156 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c February 24, mi 
tube. In a recent examination of Houstonia serpyllifolia on the 
top of Roan Mountain in North Carolina, precisely the same 
characters were found. On the same mountain Houstonia pur¬ 
purea abounds, and also has a similar sexual dimorphism, hut 
in this case the elevation of the anthers is due to the lengthen¬ 
ing of the stamens, and the form of the corolla tube is the same 
in both sexual forms. The number of plants representing each 
sexual form is about equal. Both forms seemed to be equally 
fertile. In regard to cross-fertilisation the long-styled would 
be in the best position for receiving pollen from foreign flowers, 
but the short-styled one would more readily receive its own. 
As cross and self-fertilisation had an equal advantage he would 
infer that the dimorphism had little reference to fertilisation as 
a final cause.” 
. J> ^ 
WORK .fohthe WEEK,. : 
ll^Sis 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
For standard Apple and Pear trees that have attained sufficient 
size and age to bear fruit, but fail to do so, the present is a good time 
to head them down preparatory to grafting with other and approved 
varieties. Some kinds of Apples and Pears, particularly the latter, 
are liable to afford fruit of inferior quality, or the trees to be subject 
to disease in some localities, whilst in others they are satisfactory 
both in quantity and quality of the fruit. Scions of the required 
variety may now be taken, and the ends placed in the ground in a 
shaded situation to retard the action of the sap until it is well up in 
the stocks. Select vigorous well-ripened shoots of last year’s growth 
for scions. Recently planted standard and other trees should be 
securely staked, and be well mulched with partially decayed stable 
manure. Bush fruits are now in that condition as regards the buds, 
particularly Gooseberries ; and bullfinches must be watched for, or a 
pair will soon do a great amount of injury. Where shooting them 
is objected to the bushes may be dressed with diluted Fir tree oil or 
nicotine soap, which must be repeated after heavy rains. Pruning 
and nailing-in Morello Cherries and other trees on north walls must 
be attended to, cutting out any shoots devoid of bearing wood, so 
that last year’s shoots can be trained in their full length. Cherries, 
Plums, Peaches, and Nectarines, being subject to the attacks of 
aphides, &c., should be dressed with an insecticide. We find nothing 
better than a mixture of 1 lb. soft soap to a gallon of water, half a 
gallon of tobacco juice, half a gill of spirits of turpentine, and a little 
sulphur to thicken it. It should be applied with a brush, and is 
equally efficacious against scale on Pear and Apple trees, also for 
American blight, in which case omit the sulphur. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Cherry House .—The flowers will now be rapidly expanding. Con¬ 
tinue ventilating at 50°, and do not exceed 55° by artificial means in 
the daytime, and 40° to 45° at night. Cease syringing the trees, and 
maintain a genial atmosphere by damping. Artificial impregnation 
must be attended to on bright sunny days. See that there is no 
deficiency of moisture in the borders, and if necessary afford a liberal 
supply of water at a temperature of 65°. Trees in pots will require 
water more frequently, and mnst not be neglected in that respect. 
Although it is not advisable to fumigate when the trees are in 
blossom, it must, however, be resorted to if aphides appear. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—Thinning the fruit will also soon require 
attention where too thickly set, removing the smallest first and all 
those on the under side of the branches, unless there be not sufficient 
on the upper side for a crop. Syringe the trees twice a day after the 
fruit is set, and advance the temperature to 55° at night, GO 0 to G5® in 
the daytime, ventilating from 65°, and allowing an advance to 70® or 
75° with sun heat and a free circulation of air. Assist weakly trees 
with liquid manure not lower in temperature than the air of the house, 
and see that outside borders have the protection of leaves and litter 
to prevent chill. In the house started at the beginning of the present 
month the flowers are now showing colour, and the syringings must be 
discontinued when they expand, damping the house, floors, and borders 
twice a day. See that the inside border is not dry, and if necessary 
supply water at a temperature of 70° to 75®, assisting weakly trees 
with liquid manure. Where there is a superabundance of flowers 
draw the hand on the under side of the shoots downwards. If Peach 
aphides infect the shoots fumigate on two or three consecutive 
evenings before the flowers expand. When in flower 50? at night 
and 55° by day artificially, advancing to 65° from sun heat, are suit¬ 
able temperatures, ventilating freely whenever the weather is favour¬ 
able, and avoiding a close vitiated atmosphere. Complete the pruning, 
dressing, and training of the trees in late houses, as well as cleansing 
the houses, ventilating freely to retard the flowering, unless the 
demand be continuous, when it may be necessary to start another 
house at the commencement of next month ; in which case the house 
should now be closed, employing fire heat only to exclude frost. The 
inside border must be thoroughly moist. 
