728 THE GENUS CITRUS. 
respect to watering, I therefore then use a syringe with a rose, the 
holes of which are so small, that they will not admit a fine needle 
to pass through them ; clean soft water is used for all these purposes. 
As soon as the fruit is set, I begin to water the trees at their roots, 
with a sort of composition-water, made as follows : — three barrowsful 
of cow's dung fresh from a pasture-field, two barrowsful of fresh 
sheep's dung, and two pecks of quick lime, are thrown into one hogs- 
head of soft water ; the mixture is frequently stirred for a week or 
ten da3's previous to using, and when applied to the plants, ought to 
be about the consistence of cream, giving more or less according to 
discretion, the trees having no other sort of water during the summer 
months. In the early part of June, the green-house plants are taken 
out for the summer, I then begin to force the trees by keeping the 
heat in the house, up as near as possible to 75 degrees, I do not con- 
sider that either citrons, oranges, lemons, or limes, can be grown 
fine and good with less heat. Whilst the forcing is going on, par- 
ticular attention is paid to the watering above described ; I also in 
June give the trees, (whether in borders, or in tubs, or pots,) a top 
dressing of a rich compost. 
This is composed of ten i^arts : (a wheel -barrowful is my usual in- 
tegral quantity) of strong turfy loam, seven of pigeon's dung, seven 
of garbage from the dog-kennel or butchers' yard, seven of sheep's 
dung, seven of good rotten horse dung, and ten of old vegetable 
mould ; they must be mixed together twelve months previous to use, 
that time being necessary to bring the ingredients into a proper state 
of pulverisation. 
This top dressing is of the greatest advantage in swelling the fruit, 
and it is done in the following manner : the earth above the roots is 
removed with a small hand fork, taking care not to disturb any pai't 
of the roots, all the loose earth is then removed clear to the roots and 
replaced with the compost. 
As respects pruning, I do not know that regular directions can be 
given, but I will state in what manner my trees are pruned. Early 
in February they are looked over, for at that time it is apparent 
what wood is likely to be fruitful ; and as a certain quantity of old 
branches are yearly cut away, I take out those that seem least pi'o- 
mising for a crop of fruit, and so make room for the younger and 
more productive wood ; if the ti'ees afterwards grow very strong, the 
shoots are shortened according to their strength, in the same man- 
ner as peach trees. Thus the branches pruned are not only fruitful, 
but are retained in any shape desired ; no sort of fruit trees bear 
the knife more patiently. 
