268 THE FLORAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



to bloom earlier than the tulips, and others later. Then foliaged- 

 beds are being much introduced into our spring gardens, and make 

 such excellent bases for tulips. 



Nor must beds of mixed tulips be overlooked. Some of these 

 are very charming indeed, and we advocate their use in consequence, 

 even though some may be a little dwarfer in growth than others. A 

 bed of mixed tulips among a few beds of self-coloured flowers form 

 a nice and acceptable contrast to the masses of colour, in the same 

 way that a bed of foliaged plants softens the effect of glaring masse3 

 of colour in the summer flower garden. 



Homo Sum. 



THE AUTUMN AND WINTER MANAGEMENT OF 

 FRUIT TREES UNDER GLASS. 



BY WILLIAM COLS, 



Head Gardener, Eiling Park, Middlesex. 



URING the autumn and winter months the proper manage- 

 ment of fruit trees under glass does not require a vast 

 amount of skill, yet it is of sufficient importance to admit 

 of attention being directed to it without any apology 

 being necessary. In dealing with this question it is 

 impossible to ignore the fact, that a very common impression prevails 

 to the effect that the trees are able to take care of themselves from 

 the time the fruit is gathered until they start into growth again. 

 That this impression is erroneous, all who have paid any attention 

 to fruit-growing will be prepared to admit ; but it is necessary to 

 point out its existence in justification of a large proportion of the 

 remarks that will follow. 



One of the principal points in connection with the management 

 of fruit trees in the autumn is their full exposure to the weather : 

 when the lights can be taken oft' and the foliage exposed to the 

 beneficial influence of the autumnal dews and rains, a considerable 

 amount of labour in syringing the trees will be saved. There are a 

 few cultivators who yet believe in the doctrine, that after the fruit 

 is gathered, the red-spider should be looked upon as a blessing, 

 rather than as a plague. They imagine that with the maturation 

 of the fruit the functions of the leaves are completed, and therefore 

 suppose that the sooner they fall off the better, to more fully expose 

 the young wood to the air and light. The thorough ripening of the 

 wood is of considerable importance undoubtedly ; but it must be 

 borne in mind that the embryo flower-buds are formed in the 

 autumn, and that healthy foliage plays a most important part in their 

 formation; hence it is important to keep the leaves clean and quite 

 free from insect pests of any kind, until they fall naturally. When 

 the trees are uncovered, the rains and dews will prevent the red- 

 spider or thrips making much headway, and will also materially 



