June 12,1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
478 
shrubbery the plants are very effective. They can also be turned to good 
account for edging or bedding purposes as white-leaved plants, but to 
have them dwarf for this purpose the flower stems must be pinched out. 
Glaucium fulvum is much the same in appearance, having somewhat 
deeper-coloured flowers. G. Fisberi is the most attractive from its 
having much deeper-coloured flowers, nearly approaching an orange 
colour. 
The plants are easily increased by seed sown as soon as ripe. The 
seedlings appear in the autumn, and flower early in the following season. 
When sown in spring the plants flower in the autumn. They are also 
increased by side shoots taken off with a heel, smoothed with a sharp 
knife, the cuttings being inserted in sandy soil in well-drained pots, and 
placed in a cool shaded pit or frame. The plants thrive in any ordinary 
garden soil, but are the better for liberal treatment. They are regarded 
by some as biennials, but I have had them last for years, and 1 cannot 
but regret that they are so seldom seen in cultivation.—V. 
Soy Beans. —The extensive use by the Chinese of this leguminous 
Bced (Glycine Soja) is only recently beginning to attract attention. The 
following is from the proceedings of the Agri-Horticultural Society of 
India, January 5, 1883 :—“ The large white Pea is deserving of notice, 
since it forms the staple of the trade of Changhair or nearly so, to the 
astonishing amount of ten millions of dollars, or two and a half millions 
sterling. The Peas are ground in a mill and then pressed in a somewhat 
complicated, though, as usual in China, a most efficient press, by means of 
wedges driven under the outer part of the framework with mallets. No 
description would suffice without a drawing. The oil is used both for 
eating and burning, more for the latter purpose, however, and the cake 
packed like large Gloucester cheeses, or small grindstones in circular 
shape, is distributed throughout China in every direction both as food for 
pigs and buffaloes, as also for manure.” Specimens of the Beans, as well 
as of the oil and one of the cakes weighing about 60 lbs., may be seen in 
the Museum of Economic Botany of the Royal Gardens .—{Kerv Report.') 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Pruning .—Midsummer will soon be here, and in order that the full 
strong growth which follows it should be turned to good account let 
arrears of pruning both of lateral and leading spring growth be speedily 
finished. It is difficult at this busy season of the year to devote enough 
time to the careful selection of fruiting wood for next year on Peaches and 
Nectarines, and consequently by far too much wood is often retained and 
crowded together upon the trees, only to be removed in the winter pruning. 
This wasteful process cannot be too often deprecated, for the wood which 
is eventually retained is neither so strong nor can it bear such fine fruit as 
it ought. A fruit tree is cultivated solely for its fruit, and therefore no 
branch or shoot should be retained upon it, or, rather, be allowed to grow 
at all, if it does not in some way contribute to the desired end. Red and 
White Currants have now had all the spur growth nipped off to two or 
three leaves, the leading growth shortened, and if against wall or trellis at 
once fastened to it. If this is not promptly done many leading shoots are 
liable to be broken off by the first storm, to the disfigurement of the tree 
and the loss of the year’s growth. 
7 lie Fruit .—Thin all crowded fruit of Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots 
without further loss of time if it is not yet done. Especial care should be 
given to thinning clusters of Pears on all wall trees, the finest fruit being 
invariably produced by them. Do not, however, thin till the fruit is set 
and swelling, so that you may be able to see clearly whether thinning is or 
is not necessary. The Fig crop is so abundant that care must b‘e taken to 
loosen the branches nailed or tied closely to wall or trellis, or much fruit 
will be spoilt by growing to instead of from the wall, and being pressed 
and deformed between and behind branches. Gooseberries used while 
green should be picked from the lower branches, and where they are left 
upon that part of the bush to ripen, drooping branches should be raised 
upon supports high enough to keep the fruit clean. Strawberries ought 
now to have litter or supports to keep the fruit from contact with the soil 
and from becoming splashed with it by heavy rain. Tiles or pebbles are 
best for laying under the fruit, because it is not apt then to spoil quickly 
in wet weather. Reeds and straw are the next best materials provided the 
straw is fresh, clean, and not saturated by anything offensive. Long grass 
answers well in dry weather, but in a wet summer fruit both ripe and 
green soon decays if resting upon it. 
