March 24, 1S92. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
229 
adyance must be from sun heat, turning off the artificial heat and 
closing early. Outside borders must have sufficient protection 
against frost and snow, and inside borders will need due supplies of 
water or liquid manure. Stoning will soon be completed in the most 
forward varieties, when the final thinning of the fruit must be effected, 
and the border may be mulched with partially decayed manure 1 to 
2 inches thick, and the night temperature may be raised to 65° or < 0 in 
mild weather, 70° to 75 ° by day artificially, and 60° to 85 or 90 from 
sun heat. This wi 1 bring the fruit rapidly forward and insure its 
swelling to a good size, but it will not have the colour and quality of 
that given more time. Tie-in the shoots as they advance, regulating 
them so as not to be too crowded, as this lets more light to the 
colouring, and the wood becomes more solidified and better ripened for i 
another vear. In some cases close pinching the laterals is not good | 
through starting the base buds, but extension only increases the vigour, 
and frequently results in the principal buds pushing laterals instead of 
forming fruit buds. Such trees must be marked for lifting at the . 
proper time, and when a shoot becomes so gross as to push the whole of j 
its buds it is best to cut such away altogether, as they have large pp ; 
vessels, and may fall a prey to gum, interfering with the proper training j 
of the trees. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Zonal FELAKGONirJis. —These can be planted out fairly well from 
shallow boxes of any description, but are more quickly effective i^hen 
prepared in and turned out of 3-inch or rather smaller pots. Squares 
of turf with a hole scooped out so as to hold a little sandy soil and the loots 
of a single plant also answer well. Lose no time in completing the re¬ 
potting of all autumn-struck plants, those especially lequiring early 
attention that are crowded in small pots, and keep them in gentle i'sat 
till well rooteel, after which cooler quarters ought to be found them. If 
bushy plants are desireii, pinch out the points a few days prior to pot¬ 
ting. Taking cuttings from autumn-struckplants completely spoi s them, 
PROPAtiATiNG Zonal Pelargoniums,— The growth of old plants 
in pots and boxes is now sufficiently active to admit of the tops being 
taken off and rooted. It is a mistake to be in too great a hurry in this 
matter, as if the attempt is made to strike them while in a dry s;rpless 
state, most of them usually fail. Shoots from the variegated bronze and 
golden-leaved varieties ought also to be nearly or quite ready for taking 
off, leaving the later or weakly growths on longer to strengthen. They 
strike readily in sandy soil in a warm house. Spring-struck plants of 
the bronze and golden-leaved forms frequently surpass those^ rooted in 
the autumn. Ivy-leaf varieties may also be struck readily in heat at 
this period of the year. 
Specimen Plants. —Specimen plants, whether of Pelargoniums, 
Heliotropes, or Fuchsias, intended to be used in the flovser garden 
should now be cut back freely, and so as to give them either 
good pyramidal or globular heads, standards are, perhaps, the tuo^ 
effective, and can easily be had in the case of Fuchsias by trimming off 
the lower branches from the worst of the pyramids so as to throws all 
the vigour into the head. Keep the plants in gentle heat, and, when 
breaking afresh, shake much of the old soil from the roots. Trim the 
latter and repot, using pots of nearly or quite the same size as before, 
and a moderately good loamy compost. The growth will be free, jet 
sturdy, in a warm greenhouse temperature. Train Ivy-leaf Pelargoniums 
either to a globe trellis or round a few stakes in the forni of a pyramid, 
and these will be found verj' showy if disposed at wide intervals in the 
flower beds. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Early Peas. —Those that were up before the bitterly cold March 
winds were felt present a very poor appearance at the present time. For 
several daj's they appeared to be dried up, and when a partial thaw came 
the plants looked much as they would if a hot iron was passed over them. 
In all probability those sown much later or which are onlj’ just coming 
through the ground will quickly surpass the damageal rows, and the 
propriety of hoeing up the latter maj’ become apparent. Peas, if not 
too far advanced in growth, transplant readilj’, and if the rows are very 
ganpv either break up some of them and make good the rest, or sow the 
requisite quantity of seed in 3-inch pots and place in heat to germinate. 
The latter process will be materially hastsnevl by soaking the seed 
for twenty-four horn’s or till swollen considerably in warm watei, 
prior to sowing it in the pots. The same remarks hold good in 
the case of the later sown rows, the planting out or transplanting 
bc'ng done in mild weather, and when the plants are about 2^ inches 
high. All should be eartheil early and staked, a free use of spraj' 
being especially desirable, as affording a certain amount of sheltei, 
also favouring an erect growth. The wrinkled seedeil dwarf varieties, 
including American Wonder, British Wonder, M illiam Hurst, and 
Chelsea Gem, maj’ safelj* be sown now, and if the seeil is sound it 
will germinate quickly, the plants coming on rapid!}', the^ crops being 
ready to g-athcr as early as from earlier sown round seeder! variedies. 
These exfra dwarf varieties maj' be grown profitablj' with or without 
small stakes or spray, and should be sown in rows 2 feet, or rather less, 
apart. In each and" every case slugs must be kept away by means of 
frequent dustings of soot and lime, wockI ashes also being distasteful to 
them and a goori fertiliser, while sparrows can be best defied with the 
aid of the ivgular Pea guards, or substitutes for the same, such as 
galvanised wire netting bent over the rows and securely pegged down, 
or failing this benders and fish netting may be user!. Several lengths 
of thread or strong cotton strained to short stakes and passed over and 
alongside the rows serve to baflie bin.ls, and if the latter are not 
particularly voracious is effective enough. 
