Can any of your readers furnish a good reason for the necessity of keeping Vineries and Peach-houses, for instance, unusually dry while the fruit is setting; or explain how the damping of the house, or occasional syringing of the trees while in bloom, is injurious? A deeper reason may probably underly the advice generally given on this point in some cases, but I question if the majority could supply a better than that given to us many years ago, at an early period of our career, by the man in charge of the Peach-houses. To the question why he kept the atmosphere so dry when the trees were in bloom, the answer was, "Tae blaw the pollen aboot, tae be sure;" and our instructor, tapping a twig with his finger to make the pollen fly, showed us how, if it had been wet and claggy, that it "wadna blaw aboot ava." This explanation and illustration of the matter was so apparently indisputable and satisfactory, that we never questioned the "blaw-aboot" theory for many a day after; indeed, from that day to this, we have never heard a more satisfactory reason given, and till this day the advice continually promulgated is, "Keep up a dry atmosphere where Vines and Peaches are in bloom," and the advice is accepted and acted upon as a matter of faith more than anything else.

Now, with all respect for the opinions of others with greater experience, we venture to think, according to our own experience, that if a constantly dry atmosphere, aided by fire-heat from beginning till end of the blooming period, is not a positive evil, it is at least unattended with any good results. Every one has noticed how the foliage of Vines and Peach-trees droops under a bright sun, particularly after a tack of dull weather, and how a dewing with the syringe restores energy again. Is it unreasonable to suppose that the blossom is affected by the same causes, and that the vitality is thereby impaired at a very critical period? One would think that a dry sunny day, followed by an arid atmosphere from hot-water pipes at night, were very unfavourable conditions for plant life at any time, and about as directly opposed to nature as anything could be. But if any one will take the trouble to examine a Peach-tree bloom under these circumstances they will see for themselves; the very feel of the atmosphere at such times is disagreeable, and smells of destruction - a rather vague test of what is suitable for a plant, some of your readers may think; but I am half a believer in the "bond of sympathy" that some suppose to unite man with nature.

At all events, it was while pondering the matter over in this light, some years ago, and rather out of conceit with the "high-and-dry" theory, that we began to experiment in the opposite direction; and the result is, that for the last two years or more we have treated our Vines, Peaches, and other things when in bloom pretty much the same as at other times, believing that what is conducive to a healthy development of the foliage must have a beneficial effect upon the flowers and fruit also. Last season we syringed our early and late Peach-trees regularly while in bloom, once a-day in the afternoon, and damped the floors at other times, and Peaches and Nectarines set so thick in most cases as to be actually troublesome. The fruit had to be thinned three times before stoning, and once after. Our Muscat Vines were also syringed frequently while in bloom, dewing the bunches over gently, but thoroughly, with a fine syringe. As a precaution, we were careful also to syringe our first bunches of Golden Champion, knowing there was a tinge of the Cannon Hall in it. The set in both cases was abundant, and better than formerly.

The four bunches of Golden Champion led off first in two classes at a large provincial show afterwards - perhaps as fine samples of that much-criticised Grape as have yet been shown. This season we have continued the practice, and although the weather during January was most unfavourable, our early Peaches have set most abundantly.

In addition to the refreshing effect of an occasional dewing upon the blossom, thereby sustaining the vitality, not only of the flowers but the pollen also, every particle of which is a living organism, the syringe is also a better distributor of the pollen than a camel's-hair pencil or anything else. Examine a globule of water after it has been deposited upon a Peach flower among the stamens, and the minute grains of pollen will be seen suspended in it, in innumerable quantity; and they, when the water evaporates, are left attached to the stigma. Presuming, therefore, that the moisture when not in excess has no injurious effect upon the pollen itself, but is in all probability a quickener of the vital principle, we have in the syringe, when discreetly used, one of the best and most convenient artificial fertilisers we can find. I offer this hypothesis with all diffidence. I know it is not in accordance with the ideas of some able physiologists, but the facts I have stated I can guarantee, and if any of your readers have a better explanation to offer it will be acceptable.

Of course, in speaking of the subject of fruit-setting, I do not wish your readers to forget that the first essential to that end is to have the wood thoroughly matured the previous autumn, which can only be accomplished by allowing the trees to carry no more wood or foliage than can be well exposed to light, and to keep the foliage in a healthy condition till the end. When these ends are attained, half the battle is gained; all we can do afterwards is to aid nature, and this is only what I mean when I recommend a genial temperature - neither too wet nor too dry - when fruit-trees of any kind are in bloom. J. Simpson.

Wortley Hall.