FRUIT-FORCING. 
Figs. —Figs in Pots .—These as generally seen do not last long in 
bearing, nor produce a great number of fruits at one time, but when they 
have attained a height of 6 or 8 feet, and thoroughly established in pots of 
18 inches or more in diameter, they then give a harvest of fruit of a very 
satisfactory character. At the present time the succession crop on the 
November-started trees will be swelling fast, and some of the most forward 
are ripening. In order to increase the size of the fiuits the spring growths, 
which will in most cases be profusely set with fruit, and should be given a 
good thinning, and those ripening will be fine in flavour, according to the 
light, heat, and ventilation they receive. Throughout the growing season 
liberal feedine is absolutely essential, and the quantity that trees of the 
size above indicated will take is enormous, or from 4 to 6 gallons every 
alternate day. The liquid not only feeds the roots, but the ammonia 
arising therefrom, along with the copious syringing, keeps the foliage n 
a clean healthy state, free from insects, and the fruit does not fall pre¬ 
maturely. Should red spider appear syringe with clear sulphur water, but 
not until late in the afternoon or evening. 
Fig Trees Planted Out .—Trees in inside borders and trained over a fixed 
trellis should have the shoots tied down before the crop begins to ripen, 
and vigorous growths that are likely to take support away from the fruit 
should be pinched out as the tying proceeds. Make additions to the 
mulchings as the roots appear on the surface, and seek to keep them there 
by watering at short intervals, once a week at least. Ventilate all houses 
early in the morning, allowing the temperature to rise gradually to 80°, 
keeping it at that to 85° through the day from sun heat, and reduce the 
ventilation gradually, closing on fine afternoons sufficiently early to allow 
of the sun raising the temperature to 85° or 1)0°. 
Early-planted Trees .—When syringing can be resumed in the house 
from the first crop of fruit being gathered, the trees should have a 
thorough cleansing to free them from insects and dust, than which 
nothing is better than the garden engine. If scale has obtained a hold 
syringe with petroleum, a fluid ounce to three gallons of water, kept 
sharply stirred whilst being applied. Attend to stopping and tying, 
avoid laying in too much wood, and let ripening fruit have full exposure to 
light. 
Cherry House .—In the case of trees that have only been slightly 
forced the fruit will now be ripe, forming a good succession to those that 
were ripe in May, and it will be necessary to see that the trees do not 
lack moisture at the roots. Water must be carefully kept from the fruit, 
but a fair amount of moisture should be maintained by damping the 
borders occasionally, and will not do any harm provided the house is 
subjected to free ventilation. In order to maintain a supply until those 
on walls come in, the house should be shaded whenever powerful sun 
prevail^, and birds must be excluded by some netting fixed over the ven¬ 
tilators. The house should be fully ventilated at this season. Trees from 
which the fruit has been gathered should be syringed to dislodge dust or 
insect^, and the house fumigated on two or three consecutive evenings if 
black aphides appear. See that there is no deficiency of moisture at the 
roots, as it is important the soil be kept thoroughly moist. 
Pines. —At this season young growing stocks will need particular 
attention in order to keep the plants sturdy and vigorous, for which pur¬ 
pose it is advisable to divide them into two or three sections, as it is 
otherwise impracticable to do full justice to all the sorts under ordinary 
arrangements where the plants are mingled together, under which, for 
the sake of appearance, the stronger growers are placed at the back, and 
consequently best position, whilst the smaller are placed in the front or 
worst. Where practicable we advise the Queen plants to be grown by 
themselves, and Smooth Cayenne and Charlotte Rothschild together. 
The taller varieties, such as Black Jamaica, Enville, Black Prince, Mont¬ 
serrat, and Prince Albert, &c., should be placed together. Every care 
