50 



GLEANINGS ON liOKTICULTUKE. 



and absolutely fall off. Syringing must neither be carelessly nor 

 immoderately done ; for the water should act as dew upon the 

 branches and buds to soften them, and to render their breaking 

 more regular. Air should be admitted freely to strengthen the 

 peach and apricot blossoms ; and steam from syringing the pipes 

 will insure their setting, by assisting in the dispersion of the 

 farina (or male fertilizing dust of the anthers) upon the female 

 organs ; and during this period, while the blossoms are out, the 

 house should be steamed, as it cannot be syringed. Any quantity 

 of water, either at the roots or over the branches, would injure 

 the delicate parts of the fructification, and a dry, close atmo- 

 sphere would be equally injurious. Steaming keeps the plant in 

 vigour, and strengthens the bloom until the fruit is set, which 

 will be known by its appearing like a small swelling at the base 

 of the style or female organ. A few days' allowance must be 

 made for such parts of the trees as are remote from the glass to 

 set their blossoms, and then the application of the syringe should 

 be again had recourse to, by degrees, like small rain, but after- 

 wards with some force to displace the remains of the decayed 

 bloom and insects, which will be sure to make their appearance 

 before the leaves have attained half their size. 



The red-spider will be kept under by syringing the leaves 

 right and left; and if it should make its appearance, it will be 

 an evident sign of a deficiency of that operation. The green-fly 

 may readily be destroyed by fumigating with Brown's patent 

 or Timer's improved Fumigator at least twice during each week, 

 from the time the first wood-buds break into leaf, until the leaves 

 have attained their full size, and the tips of the shoots have 

 become rather hard and strong. When the young fruit has 

 attained the size of peas, the process of disbudding should be 

 attended to, but no thinning of the fruit should take place at 

 present. Water must now never be given to the roots until the 

 fruit have formed their stones, as they would drop off by any 

 unnecessary moisture, except liquid manure, which should be 

 moderately poured on the mulching about once during the week. 

 In the orchard-house, steam from syringing the pipes will at this 

 period be sufficient, till the stoning of the fruit has been accom- 

 plished, when water may be given abundantly, both at the roots 

 and over the leaves. 



Thinning the fruit on healthy trees, to the distance of six 

 inches apart, is very desirable where fine peaches or apricots are 

 an object. No leaves should be picked off them at this time, as 



