80 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGHST. 
[ April, 
thinning, stopping, and tying-down of the shoots as they require it, in succession- 
houses ; and thin the berries as soon as possible after they are set. Allow late 
Grapes to break naturally, but as soon as they show bunches give them a little 
fire-heat. Continue to keep up a moist growing atmosphere in Peach houses, by 
sprinkling the paths, &c., and syringe the trees mornings and afternoons. As 
soon as the “ stoning ” of the fruit is completed, gradually raise the temperature 
to about 65° at night, with a corresponding increase by day. Give a little air as 
soon as the thermometer begins to rise in the morning, gradually increasing the 
quantity as the day advances, and always closing early in the afternoon. Eemove 
all the fruit not wanted for a crop, and err rather in having too few than leaving too 
many; a few dozens of fine fruit are preferable to double the number of inferior 
ones. Attend to the disbudding and regulating of the shoots in the successional 
houses, and keep all inside borders well watered. Figs in tubs and pots should 
be well watered daily ; any sudden check or change of treatment is extremely 
liable to cause the fruit to fall off ; give air plentifully on fine days, and attend 
to directions given last month. Cherry trees in tubs and pots may occasionally 
have liquid manure given to them ; attend to the stopping and thinning of the 
shoots ; give air freely in fine weather. Keep Strawberries well watered ; in hot 
weather they will require it twice a day, and occasional doses of liquid manure 
will be beneficial to those swelling their fruit. Cucumbers will now grow rapidly 
if they have a good steady bottom-heat; keep the shoots well stopped and 
thinned, for nothing is worse than to allow them to grow crowded ; admit air at 
every favourable opportunity, and give them a good watering when they require 
it. Earth up Melons as they advance in growth, and train and regulate the 
shoots ; give water with caution, and sow some more seeds for late crops. 
After the . extraordinary crops of fruit we had last year we cannot reasonably 
expect heavy crops this coming season. Pears , Apples , Plums , and Apricots cannot 
be heavy crops. I expect them to be light in general. When, however, a rational 
system of cultivation has been adopted there will be good crops, the wood being 
well ripened ; unfortunately this is not general, but exceptional. Over-bearing is 
the principal, I was going to write invariable, cause of light fruit crops. A tree 
that is allowed to over-bear one year cannot have anything like a fair crop the 
following year. Peaches, Nectarines , and Apricots should be well and judiciously 
protected whilst in flower: the trees here have an abundance of bloom. 
Commence disbudding as soon as the shoots are fit. 
A great number of beautiful Hard-wooded Greenhouse Plants will now be in 
flower, and will need some attention; most of them will require to be well 
watered daily, especially in dry hot weather ; give them abundance of air, but guard 
carefully against cutting winds. All houses of modern construction admit a great 
amount of light, and towards the end of the month will, in bright weather, require 
shading, to prolong the beauty of the flowers. Shift specimen plants not in 
flower if they require it; continue to shift young growing plants, and attend to 
