422 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June S, 1892. 
good distance to see, as everything is kept in the best order, and the 
requirenaents of the plants are very carefully studied. Each class of 
plants is grown in as natural a manner as possible, Mr. Southal having 
observed their habits in their native climes and acted accordingly in his 
garden. The result is very gratifying, almost everything feels at home 
and appears to thoroughly enjoy its position. Anemones are in great 
variety. A. sylvestris was especially striking by its large mass of 
beautiful pure white flowers; A. appennina, A. fulgens, and several 
others were very fine. Daphne Fioniana was represented by a fine 
plant covered with bloom; D. Cneorum was also blooming freely in 
several places. 
In many instances the hardy Primulas were over, but P. Sieboldi in 
variety was blooming in fine bold masses ; planted amongst rocks they 
were very conspicuous. Amongst Auriculas there were several of extra 
merit, particularly a yellow one with no name attached ; if it has no 
name it deserved one, as it is the c earest yellow I have seen. Ledum 
palustre was blooming freely and growing vigorously. Actsea rubroc^rpa 
and one or two others were in full bloom, their whitish flowers showing 
up well. Arnebia echioides (the Prophet Flower) is seldom seen in such 
good health as at The Graig ; the plants were covered with blooms, the 
bright purple spots in the yellow flowers rendering it very effective. 
Arenaria montana, planted amongst larger stones, was all covered with 
its pretty white flowers. Alyssum saxatile com pacta also was very fine 
on the rockery, being one mass of yellow bloom. Amongst Corydalis 
nobilis appeared the best, which was in rude health by the side of a 
walk, a position evidently well suited to it. Hutchinsia alpina is grow¬ 
ing well at the base of some large rocks, as is also Lychnis alpina, which 
was covered with its bright pink flowers, Gentianas are grown well in 
many varieties, some of which were past their best at the time of my visit, 
while the Gentian of commerce was just throwing very strong growths. 
Orobus varius is doing well. This variety is, I believe, rare and 
valuable, 
Pseonia is represented by a very large collection, P. anomala being 
in bloom. Many others would be out in a few days, notably P.Wittman- 
niana, there being a magnificent clump of this very fine variety, Stylo- 
phorum dipbyllum was producing a quantity of its pretty yellow flo•^ers, 
Trillium grandiflorum was also in excellent condition, and worthy of a 
place in every collection. All the early Iris were over, but in a few 
days a fine lot of bloom will be on view, the spikes and buds being 
exceptionally strong. Mr. Southal evidently does not spare manure on 
those plants which are benefited by its application. Hyacinths and 
Tulips and some of our most ornamental British plants are included 
with good taste in this garden, and in some of the larger beds the 
centre is occupied with Oydonia Maulei, Malus floribunda. Magnolia 
Lenni, Judas Tree, Kalmia glauca, Buddlea globosa. Viburnum Lantana, 
Acers, &c. On a rockery in one corner of the garden the hardy 
Cyclamens are evidently in the right place, as it would be impossible 
for them to look in better health. 
The residence of Mr, Southal stands on an eminence, and commands 
extensive views of the neighbourhood, reaching as far as the Welsh 
mountains in the distance. The house is nearly covered with climbers, 
including Clematis montana, Ampelopsis, Escallonia macrantha—which 
has suffered from the winter—Garrya elliptica, Roses, Wistaria sinensis 
andW, sinensis alba. Many plants could not be noticed in such a large 
collection, as some are going over and others coming on nearly all the 
year through, but in spite of the unfavourable spring there is a wealth 
of beautiful flowers in Mr. Southal’s garden, which plainly indicates 
what may be done in flower growing without the aid of glass, and 
is far more lasting than summer bedding with its great expenses,— 
S. T. Weight. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Pines. —The suckers potted last March should, as regards the 
strongest, be in their fruiting pots. If they be not yet potted, no 
further delay must be tolerated, as retaining them too long in small 
pots is enfeebling, and sometimes causes the fruit to be thrown up 
prematurely. Recently potted plants must have a bottom heat of 85° to 
90°, and be thoroughly watered, and they must not be watered again 
until the soil becomes dry, examining the individual plants befme its 
application. Suckers now potted should be kept rather close and 
shaded from powerful sun. Voung stock generally is making rapid 
progress. Allow such plants sufSedent space for development, as sturdy 
plants only throw up fine fruit. Nothing is so inimical as crowding in 
their early stages. Ventilate early in the day, say a' 75° to 80°, so as to 
have the foliage dry before the sun acts prejudicially upon them. 
Discontinue shading young plants directly they are able to bear full 
exposure, but afford shade for a couple of hours at midday after a 
period of dull weather. Fruiters, with the crowns in close proximity to 
the glass, will need a slight shade from powerful sun. 
The strongest plants that were finally shifted last September will be 
showing signs of fruiting, or, if such be not the case, means must be 
applied to effect it with a view to a supply of early winter fruits. The 
plants that have made a good growth should be brought together and 
subjected to a comparative rest for a period of five or six weeks, lowering 
the bottom heat to 75°, and allowing the top heat to fall to that tempera¬ 
ture before closing the house, only employing fire to prevent the heat 
falling below 60° at night. Do not withhold water entirely, but when 
a plant becomes dry supply it liberally. The smaller plants that 
were shifted into the fruiting pots this spring should be kept growing 
until the pots are well filled with roots, when they may he subjected to 
similar treatment as advised for those placed in the fruiting pots last 
autumn, and they will then give a successional supply of fruit. 
