M«y 11, 1876. ) 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURB AND OOTTAQE GARDENEB. 



375 



with a saw close to the main stem owing to the branches be- 

 oominf; too crowded. The result of this was that last year the 

 crop of fruit was heavy in quantity and superior in quality. 

 PreviouBly neither light nor air coald penetrate to the centres 

 of the trees, and only the fruit that hung on the outer branches 

 coloured well or was of good flavour. Other sorts of fruit trees 

 require timilar treatment, and we do a little thinning-out almost 

 every season both upon bush and pyramid trees. 



In oar light gravelly soil Apple trees have a tendency to 

 canker, and the worst are Eibston Pippin and Wellington or 

 Dumelow'a Seedling. The first one is of the most favourite 

 dessert sorts, and the other is almost unsurpassed for late use 

 in the kitchen. We are still using it plump and fresh. The 

 most evident reason for the trees becoming cankered is the roots 

 getting down to unsuitable subsoil. We find at least that to lift 

 the roots nearer the surface, and to work-in fresh loam amongst 

 them, prevents the canker from spreading. 



The trees have been examined in order to destroy maggots 

 and caterpillars in the earliest stages of their existence. A very 

 small maggot similar to that which eats the Rose in a bud 

 state has been found in the unopened bunches of Apple blossoms. 

 One specimen destroys many blossoms in a bud state. The 

 maggots have been destroyed by hand-picking. 



Our Peaches and Nectarines, finer sorts of Pears, Plums, &c., 

 are cultivated in the orchard house, but this does not prevent 

 us advising as to wall treatment. The trees now require con- 

 stant attention as to disbudding and thinning-out the fruit. 

 Some sorts have not only a greater tendency to drop their fruit, 

 but are shyer bearers than others. Some of the most free-bear- 

 ing Peaches are Early York, Royal George, Grosee Mignonne, 

 Bellegarde, Galande, and Prince of Wales ; of Nectarines, Hunt's 

 Tawny, Elruge, Violette Hative, Pine Apple, and Victoria. We 

 continue to keep the Dutch hoe at work amongst trees and bashes. 



OKCHAKD HOUSE, 



All the trees have now passed the blossoming period, and 

 there is a remarkably good set of all the varieties. Now that 

 this stage is reached the garden engine is kept at work daily. 

 Peaches and Nectarines receive the greatest share of attention. 

 The growing shoots have not yet been stopped, but it is neces- 

 sary to stop them. By this plan short-jointed young wood is 

 produced, which is very fruitful and causes the trees to be more 

 compact than they would be if the young wood was allowed its 

 own way. The fruit is also being thinned out, and we do not 

 care to make many thinnings of it, as in a ten-years experience 

 and the culture of scores of trees there has been no trouble 

 whatever with the fruit dropping off. 



Strawberries on the shelves have been allowed plenty of space 

 by the thinnings being removed to other houses. The plants 

 are now showing bloom, and in working the garden engine care 

 is taken not to dash the water against the flowers with force. 

 When the blossoms are set sticks are placed to the trusses to 

 hold the fruit up above the foliage. It is also very necessary to 

 syringe the plants well underneath the leaves to prevent the 

 appearance of red spider. 



Figs in Pots. — These are now making very rapid growth, and 

 it must be encouraged by frequent waterings with weak mannre 

 water, or the pots may be surface-dressed with some very rich 

 soil — say equal quantities of loam and rotted maniue, with some 

 pounded charcoal mixed with it. It is astonishing to see the 

 rapidity with which fresh rootlets are formed in this dressing, 

 and the rapid effect it has upon the growth of the trees. Our 

 Fig trees are daily syringed, and although the pots require 

 liberal waterings it is quite possible to overdo it. Some gardeners 

 do not approve of syringing their Fig trees, but this is a mistake. 

 It is the best way to keep off or destroy red spider, and the 

 health of the trees is improved by it. There is no danger of Fig 

 trees in pots being overgrown, unless the variety should be a 

 shy bearer and of a very robust growth. It is easy to check this 

 over-luxuriance by withholding water and omitting the surface- 

 dressing. 



VINEBIES. 



Late houses that have had but little or no artificial heat to 

 start the Vines now require considerable attention, as the young 

 growths are making very rapid progress, and now is the lime to 

 see that they are carefully and regularly distributed over the 

 trellis to which the Vines are trained ; and this operation requires 

 much care, as the succulent shoots are so easily snapped either 

 in the tying down or in a few hours afterwards. They must be 

 bent down a little at a time until they are in the right position. 

 Many amateurs, and others who have not had much experience 

 in the culture of Vines, are apt to tie down too many shoots, 

 thinkin? no doubt that the more wood they allow the Vines to 

 mature the more bunches they will have ; but no greater mistake 

 can be made than this, as if the house is crowded with leaves 

 and growths none of them can be well ripened. All our Vines 

 are trained on the close-spur system, except Cacon HaU Muscat, 

 Golden Champion, and Gros Guillaume (Barbarossa) ; of these 

 three or four good eyes are left at each spur when the Vines are 

 pruned, and the old rods are replaced with young canes at more 

 frequent intervals than ia necessary in the case of such sorts as 



Black Hamburgh, Buckland Sweetwater, Lady Downe's, Mrs. 

 Pince, Bowood Muscat, Muscat of Alexandria, Black Muscat of 

 Alexandria, and Royal Ascot. 



