382 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 7, 1885. 
low temperature, and might safely be used as test plants, for if they 
remain in perfect condition through the winter, cultivators of cool Orchids 
may rest assured that the temperature has not been wrong. They will 
remain in good condition in the temperature I advise, and which I have 
found the best. 
It has been advanced that these plants rest better in a low than a 
high temperature, but experience points to the fact that this is imagination. 
In the former the cultivator runs the risk of losing his plants, or if they 
do not die, the following growing season is required to recruit them, 
instead of increasing the size of their pseudo-bulbs and adding to their 
numbers. In the latter they pass the winter safely, grow strongly, even 
luxuriantly, and flower abundantly. 
The night temperature most suitable from October to March is 45° to 55°, 
the lowest being the morning reading. These figures are given as a guide, 
hut external conditions should be taken into consideration. For instance, 
on mild evenings when the temperature outside stands at 42° or more, the 
temperature may safely stand at the higher figure given, or even a few 
degrees higher will do no harm. When it falls to freezing point or below, 
the house when banking up the fire stands 50°, falling to 45° in the 
morning. It will then be seen how the temperatures are regulated, and 
even if the house falls 2° or 3° lower in the morning during very severe 
weather no injury will result. The figures given allow of a little heat 
being left on the house all night, and thus the house can be left safe 
against morning frosts without falling injuriously low. A little heat is 
kept in the pipes on the very mildest occasions during the -winter, even if 
the highest temperature given is slightly exceeded. At this season of the 
year the house for these plants should be kept at night 55°, not falling 
below 50° in the morning. When very mild or very cold these figures 
may safely vary 5° either way. During the day these figures are exceeded 
by 5° unless the weather is very cold. To attain successful results the 
object should be to maintain as uniform a temperature as possible.— 
A Grower. 
V/QRK foi^the WEEK.. SI 
rip 
ifMll fOT»S5rt ; 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
So fair and full of promise are the prospects of a crop of extraordinary 
abundance of all kinds of hardy fruits, that the very great degree of cer¬ 
tainty of its realisation is an inducement to all lovers of fruit culture to 
endeavour to make a special effort that this shall be a year of real progress 
in our knowledge of fruit. Cherries, Plums, and Pears of all sorts are, 
indeed, a charming sight just now, so too are many Apples of early- 
flowering sorts, while the later kinds have clustering flower buds set so 
thickly upon every spur and branch that they, too, will soon be clouds of 
bloom. Our wall of palmetto verrier Pears now affords a curious and 
instructive sight; the trees are upon the Pear stock, they are all of the 
same age and size, the extension of the branches being complete, each 
tree having filled the space assigned it. But there the general resem¬ 
blance ends, for there is much difference in the position of the blossom 
upon each tree. Beurre Clairgeau i3, of course, crowded with bloom in 
every part, from the stem outwards, so too is Glou Morceau, which of the 
two is by far the most valuable Pear. Others are devoid of blossom near 
the stem, and upon others the blossom is still further from the stem, so 
much so as to be near the outer part of the horizontal portion of the 
branches, whence it clusters thickly enough upwards upon the whole of 
the vertical parts. We mention this as another important fact showing 
the superiority of palmette venders over the old horizontal forms. Be it 
understood that it is not our intention to infer that horizontal branches 
only bear fruit near the outer ends of the branches, but rather to show 
how slowly fruiting spurs form upon many of them. So well ripened was 
the wood last autumn that there can be no doubt of the fruit setting so 
thickly that much of it must be taken off. The fruit of some sorts of 
Pears on wall trees is already set. Do not let the thinning be premature, 
but wait till Nature’s thinning is over and the fruit is swelling fast ; then 
thin, and remember that a moderate quantity of really fine fruit is 
altogether preferable to much inferior fruit. We would ask fruit growers 
in all parts of the countiy to take note of the peculiarities of each kind of 
fruit, to compare sort with sort, to ascertain the relative value and use of 
each, the order of ripening, keeping qualities, and all other points of merit 
or demerit. If this is done well a mass of useful information will be 
acquired that will materially as-ist our subsequent work, for much in¬ 
formation is still wanting to make the best possible selection for different 
parts of the country, which can only be had in the way we have shown. 
Peaches and Nectarines have a little of the outer foliage blistered, but 
none of the trees have suffered sufficiently to affect the growth ; the fruit 
is setting freely and swelling fast. Apricot fruit may be thinned for tarts 
as it becomes large enough. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Earliest-forced House .—The fruits are 
now swelling and colouring fast, and as air is essential to ensure good 
flavour, free ventilation must be secured. Care will be necessary in 
admitting air in the case of cold north-easterly winds prevailing, as any 
sudden check would seriously cripple the foliage and jeopordise next 
year’s prospects. If not already completed let all stopping for tbe 
purpose of increasing the size of the fruit and tying down be concluded. 
