1868 . J 
INFLUENCE OF SUN HEAT ON FRUITS-DE LA MADELEINE FIG. 
179 
general very fine; but they were soon over in consequence of the very hot 
weather; the plants have also suffered much. The sooner young planta¬ 
tions are made the better; all runners should be removed from the old 
plants, and the soil between the rows should be kept well stirred. If the 
hot weather has been unfavourable to the growth of vegetables, it has been 
very favourable for fruit trees. The wood this year, where proper attention 
lias been paid to the disbudding, thinning, and stopping of the shoots, will be 
well ripened. The trees should all be looked over at once, and all super¬ 
fluous shoots removed. Vineries should have plenty of air night and day. 
If cold, w'et weather should set in towards the end of the month, fires should 
be kept on to keep a healthy atmosphere. 
Stourton. M. Saul. 
THE INFLUENCE OF SUN HEAT ON FRUITS. 
XQVEVER was theTe a greater mistake made than that of supposing that 
^ fruit produced in the shade has the best flavour. It is a false notion, 
the mere chimera of half a century ago. The Black Hamburgh 
Grape is to some extent an exception, for its berries will not colour 
if the branches are deprived of too many of their leaves, so as to let 
the sun in amongst the bunches too freely; w r hereas, the Muscat of 
Alexandria will not attain its rich amber colour if so much overcrowded 
with leaves as to keep the rays of the sun from penetrating freely amongst 
the bunches. A Pine-apple produced in the winter, has not the flavour of 
one ripened in the summer months of the year, when the sun is powerful. 
Again, under the old method of planting, Strawberries in beds 4 feet wide 
the fruit is not to be compared, either in size or flavour, with that of those 
planted-out in single rows. Now, what is the reason of this ? I contend 
that it is in consequence of the action of the sun upon the fruit. The fruit 
shaded by leaves will always be more or less insipid and worthless, as 
compared with that on which the sun has had full play. It is the sun that 
puts flavour into our fruits. 
Heigham , Norwich. James S. Kent. 
DE LA MADELEINE FIG. 
® HIS very early Fig, which is also called Angelique, is one of the earliest 
varieties in cultivation. It is quite distinct in character and general 
appearance, and may easily be known from all others by its beautiful 
clear yellow fruits, and by the peculiar wavy crumpled appearance 
of the leaves, which are sharply serrated, slightly lobed, and some¬ 
what bristly. It is, however, strangely enough, frequently confounded 
with the White Marseilles, the fruits of which are of a pale green, with 
opaline flesh; while the De la Madeleine is of a clear pale yellow, with 
whitish flesh tinged with rose. 
