130 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
bearing wood, and every superfluous or over-luxuriant piece of wood is at once 
pruned out. The trees now at liberty, and open to the full enjoyment of light 
and air, are well watered at their roots, well washed down morning and evening 
with tepid soot-and-manure water, and shut up early. Their foliage, that has 
some way at times become thin by the crop, and withholding of water, now 
soon becomes thick, shining, and of a dark green colour; the buds become 
plump; the wood turns brown, hardens, and gets thoroughly ripe for the 
ensuing year. This is the principal and most essential part of all—in first 
laying a methodical foundation; all the rest will be sure to follow in natural 
succession. 
Here, in the early forcing-house, Peaches and Nectarines had stoned on the 
20th of March last; in the second house they were about the size of sparrows’ 
eggs ; in the third, or orchard-house, about 97 feet long and 18 or 20 feet wide, 
was then most splendidly in bloom—quite a picture with the various tints of 
colour of the Peach and Nectarine. The Apricots, of course, were first, and 
about set when the Peaches and Nectarines were about in full bloom. The 
Cherries were in full bloom about the time the Peaches and Nectarines were 
well set. Then follow the Strawberries; then the Grapes—for there are Vines 
also running up the trellis supports, which are allowed only to fill up any 
corners, vacant space at ends and back wall, in order to have every available 
space occupied with fruit. A beautiful and interesting sight it is from February 
till September; and, as I have before stated, the system of painting the trees 
with some composition, bud-thinning, the setting and thinning of the fruit, 
pinching and rubbing out the wood-buds and shoots, stopping of long shoots, 
summer pruning, &c., are done all on the same methodical principle. The 
lights, of course, are never taken off, only to get painted, and that not till after 
all is ripened, and are again put on as soon as repaired. I know it was the 
custom of old gardeners, years gone by, to pull off all the lights and sashes 
from Peach-houses, vineries, &tc., as soon as the crop had been cleared, “ in order 
to ripen the wood,” as it was then said. A very unnatural practice, I used to 
think, when a boy ; but I suppose such an absurd system has, years ago, been 
abandoned. 
Bicton. James Barnes. 
REMARKS ON THE CULTURE OF LACHENAL1AS. 
This tribe includes a class of highly-interesting greenhouse bulbous plants, 
of neat dwarf habit and compact growth, with prettily spotted lance-shaped 
leaves, and curiously pendant blossoms. Their culture is very simple; they 
bear forcing remarkably well, and may be made to flower at almost any season. 
The soil best adapted for their growth is a mixture of turfy loam, peat, and 
sand. The bulbs should be potted in September, three, four, or six in a pot, 
according to its size. Select the largest and soundest bulbs for flowering, and 
pot the smaller offsets by themselves. The pots should be well drained, and, 
after the bulbs are planted, put them in a frame where they will have plenty 
of light, and not be exposed to the cold autumn rains. They should remain in 
this situation until November, or till frosty weather may be expected, giving 
them just sufficient water to keep the earth moist. About that time they may 
be removed to the stove, greenhouse, or sitting-room window, giving them a 
light situation, and watering them cautiously until they begin to grow. In 
February or March, according to the heat the plants have been kept in, the 
flower-stems will appear, when more water should be given, but with care. 
The flower-stems will now shoot up, and, in the course of a few weeks, will be 