Elevate the fruit well above the foliage by placing pieces of lath on the 
trellis for the fruit to rest upon, and guard against crowding or shading 
with more young wood that is required for next year’s bearing. In quick 
forcing Peaches swell to a large 9ize under a strong heat that would prove 
fatal before the stoning process is completed, but the size of the fruit is 
had at the expense of flavour. Syringing must be continued until the 
fruit begins to ripen, being careful to use water that will not leave a 
deposit, and to do so sufficiently early to have the foliage and fruit dry 
before night. Soft rain water will not do any harm, but water containing 
lime will seriously disfigure the fruit. Outside borders that have heen 
covered should not have the protective material entirely removed, sufficient 
in any case being left of the most suitable material to afford a good 
mulching. 
Inside borders ought to be made of good rather stiff calcareous loam, 
about 2 feet deep, resting on 1 foot thickness of good clean drainage, 
with proper drains so that the water can pass through the soil and super¬ 
fluity carried off quickly, care being needed to afford copious supplies of 
water, as when in full growth the trees rarely suffer from having too 
much water, and many failures are attributable to a deficiency of this 
life-sustaining element. In the making of fruit borders the greatest 
mistake is in heaping a mass of rich material together, through 
which a few grass roots pas3, soon getting beyond control, and forcing up 
a quantity of unwholesome food at a time when the trees should be at 
rest, resulting in unripened wood and unhealthy trees. The remedy for 
most evils the Peach is heir to would be prevented by moderate-sized 
borders, and the roots kept to it, the compost under rather than over rich, 
and whatever is wanted of a stimulating nature should always be applied 
to the surface as a mulching or in liquid form. 
Succession Houses —Proceed with tying the growths as they advance, 
and keep the stopping well in hand of those shoots retained to attract the 
sap to the fruit. Only such shoots should be retained as will be necessary 
for extending the trees or to afford fruit next season, therefore remove 
all superfluous ones so that light and air may have free access to the 
foliage, but be careful not to remove a large quantity of spray at a 
time, as that would be almost certain to cause a check, and such 
should be avoided. When the fruit is stoning it is advisable to let 
the shoots extend as far as it can be done without overcrowding. 
During stoning keep the temperature steady at from 55° to 60° at night, 
and 60° to 65° by day artificially, with 10° to 15° rise from sunheat 
and a free circulation of air. The trees should be kept in health by 
the timely application of water to the roots and foliage. On no account 
neglect early ventilation, and keep the roots active near the surface by 
good mulching. If red spider or scale appear prompt measures must be 
taken to effect a riddance, employing an approved insecticide. It is no 
use letting the insects make headway; the appearance of the first insect 
should be the signal for battle, and a moderate use of insecticides at that 
stage will prevent further mischief. 
Melons. —It will be necessary to maintain a drier and more airy 
atmosphere when the fruit is ripening in order to insure full-flavoured 
fruit. A little air should be left on at night, as a close atmosphere is 
fatal to colour and flavour, and very often a cause of the fruit cracking. 
Maintain a night temperature of 70°, falling 5° on cold nights, and 
commencing ventilating at 75° in succession houses, and increase the 
ventilation with the solar heat until it reaches 85°, between which and 
90° keep through the day, reducing the air as tbe sun heat declines, 
finally closing at three to four o’clock on bright afternoons, with plenty 
of atmo°pheric moisture in the houses. Add more soil to the hillocks or 
ridges as the roots push through the sides, repeating it at intervals until 
the allotted space is filled. Do not allow young plants to become root- 
bound before being planted, as they become stunted in growth and do 
not grow freely afterwards. If they are likely to get root-bound 
before the houses, pits, or frames are ready to receive them they should 
be shifted into pots 2 inches larger, and be potted firmly. 
II 
HE BEE-KEEPER. 1 
s 
ECONOMY IN BEE-KEEPING. 
( Continued from page 341.) 
To the scientific bee-keeper the bar-frame offers advan¬ 
tages wanting in the fixed hive system. Having hives in 
which the combs are freely interchangeable he can keep his 
hives all strong, and by care work up a feeble hive into a 
strong one, before the honey harvest begins by giving it a 
bar of brood from a stronger hive. 
Then, again, he can feel the pulses of his hives and spread 
the brood. We are constantly reminded that it were best to 
leave Nature alone, and that it were idle to try to improve 
on her working, and that the only result will be certain and 
deserved failure. Still, we venture to think this is an utterly 
