m 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— Juke 3, 1850. 
destroy any insects there may have been. The main 
branches only and such shoots as would otherwise l.ave 
touched the glass were fastened down. 
After the pit had been filled from behind, through an 
opening left for the purpose, with fresh horse-dung up to 
the wooden partition, the whole was surrounded to the 
thickness of three feet with a bed of leaves and dung. 
The forcing commenced on the 0th of Januarv, with a 
maximum temperature by day of + 5° Reaum. (40° Fahr.), 
the minimum being + 1° Reaum. (35° Fahr.) Bv night 
the maximum was + 4‘’ Reaum. (41° Fahr.), the minimum 
+ 1° Reaum. (35 u Fahr.). In the sunshine, however, the 
temperature rose to 3° (7° Fahr.) more. 
The box (e 1) which encloses that in which the roots 
were planted was completely filled with dung and leaves, in 
order to maintain a moderate degree of warmth around the 
roots and induce them to produce fibres. Much depends 
on the tree having produced abundance of these fibres 
before the buds are developed, as the latter draw the greater 
part of their nourishment from them. Throughout the 
autumn the roots had been kept very dry, on which account 
a watering with warm water at the temperature of 28° (95°) 
had become necessary. 
With Apricots it is particularly necessary to keep the 
temperature as equable as possible, although in the night 
time it may be lowered. The diminution of temperature in 
night-time is indeed essential, as experience has shown j 
it to be extremely beneficial. The tree would in the 
night without light under a high temperature be drawn up, 
would send out long weak shoots, and consequently bear 
small and bad fruit. On dark days a diminution of tem¬ 
perature is for the same reason necessary. 
After a lapse of eight days the temperature was raised. 
In order to give a general view of the raising and dimi¬ 
nution of the temperature, I subjoin to this report the table 
of temperature under which the tree was cultivated. This 
table was put up in the pit, and everything connected with 
the operation was regularly entered. 
Air is very beneficial to the Apricot-tree, consequently as 
much as possible was given to it. During the night the 
ventilators of the pit were kept open in order to reduce the 
temperature, and also to remove any vapour from the dung 
which might have penetrated. But in order to stop t o 
great an influx of air, the ventilating openings were covered 
with mats. 
The pit was covered during the night more or less, accord¬ 
ing to circumstances, in order to keep up a re¬ 
gularity of growth, rather below than above. 
The beds of dung round the pit were several 
times raised or changed ; this operation was 
regulated by the external and internal tem¬ 
perature. 
Under this treatment the buds developed 
with great, vigour. An examination of the 
roots showed that they had formed a great 
number of new fibres. The tree perfected 
its flowers about the 8th of February. The 
pit was now no longer covered at night, 
the temperature lowered, all moisture kept 
carefully away, and as much air given as the 
outer temperature admitted of. When the 
sun shone it was slightly shaded from 11 to 
2 o’clock ; but sunshine occurred so rarely 
that the pit had only once to be actually 
shaded. On the other hand, the rain often 
obliged me to cover the pit with a second set 
of lights, in order to keep out the damp. 
After the lapse of a week it was observed 
that several flowers, in the centre of the tree, 
had set; this was taken as an indication for 
raising the temperature, in order to induce a 
more rapid growth of the fruit. It is very 
important to observe accurately the setting of 
the fruits, for if they do not then receive 
sufficient warmth, and they only remain 
stationary a few days, their early fall may very 
easily follow. They must rapidly throw off 
the remains of their flowers, which is effected 
by a rapid growth, for, if these continue long 
about the young fruit, the latter will, indu¬ 
bitably, rot. In the open air we may often 
observe this fact, on the Cherry, for instance, 
which will bloom splendidly, but from this same 
cause, not bear fruit; the warmth necessary 
for their proper setting is wanting. In forcing, 
the gardener has in his own power the means 
of regulating the heat necessary for the flower. 
The pit was now shaded from the bright 
mid-day’s sun. A gentle sprinkling on sunny 
days proved of great use, and as it was given 
very early in the day, the sun removed all 
damp before night. This watering was, 
however, not given till after the remains of 
the flowers had all fallen. The vegetation in 
the pit was vigorous, the leaves opened out 
satisfactorily, and the young fruits grew on 
happily. The few insects which appeared 
were carefully removed; some caterpillars of 
the 1'ortrix Bergmanniana , which had rolled 
themselves up in the young leaves, were de¬ 
stroyed. A few aphides were found at the 
extremities of the young shoots, about the 
time when the stones were forming. On that 
Explanation of the Plate of tiie DuTcn Wooden Apricot Pit. 
a plan ; b. section ; «, box of earth for planting the tree in ; b , covering to keep the 
water from the lights from penetrating to the roots ; c, moveable sashes ; rf, moveable 
board to be taken out to let the steam into the pit; e and c 1, receptacles for leaves 
and hot dung to give the necessary heat for the roots and for the pit; /, Espalier of 
laths; g, wooden partition; A, shelf for strawberry-pots, &c. ; i, ground level. 
