134 
FORCING PEACHES. 
In the beginning of January, give them sufficient warmth to raise 
the thermometer to 55 degrees by day. The buds will now begin 
to break; as soon as this takes place, I cut out all superfluous wood, 
leaving such as have fine plump buds, and have every appearance of 
growing vigorously during the succeeding season, and cutting out all 
such as is weakly and diseased: after having done this, I tie the 
branches properly and neatly to the trellis, and syringe them all over 
every morning. 
When the blossoms begin to expand, I cease to syringe the trees 
until after the fruit is set. During the time of blossoming, I think 
it indispensable to give a deal of air, unless the weather be very cold 
and stormy, in which cases the blossoms might be injured. 
After the fruit is set, syringe the trees three times a week, and 
throw some water upon the flues every evening after having shut up 
the house, the young shoots will now have put out some length; 
these will require to be thinned out, which is best done by rubbing 
them off with the finger and thumb ; leaving not more than three 
wood buds on a branch of a foot long. 
By the middle of February I increase the heat to about 60 degrees 
by day, and 55 by night, and continue to sprinkle the trees with wa¬ 
ter about three times a week, and give a good supply of air in fine 
weather. The fruit now requires thinning out, but I find it neces¬ 
sary to allow rather a heavy crop to remain, as in a general way 
there is a considerable loss at the time of stoning. 
The process of stoning commences with me towards the middle of 
March; great care is now requisite with regard to fire heat, I find 
that 55 degrees by day, and 50 by night, is as much as they will 
safely bear. Air is an indispensable requisite now, a deficiency 
here, will soon make havoc amongst the crop by causing it to fall off; 
but if they have plenty of air, and are not hurried with fire, there is 
no danger of their falling off, unless the tree be unhealthy. 
The stoning season is over about the middle of April, I find the 
heat may then be increased to 70 degrees by day, and 65 by night; 
I syringe every day, and throw water on the flues, which greatly as¬ 
sists the fruit in swelling up, and by the beginning of May my fruit 
ripens. As soon as the fruit begins to change colour, I give a deal 
of air, and keep the house dry, which is sure to make the fruit have 
a good flavour. 
