180 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ August 7, 1684. 
naturalised Cape Oak reproduces itself with facility by self-sown seed¬ 
lings. All over the colony the Oak bears acorns abundantly and more 
regularly than in Europe (within my remembrance). The common 
method of planting Oak trees in avenues or near houses is to go into an 
Oak wood and dig up a sapling 6 or 8 feet high, and with about as much 
root as would go into a large kettle. That trees should survive such a 
treatment is one proof of thorough and hardy acclimatisation. I believe 
that the wood of the Cape Oak is not inferior to the wood of the 
European Oak, that the Oak in Cape Colony grows faster than in Europe, 
and that the decay to which the Oak in Europe is liable sets in earlier 
here. No attempt has been made at coppicing or barking the Oak or 
treating it as foresters treat the Oak in Europe. In the eastern moun¬ 
tainous forests of Cape Colony it is probable that the Oak would be 
thoroughly at home. Acorns are now being sown in glades and burnt 
areas of forest with the view of testing this. How far this Oak may be 
useful for afforesting purposes, or how far it may spread into the indige¬ 
nous forest, will be an interesting subject of future observation. 
After seeing the fine specimens of the Turkey Oak (Quercus Cerris) at 
Kew, the reflection is natural that if Quercus pedunculata grows well in 
Cape Colony, Quercus Cerris ought to grow better. And Quercus Cerris is 
a finer tree, yielding better timber than Quercus pedunculata. An 
application has been made to Kew for acorns of Quercus Cerris, in order 
to test its growth in different parts of the Colony, There is an Oak, said 
to be Quercus Cerris, and to be about eight years old now, growing in the 
Government Gardens at Cape Town. It is stated to have not yet pro¬ 
duced good acorns. We should be thankful to any friend (and happy to 
exchange seeds with him) who would send us some Himalayan acorns, 
or, indeed, any Himalayan seeds, notably Deodar. And here it may be 
remarked that the climate of the eastern forest country of Cape Colony 
resembles the temperate climates of the Himalayas in its comparatively 
dry winters with occasional falls of snow, its rainy summers, its latitude, 
and its mean temperature. It differs in being subject to droughts at 
intervals of from five to ten years, and to brief hot winds from the 
interior, which send the thermometer above 100° for some hours. These 
hot winds may blow at any time of the year, though they are mitigated 
in winter. In winter they do not range much above 80° Fah. In 
summer they reach 110° and occasionally 115°. During the night they 
are always stopped, especially near the sea, by a cool current from the 
Southern Ocean, and differ in this respect from the hot winds of Australia, 
which blow at a temperature of about 120° for two or three days together. 
Tbe best of the eastern forests of Cape Colony are between elevations of 
3000 and 4500 feet, which in mean temperature probably corresponds 
with an elevation of between 6000 and 7000 feet in the Himalayas.— 
(^The Indian Forester.') 
(To be continued.) 
WORllFoi(THEWEEK..fc 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Bipening of the Fruit .—Ripe fruit of Citron des Carmes and Doyenne 
d’Ete Pears was gathered from cordons on July 26th. The first dish of 
Margaret Apple was also ripe on that date, which was ten days before the 
usual time of ripening of either of these early varieties of Pear and 
Apple. We mention this to show the importance of being on the alert to 
gather fruit in good time that is so liable to become spoiled by the delay 
of a day after it is ripe. Early Beatrice Peach was ripe on trees against 
a west wall a day or two later. Most of the fruit, though small, is high- 
coloured and excellent in flavour ; some of it is spoiled by stone-splitting, 
as is most of an abundant crop of Early Rivers Peach on a south wall. 
We also note that Black Bigarreau Cherry afforded us a valuable supply 
of its large delicious fruit for dessert. Bigarreau has been stUl more useful, 
excellent fruit being obtained from netted trees till the first week of 
August. Belle Magnifique had an abundant crop of fruit, much larger 
than the Kentish, which it resembles in colour and flavour. It was used 
for jam and for bottling. We recommend this valuable Cherry for 
planting next autumn. It grows with rampant vigour where Kentish 
barely exists, and its fruit is abundant and fine. It is by taking note of 
such matters now that we gain the requisite knowledge for our guidance 
when the time for planting arrives. By using Nottingham netting to pre¬ 
serve ripe fruit on trees and bushes we are able to exclude insects and 
birds, both which contrive to find a way through fishing net. Red Currants 
on walls required for autumn are now covered with garden mats, under 
which it will be well to look occasionally for slugs, which have been very 
destructive to ripe fruit this summer, and are best caught at night. 
