JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 18,1881. ] 
161 
market. There must be a great central depot to which the 
retailers of the surrounding districts can repair in full confidence 
of procuring all they may require to satisfy the demands of their 
customers, and such a place is that which I have herein attempted 
to describe—“ The Fruit and Vegetable Market at Manchester.” 
WOKK/ofiTHEWEEK.. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
. When the Raspberries have all been gathered the old bearing 
wood should at once be cut out, and the young canes thinned to four 
or six of the strongest and best situated to each stool, securing them 
loosely to stakes until the growth is quite finished and the wood 
ripened. There must not be any further delay in netting Morello 
Cherries or Red and White Currants, which if against a north wall 
will keep much longer than in the open, and even improve in quality, 
whilst those in the open will deteriorate in quality. Red Warrington 
and other late Gooseberries should also be netted, but they do not 
keep very long without losing flavour. Hexagon netting is the most 
suitable material, as it excludes wasps and bluebottle flies as well as 
birds, at the same time admitting air. Apples of the early kinds 
should be gathered as they become ripe, or rather before they are 
dead ripe, or most early dessert kinds will be mealy, juiceless, and 
without flavour. The crop of this useful fruit is in most places 
abundant. Early Pears also should be gathered before they are quite 
ripe, or they are liable to become similarly deteriorated in quality. 
Apricots, early Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, and Plums ripening on 
trees against walls will require daily attention, the fruit when ripe 
being detached by gently raising or moving it, handling each care¬ 
fully, as any injury will result in the speedy decay of the fruit. Pre¬ 
pare ground for fresh plantations of Strawberries, the present being 
a good time to plant. Select deep rich soil if possible, and an open 
situation. It is advisable, however, to plant a few of an early sort 
and some of a late kind on a north border to insure as prolonged a 
succession as possible. Let the ground be heavily manured and deeply 
trenched, as the Strawberry, being a deep-rooting plant, withstands 
drought much better than when the soil is shallow or not deeply 
stirred. It is not, however, advisable to bring up much bad soil, as 
that would only cause the plants to make very indifferent progress. 
The plants, which should have been well established in 3-inch pots, 
may be planted in rows 2 feet 6 inches asunder, and 2 feet apart, 
allowing such varieties as President 6 inches more space each way. 
If a full crop be desired the first season the plants may be put out at 
half the distance in the rows, every alternate plant being removed 
as soon as the fruit is gathered. The following varieties afford a 
good succession—Pioneer, Keens’ Seedling, President, Lucas, Dr. 
Hogg, Unser Fritz, and Loxford Hall Seedling, a grand late sort. In 
light soils we find Pioneer, Sir Harry, and President succeed better 
than most others. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Figs .—The second crop will soon be removed from early-forced 
trees, and when this is the case attention must be directed to the 
proper ripening of the growths, for unless those are well matured 
success will be doubtful, especially as regards early-forced trees. At¬ 
tention having been given as indicated in former calendars to thin¬ 
ning and regulating the growths, little will be required now beyond 
regulating the supply of water and the ventilation. The crop having 
been removed and the growth completed the trees will not require so 
much water, yet sufficient must be given to keep the borders moist, 
discontinuing syringing, or only resorting to it occasionally to eradi¬ 
cate red spider. The ventilation must be attended to as before, a 
free circulation of warm dry air being maintained until the foliage 
commences falling, when a colder atmosphere, but well ventilated, 
will be suitable. Trees that are crowded with wood from inattention 
to thinning must at once have the shoots thinned to insure the matu¬ 
ration of those retained. Trees that ripened a crop in June will now 
be perfecting another, and may be encouraged with liberal supplies 
of water or liquid manure, and as the ripening of this crop will ex¬ 
tend over a considerable time a circulation of warm dry air must be 
afforded to obtain the fruit in good condition. Trees in pots are not 
so vigorous as those planted out, and ripening the growths more 
freely will be benefited by exposure outside after the crop is gathered 
and the growth matured, but on no account must they be exposed if 
there is any doubt respecting the maturation of the wood. They 
should be returned under cover before heavy rains and cold weather 
are experienced. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—Some of the leaves of the trees in the 
earliest house are now changing colour and falling, and if any reno¬ 
vation of the border be deemed necessary it should be attended to. 
The surface soil may be removed down to the roots, being careful not 
to expose these very long. Lay them in carefully in fresh compost, 
and firm the whole well. If the wood is gross and does not ripen 
well the trees should be whollj' or partially lifted, the house being 
shaded and kept rather close, the trees well syringed two or three 
times a day, and the operation performed with little delay. The 
drainage must be made as complete as possible, and when this is 
effected a layer of turves grass side downwards will prevent it 
becoming choked. About a foot depth of compost may be placed in 
and well rammed, and the roots spread out over it, cutting back any 
strong roots devoid of fibres. It is important that the soil be made 
quite firm. Strong fibrous loam taken off about 3 or 4 inches thick 
forms a suitable material without any admixture, especially if it has 
overlain limestone. Soil not of this description may have a tenth 
part of old mortar rubbish incorporated, with a fortieth part of half¬ 
inch bones, the soil (which must be strong, or if light have a third of 
clayey marl mixed with it) being no more than moderately moist 
when used. Give a soaking with water at a temperature of 90°, and 
mulch with 2 or 3 inches of short manure. Continue shading and 
damping the trees for a few days, and they will soon be established in 
the fresh material, when the shading must be removed and the house 
ventilated fully. Trees so treated invariably set their fruit well, and 
fine crops are obtained. To assist the ripening of the wood in suc¬ 
cession houses the trees should have all the wood not necessary for 
next year’s crop cut out, syringing the trees forcibly after the fruit 
is gathered to dislodge red spider, not allowing the borders on any 
account to become dry. 
Pines .—In most instances the suckers produced by the early 
summer fruiters are now started, the treatment having been indi¬ 
cated in our last calendar under this head. Continue the treatment 
advised until growth is perceptible, when shading should be gradu¬ 
ally discontinued, and the houses more freely ventilated on favour¬ 
able occasions. Avoid crowding, allowing space for a sturdy growth, 
as weakly attenuated plants seldom produce fine fruit. When the 
weather is favourable to Pine Apple plants they will make luxuriant 
growth, and must be well attended to in ventilation ; and in houses 
or pits, with the plants near the glass and the panes large, a slight 
shading for an hour or two at mid-day when the sun is powerful is 
very beneficial in May, June, and July; and where it has been con¬ 
tinued up to this it should now be gradually withdrawn, providing 
free ventilation when the temperature stands at 85° to 95°, which is 
suitable alike for succession as fruiting plants, those having 70° to 
75® at night, and the others 65° to 70°. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Endeavour to keep the flower garden gay and attractive as long a3 
possible, being particular in removing every decaying leaf and flower 
as soon as perceived. Pelargoniums are especially liable to suffer 
when crowded ; it is advisable to thin them and insert the cuttings. 
The plain-leaved varieties do well in a sunny position in the open 
ground, the soil being rendered firm, and by the end of September 
they will be ready for potting. Those grown for the beauty of their 
leaves should be placed in a frame where they can have protection 
from heavy rains, otherwise full exposure, and inserting the cuttings 
must not be longer delayed to have them well rooted before winter. 
Carpet beds well repay attention in keeping the lines and divisions 
well defined by pinching, indeed their effectiveness depends on their 
being well kept. Propagation must be proceeded with, but it is not 