SuccESSiONAL PEAS. —Directly the Peas sown in February are 
coming through the ground, the time has arrived for sowing another 
row or"”rows of William I., or other approved early variety, and also one 
or more rows of selected second early varieties. If tall stakes are avail¬ 
able sow either Telegraph or Telephone, good medium height substitutes 
being Carter’s Stratagem, Pride of the Market, Hair’s Dwarf Mammoth, 
and Webb’s Wordsley Wonder. Either or all of the latter may 
grown with or without stakes, and should be sown somewhat thinly in 
rows not less than 3 feet apart. The rows of Telegraph, Telephone, or 
any other tall-growing variety should be 6 feet apart, or as far asunder 
as the known height of the sort. It cannot be too often repeated that 
nothing short of damping and rolling the seed^ in red lead will 
preserve it from mice, and even this is not sufficient protection if 
are hard driven for food. In the latter case catch as many as possible 
with the figure of 4 trap, baiting with Peas, 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
March 23rd. 
The first spring Show of the season at the Royal Botanic Society s 
Gardens. Regent’s Park, on Wednesday last, was even more satisfactory 
than usual, the exhibits being numerou.s, exceetlingly bright, and the 
display altogether was very effective. The whole of the corridor and a 
good portion of the conservatory were occupied with non-competi^ 
groups and the entries in the various classes, but the former constituted 
the major part of the Show. n cn j 
Taking the classes first, those devoted to bulbs were fairly well tilled, 
thou'^h in some cases not quite up to the standard of former year^ 
M'ith Tulips, Messi-s. H. Williams & Son, Fortis Green, Finchley, took 
the lead, followed by Messrs. Eason and Douglas in that order. 
Hvacinths from nurseymen were not of remarkable rnerit, the first and 
second prizes going to Messrs. H. Williams and M . B. Morle. The 
amateurs’ exhibits in a corresponding class were better, Messrs. Douglas, 
Eason, and R. Scott securing the awards. Mr. J. Douglas had the best 
twelve Narcissus in pots, very fine plants, Messrs. H. Williams and K. 
Scott taking the second and third places. Mr. Douglas also had twelve 
fine specimen Freesias, for which he gained the first prize, but he was second 
for Crocuses, Mr. R. Scott’s premier twelve pots being extremely fine. 
Lilies of the Valley came from Messrs. Morle and Scott, and Amaryllises 
from Messrs. Paul &; Son and J. Douglas. 
Roses were capitally shown by Messrs. Paul & Son, who were fi^®* 
for six Roses in pots, also staging a large group of small Roses with 
Lilacs and Azaleas. Deutzias from Messrs. Douglas, Eason, and Nunn 
were of the usual character, as also were the Primulas from Messrs. 
Odell, Phillips, and H. W'illiams & Son, together with the Cyclamens 
from Messrs. Phillips, Mowbray and Edmonds. The ^Azaleas were not 
very remarkable, the best being from Messrs. Eason, Scott, Nunn, and 
H. James. ... • v j i 
The non-competing exhibits included the following, for which rnedais 
were awarded :—A large group of Azalea mollis, Clivias, and Amaryllises, 
with new plants from Messrs. B. S. W'^illiams & Son, Upper Holloway ; 
Caladiums, Acacias, Heaths, Cyclamens. Bertolonias, and ot^r choice 
plants from IMessrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill ; Ericas, Epacrises, 
Boronias, Mignonette, and miscellaneous greenhouse plants from Messrs, 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate ; handsome Amaryllises and new plants from 
Messrs. J. Yeitch A Sons, Chelsea ; Camellias in pots ami twelve boxes 
of cut blooms fr m Messi-s. W"m. Paul & Son, W altham (>oss ; Daffodils 
.and hardy plants from Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, 
and Mr. T. S. W'are, Tottenham, the latter also taking prizes for 
bulbous plants and twelve Scillas. Mr. J. R. Chard, Stoke Newington, 
exhibiteii some of his tasteful Arcadian arch table decmations. Groups 
of Cyclamens came from Messrs. J. Odell, T. W^alker C. Edmonds, and 
the St. George's Nurserv Company ; fine Cinerarias from Mr. J. James, 
Farnham Royal; and Daffodils, Tulips, and Hyacinths from IMessrs. 
H. Williams A Son, Finchley. 
HE) BE)E-KE)E)PER. 
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& 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
Bee Mortality. 
This has been greatest amongst bees located in broad, shallow 
hives with solid floors. These floors when damp cause the death 
of many stocks during the winter, and those who are adopting the 
primitive method of adding shallow raises during winter to pre¬ 
serve their bees are fifty years behind the times. The ventilating 
floor is altogether superior to that ancient method. 
Peat as a Bee Preservative. 
Peat, as proved by your Annan correspondent, “F. McC.,” is 
an efficient protector. Slabs of peat can be prepared for inner and 
outer walls, and in a dry state nothing answers the purpose better. 
Dry peat is a favourite medium for bumble bees to hybernate in, 
