m 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— June 3, i85G. 
evening, ami the following morning, they were strongly 
fumigated with tobacco, which still remains one of the 
surest means of destroying these insects. The red spider 
did not show itself at all. 
Towards the 8th of March the stoppage of growth in the 
shoots, as well as the fruit, indicated the period of forming 
the stones ; the temperature was lowered, in order to give 
the stone the necessary rest to come to perfection. Too 
much forcing at this period is very prejudicial. With too 
much heat the fruit does not know whether to form stone 
or flesh, it is placed in a position which compels it to produce 
both at. once, the consequence of which is a small dry fruit. 
During this period of rest in the growth of the fruit, the ! 
superfluous wood was removed, and the longest shoots 
stopped, but with much caution, in order not to disturb the 
forcing of the tree. Whilst the stones are forming the 
fruits require much nourishment, which must he copiously 
supplied to them. Shade and air must not he neglected, 
and the latter must more especially be attended to; and if 
it be given early in the morning, net many insects will show 
themselves. On the 1st of April another watering was 
given, an examination of the soil having proved it to he in¬ 
dispensable. After the formation of the stones a watering 
i is very necessary, before that period it is injurious, as 
I causing readily the fall of the fruit. No fruit were thinned 
out, the object of the experiment being to ascertain what 
quantity the tree, under this treatment, could be made to 
bring to perfection. 
At the end of the fourth week, the stones being fully 
formed, the temperature was again raised and maintained 
till the maturity of the fruit. On sunny days, after the pit 
had been sprinkled with water (at about half after 3 p.m.), I 
the lights were closed, thus producing a warm, damp, close I 
atmosphere, which contributed much to the ample swelling 
of the fruits. 
At the period of colouring of the fruit the pit was kept 
dry, so also no moisture was admitted during the ripening; 
neither was it any longer shaded, but as much air was given j 
as the outer temperature allowed of, this contributing es¬ 
sentially to the flavour of the fruit as well as to a natural 
, and good colouring. The luxuriance and healthiness of the 
foliage gave good promise of highly-flavoured fruit. Its , 
maintenance is important, as without good foliage there 
never can be well-flavoured fruit. 
As soon as the fruit was all gathered, the lights were, on ! 
a dull day, all taken from the pit, and the tree completely 
exposed to the action of the open air. Next winter I pur¬ 
pose again to force it, commencing from the 1st of De¬ 
cember. The wood is sound and vigorous, and my exertions 
are now directed to its early ripening. 
The result of the above experiment was the bringing to 
perfection 290 well grown and highly-flavoured fruit, of 
which the first ripened on the 27th of May. The variety 
forced was the small Orange-Apricot.— Horticultural Society's 
Journal. 
TABLE OF THE TEMPERATURE AND COURSE OF VEGETATION DURING THE FORCING OF A 
SMALL ORANGE-APRICOT TREE. 
Date 
(1854). 
Temperature 
by | by 
day. night. 
alii a I i 
S 1 S | S | £3 
State of the Tree. 
Remarks. 
.Jan. 6 —14 .... 
43° 
34° 141° 
34° 
'Total rest in the buds. 
January 7.—Tree watered with eight pots 
Jan. 14—21 .. 
50 
41 
43 
36 
The buds began to stir perceptibly about 
the 16th, especially in the upper shoots. 
of water at 28° Reaum. 
In order that the pit might not cool down 
Jan. 21—28 .. 
59 
50 
50 
41 
The swelling of the buds progresses ; it is 
more marked in the upper half of the tree, 
which is three or four days in advance of the 
lower half. 
too much, the 16th January the external dung- 
bed was raised; the tree was also mulched. 
To restore regularity in the shoot, the 
lower part of the pit only was covered. 
Jan. 28 to J 
63 
54 
45 
As the budding advances the inequality 
Jan. 23rd.—Air given to the foot of the 
Feb. 8. r ) 
disappears, the swelling proceeds regularly, 
and flow'ers expand on the 4th. 
tree in order to draw oft" the superfluous 
heat. 
Feb. 8—15.... 
54 
50 
50 
45 
In flower from the 8th to the 15th. The 
wood-buds open out, those at the end burst¬ 
ing most vigorously. First fruit set on the 
12th. 
Jan. 26.—The external dung-bed was 
raised. 
Jan. 28.—New fibres had formed on the 
roots. 
Feb. 15 to ( 
68 
63 
VI 
50 
Impregnation and setting proceed satis- 
When it snowed or rained during flower- 
March 8 .... \ 
factorily. Wood-buds shoot out. Leaves 
slowly uufold, more rapidly on the other 
than the lower shoots. 
Petals fall about the 18th February, and 
young fruits swell. They throw off the 
calyxes about the 2nd March. 
ing, the pit was covered. 
Feb. 24.—Heat of the external bed in¬ 
creased to push forward the flowers. 
Feb. 27.—Lower external bed renewed to 
restore regularity in shooting. 
Insects immediately destroyed. 8th and 
March 8—31 .. 
59 
54 
54 
50 
Fruits the size of a hazel-nut. The stop 
page in their growth, and in the shoots, in 
dicates the period of stoning. The leaves 
large and strong, and shade the fruit; to 
wards the 27th the stones begin to harden. 
9th March fumigated with tobacco. 
March 20.—The superfluous wood is re¬ 
moved and the longest shoots shortened. 
March 30.—Heat of external bed in¬ 
creased, in order to raise the temperature. 
April 1 to ) 
68 
63 
59 
54 
The increase of the fruit and the develop- 
April 1.—Tree again yvatered. 
June 0. i 
ment of second shoots prove that stones are 
formed. The fruits now grow rapidly, and 
towards the 29th April the greenish colour 
changes to a yellowish-white. 
The first fruits ripen on the 27th May. 
Besides such fruits as fell off none were 
removed. 
In the course of the summer, 290/well- 
grown fruits were brought to maturity. 
UPON EXHIBITING THE VERBENA. 
As your valuable Journal is alike open to the claims of 
the florist as to those which more immediately concern the 
modern flower-garden (according to the general acceptation 
of the term), claiming an affinity with the former, I solicit 
a small portion of your space for the discussion of the above 
subject, with a view of eliciting your opinion, or that of 
some other competent authority. 
It is evident that our various Horticultural Societies ore 
undecided as to the manner in which the Verbena ought 
to be exhibited, for whilst there is a generally received rule 