At Loxford Hall there are Vine rods of ages varying from ona 

 to ten years or more, but when the rods become aged and have 

 been spurred-in nearly ten years the bunches produced are very 

 small, the best fruit being invariably cut from the young canes, 

 one or two being trained-up annually to replace the older rods. 



In the early Muscat and Black Hamburgh houses the fruit 

 is swelling oil and colouring remarkably well. A little water 

 sprinkled on the paths and surface of the borders is all that is 

 required at this time and until the fruit is ripe. A little air is 

 admitted at both front and back of the houses night and day, 

 air being admitted very freely by day when the weather is 

 warm. 



GREENHOUSK AND CONSERVATORY. 



As the earlier-flowered plants are being removed, hardwooded 

 and other plants are taking their place. Cinerarias will continue 

 in beauty for at least three weeks yet ; but the flowers that 

 begin to fade are removed at once. Seedlings for next year 

 have been pricked out, about ten or a dozen plants in 5-inch 

 pots. We use a compost of loam and leaf mould, with a little 

 sand to keep the material open. Azaleas are late this year; 

 but the earliest of those that have not been forced will be in 

 flower as soon as the Cinerarias are removed. They are free 

 from thrips and red spider. If they were not we should dip 

 the small plants in soapy water in which a little tobacco liquor 

 had been mixed. Thrips may be destroyed by fumigating with 

 tobacco smoke, but this does not touch the spider. 



Forced Roses are most beautiful objects at this time, and but 

 little forcing is required to have them. They must be free 

 from green fly before the flowers open. The bad worm is also 

 a troublesome pest. 



Pimeleas are very attractive plants, and the flowers are useful 

 for catting. The flowers of P. spectabilis are just now opening. 

 The plant has been kept in a rather warmer temperature than 

 that of an ordinary greenhouse. It is the most beautiful of the 

 family, but it has not been seen well shown at the London 

 exhibitions recently. The plant does not Uke a draught of cold 

 air, and the leaves are liable to be attacked by red spider. When 

 the plant is making its growth it should be carefully watched 

 and syringed, and the syringe must also be freely used if neces- 

 sary up to the time the flower trasses open. To grow this and 

 other plants that require a warmer position than the ordinary 

 greenhouse, the end of the house nearest the stokehole is kept 

 closer, and the temperature usually ranges about 5^ higher at 

 night. In this position the North American Cypripediums 

 grow and flower freely. G. spectabile has been really splendid 

 the last few years, and the plants continue to increase in strength 

 and produce more flowers annually. Gloichenias also do well, 

 and in a close case the Filmy Ferns luxuriate. The glass over 

 this part is shaded closer than the other part where Pelargo- 

 niums and other plants of that description are making their 

 growth. 



Hovea Celsii is also in full beauty; but that is quite a green- 

 house plant, and requires plenty of fresh air. It must be care- 

 fully supplied with water at the roots, over-watering causing 

 much injury. Pleroma elegans and Statice Holfordii are reaUy 

 fine plants, and they seem to flower more strongly and are ia 

 better health if they are placed in a night temperature of 55° 

 with a rather close moist atmosphere. In hot dry weather stage 

 and other Pelargoniums, if the pots are well filled with roots, wIU 

 require abundant supplies of water at the roots. — J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secbetaeies will oblige ua by informing ns of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



Westminster Aquarium. May 16th and 17th, Maj 80th and Slsfc, July 



5th and 6th. 

 Crystal Paxace. Flower, Mny 19th and 20th. Rose, Jane 16th and 17th. 

 TrrERTON. May 24th and 25th. Mesirs. A. Payne and J. Mills Hon. Sees. 

 Dnbercliff. May SUt. Mr. T. H. Clough, Hon. Sec. 

 Manchester (Grand National). June 2nd to 9th. Mr. Bmce Findlay, 



Koyal Botanic Garden, Sec. 

 Southampton. Jane 5th, and Angast the 5th and 7th. Mr. C. S. Fuldge, 



89, York Street, Sec. 

 South Essex (Leyion?). Jane 13th. Mr. G. E. Cos, Wihnot Boad, 



Leyton, Sec. 

 Ipswich.— June 15th, Jaly 6th, and September 17th. Sec, Mr. W. B. 



Jeffries, Henley Road, Ipswich. 

 Edinburgh (Scottish Pansy Society's Show). Jane 16th. Mr. N. M. WelBh, 



1, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, Sec. 

 Coventry. June 19tb. Mr. T. Wilson, 3, Portland Terrace, Sec. 

 Maidstone (Boses). Jane 21st. Mr. Hubert Bensted, Boolistow, Maid* 



stone Sec. 

 Fareham and South Hampshire. June 21st. Mr. H. Smith, Sec. 

 Spalding. June 21et and 22nd. Mr. G. Kingston, Sec. 

 Exeter (Eoses). Jane 23rd. Mr. T. W. Gray, Hon. See. 

 Reigate (Roses). June 2ith. Mr. J. Payne, Treasurer. 

 Burton.upon-Trent. June 28th. Mr. F. S. Dunwell, Sec. 

 Leeds. June 28th, 29th, and 80th. Mr. James Blrkbeclc, Delph Lane, 



Woodhouse, Leeds, Sec. 

 Richmond. Jane 29th. Mr. A. Chancellor, Hon. Sec. 



