110 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 3, 1893. 
varieties being allowed 2 feet. The distances between the plants in the 
rows may be 6 inches less in each case. On poor ground the rows and 
plants may be a little closer. Insert any spare runners or small plants 
6 inches apart in nursery beds. These come in useful for spring 
planting. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peacbes and Nectarines. —Early Houses .—The leaves on trees 
started in December and early January are now beginning to fall, and 
there is great danger of orer-maturity of the buds or their premature 
excitement, which, followed by a eheck however slight, causes them to 
drop. The trees must not lack moisture, affording water or liquid manure 
to those that are weakly as it becomes necessary. Excessive moisture 
at the roots, however, is liable to cause premature growth in the buds, 
which must be guarded against by cool treatment and judicious manage¬ 
ment. There is little danger of the borders being made unduly wet by 
rain, provided the drainage is thorough and the soil sufficiently furnished 
with gritty and calcareous matter. Allow such laterals as are green and 
unripe to remain as an outlet for any excess of sap ; they are the best 
safeguard against starting the bloom buds, and equally effective in main¬ 
taining activity at the roots. Early forced trees form far too many 
blossom buds as a rule, so that there is comparatively few wood buds, 
and these mostly confined to the base and extremity of the shoots. 
Neither is the growth strong, hence in pruning it is not desirable to cut 
back next year’s bearing wood unless the shoots are of great length. 
Where disbudding has been attended to, no more wood being trained 
in than is required to replace the bearing shoots of the current year and 
to renew worn-out growths, as well as to provide for the proper extension 
of the trees, very little pruning will be needed. Indeed, trees that have 
long been subjected to early forcing frequently become so enfeebled as to 
need the removal of the weak growths, which afford much smaller fruit 
than is yielded by the moderately vigorous and well-ripened shoots. 
Such trees, if very weak, may have the old soil carefully removed from 
amongst the roots, supplying fresh rather strong calcareous loam in its 
place. Any trees which grow too luxuriantly must be lifted and the 
roots carefully laid in fresh soil, if necessary, near the surface. Give a 
good watering to the trees that have had the soil renewed about the 
roots, also to those which have been lifted. These operations require to 
be performed as soon as the leaves are mature and before they fall from 
the trees. 
Succession Houses .—Cut away the shoots that have borne fruit 
unless required for extension, and thin the growths where they are too 
crowded. This will allow of the thorough cleansing of the foliage with 
water from the syringe or engine, repeating as necessary, so as to keep 
the foliage and wood free from insects, preserving the leaves in health as 
long as possible. The freer access of light and air will also assist the 
perfecting of the buds and ripening of the wood. Attend to a due 
supply of water at the roots. Where the fruit is ripening a free circula¬ 
tion of air will enhance the quality considerably, sufficient water only 
being given at the roots to prevent the foliage becoming limp, and 
securing air moisture by occasionally damping the surfaces. If the 
trees suffer from dryness at the roots the fruit ripens prematurely, and 
an arid atmosphere induces red spider and mealiness in the fruit. 
Ants are particularly voracious this season, and eat into the choicest 
and best fruits, preferring Nectarines to Peaches, and especially Lord 
Napier Nectarine. The ants are attracted by partially picked bones 
laid near the haunts, and when smothered with ants the bones are 
dropped into boiling water. After the bones are drained and parted 
with the water they are eligible again as baits. To prevent their 
ascending the trees strips of “ honey fly gum paper ” may be wrapped 
around the stem, securing with string, but this is not necessary, only let 
the strips overlap and keep close round. 
Late Houses .—The wood is best somewhat thinner than is usually 
allowed in earlier houses, for it does not ripen so well generally. By 
allowing plenty of room the foliage assimilates the sap better, more food 
is stored, and the buds form perfectly and the wood ripens well, other 
conditions being favourable. Gross growths must be stopped, or better 
removed altogether, for they only impoverish the weaker by appro¬ 
priating an undue amount of sap, preventing its equal distribution, 
and favouring nothing but unfruitfulness and gumming. Endeavour, 
therefore, to secure an equal balance of moderately strong short-jointed 
growths, and to insure their ripening ventilate freely in the morning, 
and allowing a good heat from sun through the day, closing in time to 
run up to 85° or more. Admit a little air before nightfall to allow the 
pent-up heat and moisture to escape, and the atmosphere to gradually 
cool, thereby securing rest. This and the early ventilation promotes the 
solidification of the wood and its ripening. Forcible syringings will be 
necessary until the fruit commences ripening to keep the trees free from 
red spider. The borders also must be well supplied with water or liquid 
manure, and a light mulching will further surface rooting, as well as 
assist in keeping the soil regularly moist, and at the same time affording 
nourishment. 
melons.—Zufe Fruit .—If Melons are required very late seed 
should now be sown. Plants from this sowing will be fit to put out in 
about a month, and setting their fruit in September will afford Melons 
in November and to the new year. This, however, can only be effected 
in a light, airy, well-heated structure, and not always then, for Melons 
abhor the autumn mists and fogs. Bottom heat is absolutely necessary, 
and is best furnished by hot water pipes in a chamber, as fermenting 
materials induce too much vigour in the plants, and decline in heat 
when most is required. 
