JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 26, 1882. 
Poor Mr. D’Ombrain is becoming desperate, and at last writes: 
“ Would Policeman X be of any service ? ” Possibly, I think, if he 
would but seize James Greybridge, and carry him off to Mr. D’Ombrain 
for summary and condign punishment. But there, the paper is done 
at last. 
Well, at all events, I have one consolation. I have shown up that 
impostor James, and have been able to write something like a true 
account of “ Our Flower Show.” 
Another admirable article by the Secretary, Mr. Edward 
Mawley, on “ The Weather of the Past Rose Year,” will be found 
profitable reading ; and we commend the Annual to our readers 
as an instructive shillingsworth. 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Standard Apple, Cherry, Pear, Damson, and other Plum trees in 
orchard and fruit gardens succeed best as a rule when not subjected 
to any formal system of training or pruning. It is, nevertheless, 
necessary to examine them annually, thinning the branches where 
too crowded in young trees, and shortening long shoots, which by 
taking the lead are likely to cause irregular heads. Old trees should 
also have any superfluous branches removed, and where they have 
grown so as to have become a perfect thicket, a moderate thinning 
will be of advantage to improve the quality of the fruit. Old trees, 
however, require careful treatment, as if the thinning be severe it 
will cause a quantity of spray to be produced, and this will have a 
tendency to lessen the crop considerably for a time. When the 
young wood is allowed to displace the old very much finer fruit will 
be produced than on old weak spurs. 
Trees which are of good size and age, and from some cause do not 
afford satisfactory crops or are inferior varieties, may now be cut 
down, and in spring be grafted with approved varieties, especially 
those found to succeed in the locality. If the stems and branches of 
orchard trees be infested with moss or lichen this should be scraped 
off carefully, the stems and branches being washed with strong brine, 
or with lime and water of the consistence of ordinary paint, with an 
admixture of soot to darken the limewash. Moss and lichen are 
often a consequence of the trees having their roots in a cold wet soil, 
the water not necessarily near the surface, but stagnant in the 
subsoil. In such a case drains 18 to 21 feet apart with proper fall 
and outlet, and at sufficient depth as to prevent water accumulating 
nearer than 3 feet from the surface, will be of far greater benefit than 
any dressing applied to the surface of the ground. In forming fresh 
plantations of fruit trees draining should be the first consideration, 
and after that the preparation of the ground by trenching as deeply 
as the good soil admits, whilst that of an unfavourable description 
should only be loosened. Old orchards in grass frequently have all 
cut grass removed for fodder, and no manure returned to it. In this 
case a good dressing of manure would be beneficial; or if the ground 
be overgrown with moss a compost would be preferable, one pait in 
six being lime, and a twelfth of wood ashes, applying at the rate of 
twenty loads per acre. In the case of trees showing much enfeeble- 
ment yet still fruiting well, though the fruit is inferior in size, it 
would be desirable to not only give a good dressing of manure, but 
to have the turf turned under, paring it off near the trees, and point¬ 
ing in a dressing of manure or compost, being careful not to disturb 
the roots much. 
The weather has been so mild during the present and preceding 
months that the flower buds of Apricot trees against walls have 
almost expanded—in fact, are showing colour, so that any arrears of 
pruning or nailing the trees must be completed with dispatch ; and 
should the present mild weather continue, the protecting material 
ought to be ready, so that prompt application after the flowers expand 
may be secured if necessary. Peaches and Nectarines, though not so 
forward as the Apricots, have their buds swelling, and the pruning 
and dressing should be completed without delay. Other fruit trees 
against walls are also forward and require similar treatment. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Vines .—The earliest Yines in pots, having set their fruits, should 
be attended to in thinning, removing only the small berries, endea¬ 
vouring to secure a compact bunch rather than one of large berries 
which from looseness does not retain its form. Allow a moderate 
extension of the laterals, which by inducing root-action will, pro¬ 
viding the soil is surfaced with rich compost, and liquid manure duly 
supplied, assist the berries in swelling to a good size. If the roots 
extend into the fermenting bed tepid liquid manure poured over it 
between the pots will also be beneficial. If there be any trace of red 
spider a few forcible syringings with clear rain water will dislodge 
it ; otherwise syringing will not be necessary, but the floors and walls 
should be sprinkled in the morning and afternoon, and again in the 
evening when the weather renders sharp firing necessary. Maintain 
the night temperature at 65°, falling to 60° on cold mornings, turning 
on the heat early so as to have the temperature up to 70° by 8.30 A.M., 
keeping between that and 75° when the weather does not necessitate 
ventilation ; but if the day is likely to be fine ventilate a little at 70°, 
and increase it proportionately with the advancing heat, closing 
early in the afternoon at 80°. 
The earliest-started Yines planted out will shortly be in flower, and 
will need a temperature of 65° to 70° at night and 70° to 75° by day, 
securing if possible a change of air daily, and keep the atmosphere 
a little drier. After the Yines come into flower the rods may be 
shaken every forenoon in sunny weather and ventilate the house, or 
examine the bunches and disperse the pollen with a large camel’s- 
hair brush or plume of Pampas Grass. Any shy-setting varieties 
should be fertilised with pollen taken from Black Hamburghs. The 
laterals may be allowed to extend during the flowering period pro¬ 
viding there is room ; otherwise do not allow growths to be made 
which must afterwards be removed in quantity, as this is likely to 
induce shanking. The Yines started in early December are advanced 
in leaf, and need a temperature of G0° to G5° at night and 70° in the 
daytime, with an advance from sun heat to 75° or 80°. Until the 
flowers expand the Yines may be syringed in the morning and at 
closing time, but it must be practised early enough in the afternoon 
so as to allow the foliage to become dry before night. Complete 
disbudding, and avoid having the shoots too closely placed; a dis¬ 
tance of not less than 18 inches should be allowed between each. 
If fermenting materials have been placed in the house they must 
still be turned and fresh added as the heat decreases ; but where 
these have not been employed the borders may be damped in the 
afternoon with clear guano water, 1 lb. to about fifteen gallons of 
rain water, and the evaporation troughs charged with the same. 
Where fermenting materials are used on outside borders they must 
not be allowed to become cold, but have the parts most decayed 
removed, mixing some fresh with that retained, so as to maintain a 
good heat. The inside borders may be supplied as necessary with 
rain water or liquid manure at a temperature slightly above that of 
the mean of the house. 
The Yines started early in the month are growing, necessitating 
raising the temperature to 55° in severe and 60° at night in mild 
weather, keeping at G0° to G5° in the daytime by artificial means, 
and 70° to 75° by sun heat, with ventilation on all favourable 
occasions. Disbud as soon as the best bunches are discernible; 
and whilst overcrowding is to be avoided, it is always advisable to 
retain moie growths than those to carry fruit, so as to maintain a 
good supply of nutrition to the fruit. 
Vines which are to be started early in next month now require 
the house closed, but employ fire heat only to exclude frost. The 
inside border may receive a good soaking with water at 80° to 90°, 
repeating if needful to render the soil thoroughly moist, the outside 
border being covered with litter to prevent chill from cold rains or 
snow. Late Black Hamburghs are now cleared of their fruit, also 
Muscat of Alexandria ; no time should therefore be lost in having 
the Yines pruned, and dressed if needful with an insecticide, the 
house thoroughly cleansed and if necessary painted, scraping off the 
loose surface soil down to the roots, and applying fresh loam to which 
