April 3, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
271 
produced. It baa been found to be quite hardy in most districts in the 
south of England. In the woodcut, fig. 64, a reduced flower and leaf are 
shown.—J. H. Mangles, Valervood, Haslemere. 
NOTES ON ORCHIDS AT WESTBROOK, SHEFFIELD. 
This place has long had more than a local reputation for its fine 
collection of Orchids, and which have been previously referred to in this 
Journal as being grown in close proximity to the extensive snuff mills, in 
which what is widely known as “ Wilson’s Top Mill Snuff ” is manu¬ 
factured, and with which the atmosphere of the Orchid houses is at most 
times heavily charged. The late proprietor, H. Wilson, Esq., was a 
great lover of Orchids, and spent large sums in their purchase and 
cultivation, and under the skilful management of his gardener, Mr. D. 
Clements, his became one of the best private collections in the provinces. 
In 1881, however, owing to the illness of Mr. Wilson, which eventually 
terminated fatally, a large portion of the collection was disposed of at 
Stevens’ Booms, and Mr. Clements left Westbrook to seek “ fields and 
pastures new,” which he soon found at Arnot Hill, Notts. For a year or 
two from then little was heard of “ Orchids at the Snuff Mills,” but at 
the present time a great revival appears to have set in. Mrs. H. Wilson 
and her son, Mr. Alfred Wilson, appear to unite in supporting their able 
gardener, Mr. Pidsley, who is an enthusiastic and skilful cultivator, and 
appears likely to soon restore the collection to much of its former 
excellence. 
At the present time the flower house is exceedingly gay with a grand 
lot of Odontoglots and Dendrobes. The collection of Odontoglossums at 
Westbrook is especially fine, and well fills two span-roofed houses, each 
about 40 feet by 12 feet. The plants are in the most robust health, and 
are throwing up quite a small forest of flower spikes. I noticed 
O. Alexandras, which had thrown up two grand spikes from one pseudo¬ 
bulb, one of which has twenty-seven and the other sixteen flowers. 
O. Halli has three spikes, two from one bulb, carrying eighteen, sixteen, 
and thirteen flowers respectively. 0. Andersonianum, one of the best 
types of Alexandras, has two spikes of fifteen and twelve flowers. 
O. gloriosum has sixty-two flowers on one spike, a beautifully densely 
flowered example. Of 0. gloriosum, a pretty variety with much larger and 
brighter flowers than the type, has a good spike. Some very fine varieties 
of Alexandra and cirrhosum ate now flowering, and a number of plants of 
O. nebulosum. Amongst Dendrobes are some well-flowered examples 
of D. crassinode Barberianum and of D. Wardianum, amongst the latter is 
a most beautiful variety with pure white sepals, and petals very thick 
and waxy-looking ; lio of the same colour, with very bright orange 
throat. A plant of D. Ainsworthi, which has just gone out of flower, 
carried 230 blooms, and is now making seven strong breaks. 
Mr. Pidsley has lately repotted nearly the whole of the stock of 
Odontoglots in a compost of two-thirds fibrous peat to one-third sphagnum 
and charcoal. Calanthes, which he grows remarkably strongly, he is just 
repotting in a compost of equal parts of turfy loam, leaf mould, and 
decayed cow dung. He has a number of fine plants of Dendrobium 
nobile potted in about equal parts of sphagnum and bracken roots or 
rhizomes chopped small, in which the plants appear quite at home.— 
W. K. W. 
WOKK.foii.the WEEK.. O 
W 
mm 
tPhfUi'f 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Newly Planted Irees .—Ungenial spring weather is very trying for 
newly planted trees. Failure, feeble or sickly growth, which attracts 
attention later in the year, often proceeds from such causes as careless 
planting, and subsequent exposure to the trying alternations of hot sunny 
days, cold nights, and dry parching winds. By careless planting negli¬ 
gence in any or every detail of the work is meant: to dig a hole that 
will barely hold the roots, to thrust them into it, and trample some soil 
hastily over them ; to plant late after the sap is in motion, or when the 
soil is sodden with rain ; to plant weakly or unhealthy trees ; to leave 
the trees unfastened, so that they are liable to become wind-rocked and 
loosened in the soil ; to plant in poor or undrained soil ; or to apply no 
mulching of litter or half-decayed dung upon the surface over the roots. 
But if the trees were healthy and robu-d, and were planted in good time 
with due care in fertile well-drained soil, they will sustain no harm how¬ 
ever changeable the weather may be. Attention is once more called to 
this matter, because even now much may be done to set right any negli¬ 
gence above the surface of the soil, and at any rate save the trees. The 
spring growth may, and probably will not be strong on trees suffering 
from carelessness, but they may be sufficiently recovered by midsummer 
to make good growth then. Should the weather in April prove very dry 
a liberal watering will much assist both root and branch growth in the 
young trees, and there need be no fear of overwatering if the drainage 
is sound. The soil generally is unusually dry for this season of the year. 
Many of what are termed “land springs,” which begin to flow after 
heavy autumnal rain, and cease to do so in summer, are already dry, 
which is fully two months before the usual period. 