Strawberry Beds .—Again we call attention to the importance of 
digging in manure between the rows of established plants as soon as pos¬ 
sible after the fruit is gathered. Remember that the bearing of an 
abundant crop of fruit puts a heavy strain upon tie plants, and they 
require a prompt and ample store of nutriment at the roots both to restore 
them to full vigour and to promote the development of strong crowns for 
next season. Regarding the exception taken by “ Thinker ” to our 
favourable notice of James Veitch Strawberry, we certainly have ample 
reason to speak highly of its flavour and colour in the south, and as it is 
by no means one of our latest sorts we see no reason why it should not 
answer in many parts of Scotland. In Invernesshire, where the first ripe 
Strawberries and Green Peas come in with grouse-shooting, Sir Joseph 
Paxton is probably the latest sort grown. Can any of our friends in the 
north enlighten us upon this matter ? If you have been unable to afford 
space for the early planting of new Strawberry beds do not keep the 
plants standing for several weeks in pots for late j lanting, but turn them 
out at once into a nursery bed, so that they may grow freely now and be 
ready for transplantation next spring. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Melons. —The stopping, thinning, and tying the growths will require 
frequent attention, as if these matters are neglected it will certainly result 
in injury. The possible recurrence of dull cold weather may necessitate 
the lighting of fires occasionally to dispel unnecessary damp, and at night 
to maintain the requisite temperature—viz., 70° to 75°, and to secure this 
in the daytime. The atmospheric moisture in the houses, pits, and 
frames must be regulated in accordance with the growth and the condi¬ 
tion of the weather, keeping somewhat dry when the fruit is setting and 
ripening, but affording a moist genial atmosphere to plants swelling 
their crops. Closing can be done earlier in the afternoon now, or from 
three to half-past. Damping and watering will need to be lessened in 
pits and frames where there are no hot-water pipes at command, and the 
latter will be the better for having linings placed around the frames. 
Cucumbers. —The present is a good time to sow seed of Cucumbers for 
winter fruiting. There is none to suiqmss Telegraph, although Tele¬ 
phone is very fine, and so is Cardiff Castle. What is wanted in a 
winter Cucumber is hardy constitution and prolificness. Those we have 
in the Sion House race, and of which there are so many forms that names 
are superfluous. Sow the seed singly in 3-inch pots in light soil, and 
plunge the pot 3 in a frame where there is a little bottom heat, but that is 
not imperative, shitting into larger pots as they require more room at 
the roots until they are planted out, or finally shifted into their fruiting 
pots or boxes. As a compost for Cucumbers there is no equal to three 
parts turfy loam and one part peat, wdth a sufficient quantity of charcoal 
to keep the whole porous. We find Cucumbers—and, indeed, all plants— 
are much healthier when grown in good soil without any admixture of 
manure, feeding the plants afterwards with rich surface dressings or liquid 
manure. Place small sticks to the plants when sufficiently advanced, 
and train with one stem to the height of the trellis. Syringe the plants 
twice a day where hot-water pipes are at command, and close early in 
the afternoon, or from three to four o’clock. The time, however, of 
opening and closing ventilators must be regulated by the weather, admit¬ 
ting a little air at 75°, and keeping the temperature through the day at 
80° to 85°, closing at the latter, and with plenty of moisture, allowing an 
advance to 90° or 95°. The usual thinning, stopping, and tying wiU need 
attention, removing surplus fruit and exhausted growths, so as to make 
place for successional fruitful growths. Watering should be done in the 
early part of the day, and not be given until required, and then copiously 
so as to reach the lowest root-’. Maintain a moist genial atmosphere, 
and keep up a good supply of fresh growth. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —As soft fruits are going out the value of 
Peaches and Nectarines in late houses becomes apparent, and they will, 
from the scarcity of Plums and Pears, be invaluable. The most important 
matter in the management of late houses is the application of liberal 
supplies of water both to the roots and to the foliage, as few trees under 
glass when in vigorous health take more water than Peaches and Nec¬ 
tarines. They also require abundant ventilation through the day, and 
closing early in the afternoon when the fruit is swelling, the trees 
being syringed, and the floors, border.®, &c., sprinkled with liquid manure. 
If it be necessary to accelerate the ripening to keep the house somewhat 
warmer by sun heat and early closing, being particular to admit air in 
the early part of the day, and to close as early as safe. The observance 
of these matters will secure fruit of the largest size and quality, syringing 
being discontinued after the fruit begins to soften ; and if the fruit is to 
be retarded a low night temperature will best answer the purpose, and at 
the same time help heavily laden trees. Good syringing is essential to 
keep the trees in health, only it must not be continued after the fruit 
begins to soften, and this will keep down insects, which if allowed to 
have their own way injure the foliage and bring about premature 
decay, which means unripe wood and imperfectly developed buds. 
To have Peaches really good in flavour, they should be gathered when 
dry early in the day, and before they are quite ripe when they have to be 
packed for travelling. Avoid pressure in gathering, as the tender skin of 
Peaches is easily injured. Very fine fruit often swell round the wood on 
which they are growing, in which case it is best when the shoot can be 
spared to make a cut above and below the fruit, which is preferable to 
removing them by force ; but when the shoot cannot be spared the fruit 
should be held in the palm of the hand in a pad of wadding and the 
fruit detached with a pair of Grape scissors. Keep them in a cool room 
until wanted for use. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Azaleas .—Plants that were started early into growth and are now under 
cool treatment will have set an abundance of flower buds. These plants, 
if the space is wanted indoors, may with safety be removed to the outside 
for the next two months. When placing these plants outside it is wise to 
partially plunge the pots in ashes or cocoa-nut fibre. The plants when 
outside will without injury bear the full blaze of the sun, and are much 
benefited by being exposed to its rays, but they generally suffer at the 
roots if not prelected. When plunged the watering of the plants must be 