Strawberries in Pots .—Batches of plants should be introduced at 
such intervals as will maintain an uninterrupted succession. The 
plants started in December have fruit well advanced for ripening, and 
should be supplied with liquid manure until the fruit changes colour. 
As soon as indications of ripening are evident the supply of water 
should be less plentiful, and the atmosphere must be drier to insure 
flavour in the fruit. Those plants started early in the year are in 
flower, and should have a somewhat dry atmosphere and as free 
ventilation as possible. Dust over the blossoms with a camel’s hair 
brush or feather to liberate the pollen, keeping them in a temperature 
of 55® at night, and 60° to G5° artificially by day, with an advance of 
5® to 10° with sun heat. When the fruit is swelling freely secure a 
temperature of GO® to 65° at night, and 70° to 75° by day, and 80® to 
85° from sun heat. Supply liquid manure abundantly. When the 
fruits are fairly set remove those not likely to swell to a good size, and 
such as are likely to be deformed. Plants on shelves in Peach houses 
and vineries will have to conform more or less to the legitimate 
occupants, but the flowers of the Strawberries should be damped 
as little as possible, and a little extra ventilation afforded so as to 
secure a good set. Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury is not succeeding 
so well in the early crops as last year, but La Grosse Sucree and 
Pioneer are fine. Those should be continued introduced to shelves in 
vineries or Peach houses about to be started, with President, James 
Yeitch, Sir Charles Napier, British Queen, Dr. Hogg, and Cockscomb, 
the three last being very much superior in flavour to the others, and 
should be allowed to advance very gradually. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Shrubberies are often very much neglected in thinning. Common 
and Portugal Laurels bear cutting well, and may be formed by judicious 
pruning into fine pyramid or round-headed bushes, and Yews may be 
cut into any form desired. The majority of deciduous and evergreen 
shrubs also stand as much cutting as is necessary to keep them 
within reasonable limits. The ground amongst shrubs should be 
only lightly pointed over, and even this is undesirable where quan¬ 
tities of Snowdrops, Crocuses, Scillas, Daffodils, Primroses, Yiolets, 
and Anemones are planted amongst them. Dielytras, herbaceous 
Pseonies, &c., with Liliums in the more open spaces have a fine effect. 
All that is necessary is to remove coarse weeds and grasses, and to 
give a top-dressing of decayed refuse occasionally. 
Wistarias, Roses, Clematis, and all climbing plants should be 
pruned and have the growth re-arranged or regulated, cutting out 
the weakest and oldest growth, retaining for tying or nailing-in the 
strongest and best-ripened wood. Roses that make long strong 
growths, as Cloth of Gold, Climbing Devoniensis, Marechal Niel, <fcc., 
should not be spurred in, but have the old growths well thinned out 
and the best ripened shoots trained in their full length, except any 
unripe points, which may be cut away. Proceed with the re-arrange¬ 
ment of herbaceous borders. Phloxes will be starting and should 
have the shoots well thinned, leaving the strong; but if the plants 
are old take up, divide, and replant them in well-manured ground. 
Cuttings of choice kinds now inserted and grown on will afford fine 
heads of flowers, and are very effective grown in pots for decorative 
purposes. Delphiniums and Pyrethrums that are growing should 
be closely watched, as slugs are very fond of them. Give a dusting 
of quicklime. Ground intended to be planted with Dahlias, Holly- 