Sewage water may now be given with advantage to all bush fruits. 
It will tend materially to promote strong growth, fine vigorous blossom, 
and an abundant crop of large fruit. Strawberries, too, particularly in 
light thin soil, should have sewage early. The roots are now fairly at 
work, and the crowns already have the flower buds visible, and plenty of 
new foliage is opening and growing fast. Let us answer these calls of 
Nature promptly, and not wait till foliage is fully grown and blossom 
fully expanded, or we shall be too late to impart extraordinary vigour to 
both, which, we may add, ought certainly to be the aim of all good 
cultivators of fruit. 
Grafting and Protection .—Bring up arrears of grafting as speedily 
a3 possible, and if clay is used look over the work occasionally and set 
right any premature cracking of badly tempered clay. We never use 
clay, but always hot grafting wax applied with a brush, the work 
being then well done once for all, and all risk from cracking avoided. 
With this, well-ripened scions, due care and skilful work, there need 
be no failures. Of protection we may usefully say, Be careful not 
to overdo it. Unless the blossom is advanced almost to opening protec¬ 
tion is better away, so that by leaving the trees fully exposed to the air 
growth may be retarded as much as possible. The best way is to erect a 
framework over the trees to keep the coverings off, but close at hand till 
the blossom opens, and then to use it. If possible let the framework 
surround the tree, for it is not always that mischief comes from the north 
or east. Two years ago it was a south-western gale that battered the 
blossom to pieces, and literally scattered our prospects of fruit to the 
winds, excepting any trees that were sheltered on that side, all of which 
escaped harm and bore a crop of fruit. Also do not try to spread out 
the means of protection unduly ; far better is it to protect a few trees 
thoroughly, and so make sure of some fruit, than to half protect many 
and risk the loss of an entire crop. There always must be some risk of 
loss in fruit culture, unless under very exceptional circumstances. Quite 
recently one of our large Kent fruit-growers stated at a public meeting 
that a certain frost caused him a loss of £3000. 
FRUIT-FORCING. 
Vines. — Earliest-forced, House. — Examine the Grapes now taking 
their last swelling, and if any of the bunches are likely to bind take out 
a few of the least promising berries. Continue a moist genial atmosphere 
in the house, especially in the early part of the afternoon, closing for two 
or three hours with sun heat so as to secure the full development of the 
berries, admitting a little air afterwards so as to effect a circulation of 
air, and prevent the deposition of moisture on the berries during the 
night. Admit air early in the day, and liberally when the external con¬ 
ditions are favourable, leaving a little on constantly so as to produce a 
circulation of air after the Grapes change colour, and when this takes 
place gradually reduce the atmospheric moisture. If there be any de¬ 
ficiency of moisture in the inside border a thorough supply of tepid 
liquid manure should be given, and a mulch of short manure will prevent 
evaporation, keeping the mulching moist by damping occasionally, and 
this will keep the roots active near the surface, assisting in keeping the 
foliage healthy ; plenty of moisture at the roots being even more essen¬ 
tial in keeping the foliage free of red spider. Allow a moderate exten¬ 
sion of the laterals, which will tend to keep the roots active, and to the 
keeping of the Grapes in good condition after they are ripe. 
Succession Pauses. —Disbudding, tying down the shoot*, and stopping 
will require attention, as also will thinning the bunches and berries as 
the Grapes become fit. Allow the laterals to extend as space admits, and 
at the same time see that these are not allowed to interfere with the free 
access of air and light to the principal foliage. Muscats now in flower 
will require a high and moderately dry atmosphere to effect a good set, 
brushing over the bunches occasionally when the sun is bright and air has 
been given to liberate the pollen, and if there be a deficiency use that 
from Black Hamburghs. Although a somewhat dry atmosphere is 
advised when the Grapes are setting it must not be caused by admitting 
air so as to produce a current, and when the weather is bright moisture 
is absolutely essential as a means of support to the delicate young foliage. 
Remove the majority of the surplus bunches before the flowers open, 
thereby reducing the strain on the Vines, carefully fertilising those left 
for the crop with a camel’s-hair brush, and if this were attended to we 
should see less stoneless berries. Water inside borders thoroughly, those 
swelling off their crops, and weakly Vines with tepid liquid manure. 
Close early at 80° with plenty of atmospheric moisture. 
Late Houses— The Vines in these are now making rapid progress, and 
will need disbudding, stopping, and tying before the young shoots reach 
the glass. If the space admits of the extension principle, stop two or three 
joints beyond the fruit, and allow the first set of laterals to fill up the 
vacant space, training the shoots suffieieDtly wide apart to admit of the 
full development of the foliage. 
Keeping Late Grapes .—The winter has been so mild and dry that but 
little fire heat has been required to keep up the required temperature or 
to expel damp. Examine the bunches once or twice a week for decayed 
berries, aDd keep the bottles filled with rain water. \ entilate freely on 
fine mornings, closing early in the afternoon, and keep the windows 
closed in damp weather. 
Cherry House. —The growths that are reserved for supplying 
any deficiency of shoots which are required for filling up vacant space 
or furnishing the trees will now be sufficiently advanced to neeu 
