Cherries.--Temperature 65 deg. to 70 deg. by day and 50 deg. at night,
and give plenty of air; but guard against wet and cold.
Figs.--Stop and thin the shoots. Keep a damp atmosphere, and use the
syringe over the foliage, when the house, or pit, is shut up in the
afternoon, to keep down red spider. When the fruit is ripening, the
syringe must be dispensed with, and the atmosphere kept drier; but, as
there is generally a succession of fruit on the trees, water must not
be wholly withheld at the time of the first crop ripening, as it would
endanger the succeeding one; but it may be given more sparingly.
Melons.--Stop and keep the shoots very thin. When the crop is safely
set, give the soil a good soaking of clear, tepid manure water. Let
swelling fruit be exposed as much as possible to the light.
Peaches.--Continue to stop all gross shoots, which will both increase
the size of the fruit and the smaller shoots at the bottom of the tree.
The syringe, when used frequently, is useful for the same purpose, and
to keep down insects. Air and light to be admitted, to give flavour and
colouring to the ripening fruit.
Pines.--The fruiting plants now swelling, and in pots, may be treated
with a little clear liquid manure. Guano water, or soot water, or both
combined, will produce a perceptible improvement in foliage and growth,
with the caution that it be given in a warm, clear state, and not too
strong. Ply the syringe freely on warm afternoons, and close up with
a temperature of 85 deg. or 90 deg.; giving air again towards evening.
When indications of ripening by changing colour appear, desist from the
use of the syringe, and give them no further supplies at the root.
Strawberries.--When ripening their fruit they may be placed in a frame
where a free admission of air can be given.
Vines.--Encourage the young stock intended for growing in pots next
year, to make healthy, luxuriant growth, by giving them plenty of pot
room and manure water, to set them in a light situation in some of
the forcing-houses, and to pay early attention to the leaders as they
advance in growth. Where Muscats are growing with Hamburghs and
other such free-setting varieties, it is advisable to keep up a brisk
day-temperature for the Muscats during their season of blooming,
and until their berries are fairly set, with a reduction to a
night-temperature of 65 deg. or 68 deg., to suit the other varieties.