two fruits remain upon a shoot that is not considered 

 sufficiently strong to bring them to perfection. 



Water may now be given in much more abundant supplies 

 tlian hitherto, at least since the opening of the blossoms, both 

 at the roots and over the leaves. This latter should be regularly 

 applied every morning and evening, observing to have the morn- 

 ing syringing done before the sun acts too powerfully upon the 

 house ; the evening watering should be done the last thing at 

 night, so that the water may remain the longer upon the trees. 

 It should be applied with considerable force upon the trees, so 

 as to annoy any inscc ts that may attempt a settlement, as well 

 as a substitute for wind to set the fohage in motion, which is 



