August 19, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 171 
Wasps are so troublesome that to protect fruit from their ravages 
only netting that will effectually exclude them should be employed ; 
and as autumn fruit is so scarce generally, no time must be lost in 
netting bushes of Red Warrington and other late varieties of Goose¬ 
berries, also Red and White Currants and Morello Cherries. If 
these are against walls with a north aspect they will keep in good 
condition longer than those in the open. Gather Apples as soon as 
they are fairly ripe, as most early Apples deteriorate in quality by 
being allowed to remain long on the trees. The crop of this useful 
fruit is very light, hence the necessity of greater care. Similar 
remarks apply to eaily Pears as to early Apples. Ground intended 
to be planted with Strawberries should be prepared and planted with 
as little delay as possible. Rich and deep ground and an open situ¬ 
ation should be selected, the soil being deeply trenched and heavily 
manured, as the plants endure drought better than those in shallow 
soil. Plants established in 3-inch pots are the most suitable, placing 
them out in rows 30 to 36 inches asunder, and half those distances 
apart in the rows for the first year, every other plant being removed 
when the crop is gathered. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Figs .—The second crop of Pigs being gathered attention must be 
directed to the maturation of the growths ; and if former instructions 
have been followed in thinning and regulating the shoots and spurs 
little remains to be done beyond careful ventilating and watering. 
Water will only be required to prevent the borders becoming dry, 
the syringe being employed to keep down insects. A free circulation 
of warm dry air should be maintained until the foliage indicates signs 
of ripening. Where, however, the wood is crowded by all means thin 
it at once. Trees that produced a crop in June will now be ripening 
off another crop, and may be assisted by liberal supplies of water or 
liquid manure. Trees in pots never grow so strongly as those planted 
out, and this tends to the more certain maturity of their wood, hence 
they may be removed to the open air after the crop i3 gathered. 
Trees planted out should not have the sashes removed, but the house 
must be freely ventilated, as from the more vigorous growth of such 
trees they will need more time to ripen the foliage. 
Melons .—The weather for the past few days has been all that the 
grower can desire, good fruit consequently being very plentiful. 
Before the fruits are very ripe they should be cut with a good portion 
of stem, and placed in a dry cool place so as to prolong the season 
of supply. Fire heat may safely be dispensed with during a con¬ 
tinuance of such weather, closing the house early and maintaining 
a moist atmosphere to all plants other than those setting or ripen¬ 
ing fruit. Under ordinary circumstances the houses, pits, and frames 
may be closed and the plants syringed at 3 P.M., but span-roofed 
houses should not be closed for half an hour later. For healthy 
and robust plants shading may almost be dispensed with, and less 
atmospheric moisture will be now required, especially by plants in 
frames. If the last batch of plants are weakly afford liquid Manure 
about twice a week, but do not apply it very freely until the fruits 
are set, after 'which earth-up the roots with good lumpy comp>ost. 
The last batch of plants in pits and frames will be setting the fruit, 
and must have a dry atmosphere with a little ventilation at night 
stopping each lateral one joint beyond the fruit. Continue to sup¬ 
port fruits that are becoming heavy by means of tables placed beneath 
the trellis, and those in frames should be kept from the soil by slates, 
and when ripening may be elevated on small pots. 
Cucumbers .—The general treatment for these continues the same. 
Plenty of atmospheric moisture, liberal feeding at the roots, free 
stopping and training the young growth, and thinning out the old 
being the chief points. Encourage the plants for autumn fruiting to 
make a strong growth, adding a little fresh soil as the roots penetrate 
through, abundance of surface roots being a true indication that the 
plants are doing well, maintaining a firm condition of the bed so as 
to induce short-jointed wood. A little fire heat should be employed 
on cold nights to prevent the temperature falling below C5°. Take 
advantage of every opportunity to collect and prepare soil for the 
winter plants, clearing the house of exhausted plants, remedying any 
defect in the heating apparatus, thoroughly cleansing the interior and 
exterior of the house. 
ORCHARD HOUSE. 