Late Summer and October Melons .—To ensure these the plants must 
be placed out at once, giving them about a couple of barrowloads each 
of good loam, with a sixth each of horse droppings and old lime rubbish 
intermixed. Make the compost very firm, and have it in a moist state 
before planting. Strong plants, watered the previous night, only are 
suitable, for it is far more difficult to produce late than early Melons. 
Encourage the plants to make free growth by syringing at closing and 
damping surfaces in the morning and evening of hot days. Ventilate 
between 70° and 75°, and keep the temperature through the day at those 
figures by artificial means, 85° to 90° from sun heat, and close so as to 
raise the heat to 95° or 100°, allowing it to fall to 65° through the 
night. The plants will show and set fruit upon the first laterals, and 
the plants being almost at fruiting stage when put out, this will speedily 
be effected. 
Plants Swelling their Crops .—Overcropping ruins more Melons than 
anything else, therefore reduce the number of fruits when fairly 
swelling to two on a weak plant, three on one moderately vigorous, four 
on a strong, and six on large and strong plants. Overcrowding the 
foliage is equally disastrous to the quality of the fruit, for it requires 
all the solidity that can be given to it, and to effect this the growths 
must be kept fairly thin, all having full exposure to light. Stop the 
laterals to one joint, and where this is likely to result in crowding thin 
them. Earth up the plants as the roots protrude, less soil being needed 
than earlier in the season, and afford copious supplies of liquid manure, 
always weak and tepid. Syringe from 3 to 4 p.m. or earlier, and then 
raise the temperature from sun heat to 95° or more. With due supplies 
of water at the roots shading will not be necessary, or only after dull 
weather, when a light shading will be of benefit from powerful sun 
until the plants become inured to it. It may also be needed when the 
houses have the ends north and south, and the sun is powerful on the 
west side. Place supports to the fruits in good time, and slanting so 
that water will not rest upon them. 
Fruit Bipening .—A dry atmosphere is essential to secure quality and 
prevent the fruit cracking. Admit a little air constantly, maintaining 
a circulation by gentle warmth in the pipes, and employing enough 
artificial heat to keep the temperature at 70° to 75° by day, advancing 
10° to 15° from sun heat, and to prevent its falling below 65° at night. 
Withhold water from the roots, but the foliage must not flag or the 
quality of the fruit will be seriously deteriorated. Where there is fruit 
swelling in the house an occasional damping will be necessary for the 
benefit of the foliage, and it will not affect the ripening fruit disastrously 
if plenty of air is afforded. 
Late Plants in Pits and Frames .—The setting of the fruit should 
now be effected, to allow time for its swelling and ripening. If neces¬ 
sary give a good watering before the flowers open, and line the sides of 
the frame and bed with hot manure. Give a little ventilation constantly 
at the top, so as to prevent the deposition of moisture on the blossoms, 
and continue it until the fruit is set and commences swelling. Impreg¬ 
nate the blossoms daily, and when suflScient fruits are obtained remove 
all flowers, and afterwards keep the growths well stopped and fairly 
thin, so that they have plenty of air and light. Maintain a moist and 
warm atmosphere to assist the swelling of the fruit, closing early with 
sun heat, and sprinkling the plants on fine afternoons. Water will be 
required twice a week in bright weather, but supply it sparingly or not 
at all when dull, and admit a little air to prevent a stagnant atmosphere. 
Ventilate early on fine mornings, and maintain a temperature ranging; 
from 80° to 90° through the day from sun heat. If sunny weather 
prevails and the heat is properly maintained by linings the fruit will be 
good often up to November. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Blgnonla grandlflora. — In 5-inch pots this plant flowers pro¬ 
fusely and is very useful for various decorative purposes. Cuttings of 
young wood root freely in houses where a fair amount of moisture 
is maintained. The plants should be well ripened and rested in a cool 
house. When started into growth in the spring an intermediate tem¬ 
perature suits them well if fully exposed to the sun. The wood made 
must be Arm or else the plants fail to flower. 
Gloxinias.— Plants raised from seed sown late in the spring and 
now in small pots should be transferred into others 4 and 5 inches in 
diameter, according to their size. These, if shaded from bright sunshine 
and grown close to the glass in cold frames, will make excellent deco¬ 
rative plants a few months hence. Few plants when well grown are 
more effective. By starting the tubers at intervals of a month and 
raising seedlings, a very long succession of bloom can be obtained. 
Plants that flowered early and have enjoyed a good season of rest may 
be started again into growth. They will soon commence to grow in any 
structure that is kept moderately close. The plants may be flowered in 
the same pots. 
Tuberous Begonias. —Seedlings may be grown in cold frames,, 
for although they may appear to be late they will make wonderful 
progress, and flower profusely during October and November if placed 
in a warm house close to the glass where the atmosphere is kept 
moderately dry. The flowers of these Begonias are very useful for 
house decoration. They are easily bruised, and therefore do not travel 
well. 
Nertera depressa. —This is really a charming little plant when 
well grown and covered with its coral-like berries. Plants that have 
berried well, and have started again into growth, may be broken up and 
dibbled thickly into small pots or pans, the latter being best when 
needed for table decoration. This plant grows freely in any light 
moderately rich soil, and should be kept moist until well established in 
an intermediate temperature. By autumn the surface of the pots or 