Peaches and Nectakines. —Early Forced Houses .—The fruit of 
the very early varieties is gathered. Early Louise ripened very little 
behind Waterloo, and the contrast of these varieties is very pleasing at 
dessert. They are, perhaps, the best of the very early Peaches, 
Waterloo having brilliant coloured fruit, while Early Louise has a 
pink cheek. The wood on which the fruit has been borne should be cut 
our, and if all superfluous growths are removed, light and air will be 
admitted to the shoots which are to produce fruit next year. Thoroughly 
cleanse the trees by washing them with water from the garden engine, 
and if they have become infested with red spider or thrips add 2 ozs. 
of softsoap to each gallon of water. Scale also often appears on forced 
trees and weakens the growths by extracting their juices. In that case 
add a wineglassful of petroleum to every 4 gallons of the softsoap 
solu'ion, and let one person syringe into the vessel whilst another 
applies the mixture to the trees. This will kill all the scale the petro¬ 
leum comes in contact with ; but the insects are rather difficult to 
reach, as they fasten on the midribs of the leaves as well as on the young 
wood, therefore syringe, or preferably spray, from opposite directions, 
keeping the “ stuff ” well agitated whilst being applied. Maintain the 
border in a thoroughly moist state. Admit air freely and keep the 
bouse as cool as possible. The roof lights should not be removed until 
the weather becomes settled, but it should be attended to at no distant 
period with a view to prevent over-development of the buds and early 
casting of the foliage, or the trees will start the bloom buds when they 
should be going to rest. The Early York race of Peaches are very 
prone to over-maturity of the buds, and sometimes have blossoms fully 
expanded in September. 
Second Early Houses. —Hale’s Early is a good quality fruit, but it 
has not the colour of Crimson Galande, and is liable to over-maturity of 
the buds, and to cast them like all the Early York race, of which it is 
only an early form. Admit plenty of air to the ripening fruit by day, 
and at night also if a prolonged successsion of fruit is required. 
Ripening may also be retarded by a slight shade from powerful sun. 
No ariificial heat will now be necessary except in very dull weather, 
when it will be necessary, especially where the fruit is ripening, to 
permit a free circulation of air. 
Succession Houses .—There must not be any lack of moisture at the 
roots or the fruit will be prejudiced in swelling, and premature ripening 
is often induced by the supply of water being inadequate to the demands 
of the evaporation taking place from the leaves. This is very consider¬ 
able in all trees, particularly those that have large leaves, and necessitates 
copious supplies of water or liquid manure to be given in bright weather. 
Once a week will not be too often to water inside borders, but in all 
cases an examination should be made, and when the soil is becoming 
rather dry, not before, afford a thorough supply. Overcropping is 
another very frequent cause of premature ripening and lack of quality, 
as wed as size in the fruit. Thin, therefore, in the early stages of 
swelling so as to increase the size in those that are left for the crop, but 
do this work gradually, and always have regard to the position of the 
fruit for receiving light, exposing them from the first as much as 
possible to the sun, for such have the most colour when ripe, and 
are the highest in flavour. Thorough cleanliness is essential to the 
perfection of the current crop and the due provision of buds for 
next year’s fruiting, therefore syringe forcibly so as to expel red 
spider. 
Late Houses .—Thinning the fruit prior to stoning will now be com¬ 
pleted. Disbudding and tying in the shoots will also have been attended 
to. Do not overcrowd the growths, light is the essence of fertility, for 
without it there is no assimilation of the food elements of moment, and 
the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves gives in due course the quality 
to the fiuit. Ventilate early and freely on all favourable occasions. 
Clo-e eat ly in the afternoon, so as to induce the fruit to swell kindly, 
and syringe in the morning and afternoon when the weather is bright. 
Aphides are very troublesome this year. Fumigation is the best remedy, 
and often the most disastrous, because the foliage of Peach and 
Nectarine trees is easily injured by powerful doses of tobacco smoke. 
Tnerefore fumigate moderately, have the foliage dry, and deliver the 
smoke cool. Mildew cannot withstand forcible syringing, but when it 
ge's a s'rong hold it should be prevented spreading by dusting flowers of 
sulphur on the trees and rubbing it well into the white patches that 
appear on the fruits. Liver of sulphur (sulphide of potassium) at the 
rare of half an ounce to a gallon of water syringed on the trees is 
effectual, but it discolours paint. In bad cases the hot-water pipes may 
be heated to 170°, and lightly coated with a cream formed of sulphur 
and skim miik, keeping the house closed for about an hour. Usually 
two or three such dressings are effectual; but in most cases a free use 
of sulphur over the trees is all that is necessary, for the sulphur resting 
on the woodwork, trellis, and bark of the trees becomes heated and gives 
off fnmes that destroy the fungus. 