Apricot trees grown in pots in this structure will generally by this 
time have ripened their fruit, and as soon as this is all gathered the 
trees may with advantage be placed outside in a warm situation fully 
exposed to the sun, the pots being plunged in ashes. The trees 
should be well syringed every evening, and must be duly supplied 
with water at the roots. Peaches and Nectarines now becoming ripe 
must never be allowed to drop from the trees, even into a net. An 
examination of the trees should be made daily, removing the ripe 
fruit carefully with the hand, and as soon as the fruit is gathered 
syringing must be resorted to, to cleanse the foliage of insects. Where 
Pear trees are grown in pots some of them may be placed out of 
doors, as this will be likely to improve the quality of the fruit, while 
some may be near a north wall with a view to retarding the ripening 
process, thereby prolonging the season of particular varieties. It is 
not advisable to place Plum trees outdoors unless it is desired to retard 
the season of ripening. Figs will be ripening their fruit, and must be 
kept dry overhead and drier at the roots than during the swelling of 
the crop. Where Royal Muscadine, Black Hamburgh, or other early 
Grapes are trained over the pathway the fruit will be ripening, and 
will remain in condition for some time providing the fruit be kept 
dry. All fruit trees, whether in pots or planted out, should be kept 
somewhat drier at the roots as their fruit approaches ripeness. 
Yentilate freely at night as well as by day unless the weather be very 
cold and wet, or during the prevalence of high winds. Birds and 
insects must be excluded by hexagon netting. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Flower beds and borders will now be in their full beauty ; every 
effort should be made to keep them in as good condition as possible. 
It will be necessary to examine the plants frequently, removing any 
dead or decayed leaves and flowers, trimming, regulating, or pegging 
the growth of such plants as Verbenas, Petunias, Ac. All seed pods 
should be removed immediately they are formed. Any beds showing 
signs of exhaustion should have liquid manure liberally ; but in the 
case of Pelargoniums, except such as are grown for their foliage, water 
should be sparingly given, or it will have a tendency to provoke 
growth at the expense of flowers. Any defects in the present season 
arrangements should be noted for avoidance another season, and any 
alterations intended should be decided on, so that an increased or 
diminished quantity of particular varieties may be provided for carry¬ 
ing out the proposed alteration. Insert the necessary stocks of 
cuttings of Pelargoniums so as to have them thoroughly established 
before winter. Herbaceous Phloxes are very fine this year, they 
should now be increased by cuttings inserted under handlights. It is 
hardly possible to have too many Clove Carnations, Pinks, Ac., in 
gardens. Cuttings now inserted on a north border under handlights 
will root slowly but surely if kept close and moist until growth com¬ 
mences. Push forward the propagation of Daisies, Primroses, Poly¬ 
anthuses, Forget-me-nots, Gentians, Ac. Roses promise to be abun¬ 
dant and fine this autumn, but mildew is prevalent; prompt measures 
should be taken to arrest its progress, dusting the trees whilst damp 
with flour of sulphur. Should dry weather prevail liberal supplies 
of liquid manure will greatly assist a free growth. Climbing Roses, 
as Marechal Niel, Climbing Devoniensis, Gloire de Dijon, and similar 
varieties should have all the old wood that has borne flowers cut 
out, and the young shoots of medium size laid in not too thickly for 
next season’s flowering. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Orchids .—The East Indian house must be kept moderately close, 
and a growing atmosphere maintained ; but if the weather be dull the 
moisture must be reduced, and recourse had to fire heat to maintain 
a temperature of 05° at night and 75° by'day, the house being syringed 
and blocks damped at about three o’clock, the shading being with¬ 
drawn as soon as all fear of the sun scorching the foliage is past. 
Aerides, Phalaenopses, Saccolabiums, and Vandas should receive 
every encouragement, and care must be taken to avoid giving a check, 
or it will result in stunted irregular growth. Be careful with Phalse- 
nopsis, as if the sphagnum becomes soddened the leaves will soon be 
diseased. Dispense with shade on the Cattleya house altogether, as 
light is of the greatest importance for the ripening of the pseudo-bulbs ; 
