Febkuary in. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
361 
1 medium for subsequent syringings and waterings, the 
'■ latter with a rosed-pot, to filter through. 
Return we now to the branches. In disbudding, 
care should be taken to leave the lowest shoots in any 
given angle or space between two branches, in order to 
prevent nakedness. Where two can be found in such 
situations, the lower may be pinched when three or four 
inches in length ; this will make it a reserve or nursery 
shoot; it will form many buds towards its base for suc¬ 
cessive wood in future years. As to the rest of the dis¬ 
budding, one remark is necessary : so manage atl'airs 
as, that at the end of the disbudding period, not a shoot 
is reserved but what is needed for tiie next year’s opera¬ 
tions. In general, from three to four young shoots may 
he reserved on any given young twig of the preceding 
year; say, one a leader, a couple on its sides at several 
iticlies ajmrt, and a lower one, which, as before observed, 
it needed for reserve shoots in succeding years, may bo 
pinched when three or four eyes in length. 
Let not, however, our readers be bound by this prac¬ 
tice alone ; we would not have them slaves to any mere 
routine. There is, after all, a sort of wilfulness in trees 
which is ever at variance with dry rules; and there are 
many occasions in which, instead of attempting to lead, 
we ought to follow. Many e.xceptional cases will arise 
which will require slight deviations from rules of prac- 
tme, however good the latter may be, or however con¬ 
sidered useful as general maxims. 
Disbudding having been thus carried out, let the 
dresser turn his attention to what are termed “ Robbers,” 
that is to say, over strong shoots of the present year. 
In order to know these well the character of the wood 
must be studied. One thing is tolerably certain, and 
that is, whenever any young shoot shows the least 
tendency to burst its side-buds, such, unless assuming 
the character of leaders, where there is much trellis 
I space to cover, may have their points pinched at once 
j about si.x inches above the point, where this axillary 
spray is sprouting. This course persisted in, tlie wood 
next in point of strength, or, in other words, the true 
bearing wood of the succeeding year, wilt be much en¬ 
couraged, and thus the strength of the tree, in a groat 
degree, equalised—a most desirable result. Indeed, it 
is not possible to carry out this equalisation by any 
other means. I have tried all other plans during the 
last thirty years, and have conned over every opinion 
during that period, but if equalisation of strength be a 
maxim, there is assuredly no other way by which to 
attain it. 
But the benefits of this process do not end here. The 
fruit is enlarged in consequence. It is a well ascer¬ 
tained fact, that the fruit from young and gross Peach 
and Nectarine trees is not so fine as from mature trees, 
I steady in growth; and why? Simply because in the 
j former case there is a too rapid dispersion of tlio sap to 
j allow of that kind of concentration of accretive matter 
which the mature and steady-growing tree possesses, 
and which is the surest accessory to higlily fed and 
j tiavoured fruit. But whether or no these reasons may 
I suffice, certain it is that such is the case, 
i My advice then, is, continue stopping as long as a 
proud shoot I'emains, even, if necessary, past the ripen- 
I ing time, unless, as before observed, a space of walling 
’ or trellis requires covering, when, of course, it becomes 
! necessary to promote the extension of the tree; albeit, 
young laterals arc employed to carry out rhat most 
' necessary object. 
1 may now point to the absolute necessity for 
thorough cleanliness in every thing connected with 
Peach forcing; at least, us far as the atmospheric 
conditions are concerned; and as to insects, no man 
will ever excel in Peach culture who })ermits their 
^ ravages, even for a very short period. I will venture to 
! affirm that two-thirds of the evils which have formed the 
subject of complaint about the failure of Peaches, and 
which have been both loud and long, have arisen from 
the ravages of the Peach aphis alone. Climate is 
blamed, soil is blamed, winds com]ilaiuod of, a too damj) 
situation, &c.; they must be covered, says one; they must 
not, cries a second; wrap the stems in haybands, cries a 
tliird; whilst a fourth insists on the necessity of glass 
walls, &c. 
Now it is notorious, that first-rate Peaches, in abun¬ 
dance, the crops seldom or ever missing, are grown 
annually in situations combining all these disadvantages, 
the only nostrum being a simjile mode of treatment, in 
perfect accordance with the natural habits of the tree, 
and a retarding of the blossoming period by all possible 
means. But somebody may say: how do you prove 
the ravages of the aphis or peach-louse to he so im¬ 
portant? This way. 'Phe aphis is sure to commence 
operations the moment the trees are out of‘blossom; 
the development of the young spray takes place at this 
period ; this young spray it is which should furnish the 
future crop; if this first etlbrt is crijqiled and paralysed, 
which it will assuredly be by three days ravages (unmo¬ 
lested) of the aphis, so surely will the next effort be de¬ 
layed three weeks, at least; and this loss of three weeks 
it is which our climate may not tolerate. In very truth, 
if A. B.’s wood is three weeks later than C. D.'s, the pre¬ 
sumption, yea, the fact is, that it will be less ripened by 
three weeks in October. Now this, although sonjewhat 
directed to out-door Peaches, may, 1 trust, enlighten our 
patrons as to their in-door trees; let them, we say, 
emphatically, beware of insects. 'Pobacco-water and 
fumigation are within the reach of all. 
1 may now close this paper with a few things of a 
more general character, previously omitted; and, first, 
temperatures. 'Phroughout the Peach forcing season, 
beware of high night temperature: the Peach can do 
little in the dark, yet it is astonishing, when the chi- 
borative powers of the leaf commences, what progress 
may bo made by taking advantage of an afternoon’s sun, 
enclosing a great amount of pure solar heat. A very 
higli maximum, as well as minimum point, therefore, 
may be given, or in other words, a wide lango of tem¬ 
peratures ; at least, so I have found it. As a broad 
maxim, let the heat exactly follow the light. 'Po begin, 
dating from blossoming-time, let us say 40° to .50° by 
night, and 60° by day, laying on 15° more by sunshine, 
if convenient. When swelling fast, say 5,5° by night, 
and nearly. 70° by day, running to nearly ‘.)0°, if you 
will, if sunny. During the stoning process be more 
cautious ; no disturbing causes now. lie content with 
a somewhat moderated j)ilch. 'Phrough all these pro¬ 
ceedings let young peach-forcers take care to give all 
the ventilation jiossible. Ward’s cases will not suit 
Peaches so well as Perns. And remember, that at ri))en- 
ing time they must not ripen fast; if luscious Peaches 
are required, throw your sashes wide o))en as often us 
you dare. R. Eruington. 
BULBS. 
{CoiUiiuied from peuje ■'i'D.') 
Coi.r.ANiA imi.cis (Sweet-fruited).—'I’his genus bears 
the same relation to Alstriimeria as Hicinanthus does to 
Amaryllis; the fruit being a kind of berry, and the pulp 
of this species is eatable and agreeable to the taste. It 
gro'tvs near Pasco in Peru, at an elevation of from 12 to 
14,(IU0 feet, and is called Campanillas-coloradas, or 
Blush Bells, as we say “ Blue bells, ” in Scotland. Both 
Matthews and Cruikshauks sent over specimens of it. 
Mr. Cruikshauks told me that it was the Blush Bells of 
the Spaniards, and that it grows in very jioor land, and 
would be quite hardy in England. It has exactly the 
same way of growth as Fritillariu, with narrow leaves. 
