A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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inserted in each; a little water, previously
heated to the requisite temperature,
must be given, and the glasses kept
perfectly close until the next morning.
Any plants not in pots must be moved
by tlie trowel with as much earth pertaining
to their roots as possible. The
shade of a mat is always requisite during
the meridian of bright days until
the plants are well established. They
must be pressed gradually away from
each other, until at least eight inches
apart ; nothing can be more erroneous
than to allow them to proceed with the
stems nearly touching.
When well taken root, earth must be
added regularly over the bed, until it is
level with the tops of the mounds ; for
keep the frames close, and to lessen
the opening of the glasses, in proportion
as the air is cold or the beds declining,
it never exceeding two inches
under the most favourable circumstances.
Water is usually required two
or three times a week ; it must be
warmed as before mentioned previously
to its application. Instead of watering
the inside of the frame, it is a good
plan to do so plentifully round the
sides, which causes a steam to rise, and
affords a moisture much more genial to
the plants than watering the mould.
The last stage of growth includes the
blossoming and production of fruit. The
training must be regularly attended to,
and all superabundance of shoots and
leaves especially kept away. If the
if there be not a sufficient depth of soil,
the leaves will always droop during hot plants which have been once stopped
days, unless they are shaded, or more
water given them than is proper.
An important operation for the obtaining
early fruit, but by no means so
necessary for later crops, is the first
pruning, or as it is termed, stopping the
plant, that is, nipping off the top of the
first advancing runner, which is to be
done as soon as the plant has attained
four rough leaves ; this prevents its attaining
a straggling growth, and compels
it at once to emit laterals, which are
the fruitful branches. When they begin
to run, the shoots must be trained
have extended their runners to three
joints without showing fruit, they must
be again stopped.
The impregnation of the fruit now
requires continued attention ; as soon
as a female blossom, which is known
by having fruit beneath the flower-cup,
opens, or on the second morning at
farthest, a fresh full expanded male
flower is to be plucked, with its footstalk
pertaining to it, and the corolla or
flower-cup being removed, the remaining
central part or anther applied to the
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stigma of the female, which is similarly
and pegged down at regular distances, situated, and the fecundating dust diswhich
not only prevents their rubbmg charged by gently twirling it between
against the glass, but also becoming the finger and thumb. If possible a
i entangled with each other. Never fresh male blossom should be employed
more than two or three main branches' for every impregnation, and the opera-
should be left to each plant, all others' tion performed in the early part of the
to be removed as they appear. If more
are left it causes the whole to be weak,
and entirely prevents the due exposure
of the foliage to the sun. The greatest
care is necessary in regulating the temperature
; it must never be allowed to
decline below 70^ or rise above 95^.
As it decreases, coatings of hot dung
must be applied to the sides, and the
covering increased. The temperature
of the bed, as well as of the exterior
air, governs also the degree of freedom
with which the air may be admitted ;
whenever allowable, the glasses should
be raised. The best time for doing so,
is from ten to three o'clock.
It may not be misplaced to remark,
that chilly Ibggydays are even less propitious
for admitting air than severe
frosty ones ; during such it is best to
day. An attention to this is only requisite
to such plants as are in frames;
those grown in the open air are always
sufficiently impregnated by bees and
other insects. If impregnation does not
take place the fruit never swells to more
than half its natural size, nor perfects
any seed, but generally drops immaturely.
When the male flowers appear
in clusters they may be thinned moderately
with benefit; but it is almost
needless to deprecate the erroneous
practice sometimes recommended of
plucking them oft' entirely. As the fruit
advances, tiles, sand, or other material,
must be placed beneath it to preserve
it from specking, or a glass cylinder is
still better; if a bulb containing water is
attached, the fruit grows faster and finer.
The same precautions are necessary as