January 4, 1394. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
15 
evergreens, and masses of the loveliest blooms, for the most part white. 
White flowers are at all times the safest to grow for the market, as 
there is always a demaad for them—funerals and weddings and church 
decorations keeping up a steady requisition all the year round. The 
white Narcissi and the Christmas Roses—the Hellebores—were 
wonderful in their profusion, and the great Trumpet Lilies—Calla 
aethiopica—were very fine. Of coloured flowers the most striking were 
the magnificent reds of the Gardenias, the vivid yellows of the 
Chrysanthemums and of some of the Narcissi, and the scarlet of the 
common Pelargoniums, which have had this winter exceptional oppor¬ 
tunities of doing well since we have had so little fog. These flowers 
cannot endure fog, and, however carefully they may be coddled up with 
heat, they will not bloom satisfactorily unless they get plenty of 
sunshine also. Under fog their blossoms damp off into a poor purple. 
Scarlet Pelargoniums always fetch a high price at this time of year, but 
they were not very conspicuous in the market. Stocks and Carnations 
and Heliotropes, Mignonette and Violets, Wallflowers and vast 
quantities of Ferns, and Palms, and Dracaenas, and many other things 
combined to render the market fragrant and beautiful, and though to 
turn out in the dead of winter in time to be in the thick of the business 
requires some little resolution, and the costermongers and flower women 
are not the pleasantest of people to elbow one’s way amongst, the sight 
FIG. 3.— GOMPHIA DECORA. 
for once in a way well repays one. The next great display of the year 
will be the Saturday before Easter, for which hundreds of vast glass 
structures all round London are already preparing.—(“ Daily News.”) 
GOMPHIA DECORA. 
A NORTHERN correspondent sends us a spray, as represented in the 
illustration (fig. 3). of Jthis useful winter flowering plant, and “ wonders 
why it is not more extensively grown.” So do we, for small plants of 
Gomphia decora are useful for decorative purposes. When grown in 
pots in warm ’conservatories or stoves the bright yellow flowers, which 
are freely produced, have a very cheerful effect amongst the foliage 
plants that usually predominate in such structures. It is easily grown. 
but is seen to better advantage in a small state, say in 48-size pots, than 
when of larger size, and to maintain a stock of suitable plants a few 
cuttings might be rooted occasionally. Light turfy loam with a little 
peat or, preferably, good leaf soil, will form a compost adapted to the 
requirements of the plant. Some attention is needed to keep the plants 
clear of insects, mealy bug and scale being the chief enemies, but these 
can be readily destroyed. 
WOKK.foi(the week.. O 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peacbes and nectarines.— Howie .—The trees started 
last month are now in blossom. When the flowers are fully expanded 
the night temperature may be maintained at 50° to 55° in mild weather 
(5° less when the weather is severe), 55° by day as a maximum in 
severe weather by artificial means when the sky is overcast, 65° by day 
from sun heat, and if the air be mild a few degrees more may be 
allowed with free ventilation. Syringing the trees must cease— 
always in dull weather—when the blossoms show colour, but a genial 
atmosphere should be secured by damping the floor and border in the 
morning and early afternoon of bright days, having recourse to an occa¬ 
sional sprinkling of such surfaces only in dull weather. Ventilate 
freely when the external conditions are favourable, and when the pollen 
is ripe choose the warmest and driest part of the day, preferably before 
or within an hour of the sun passing the meridian, for aiding its dis¬ 
tribution by shaking the trees or trellis, or taking a camel-hair brush or 
feather and gently applying the pollen to the stigmas. If there be a 
deficiency of pollen of any variety it may be taken from those that 
afford it plentifully and applied to the stigmas of the flowers sparsely 
furnished with that essential of fertilisation and securing of a good set 
of fruit. The inside border must not be neglected for water, but avoid 
making the soil sodden by needless applications, especially of liquid 
manure, and afford sufficient protection to the outside border for the 
exclusion of frost. 
Second Early House .—The house containing trees of Hale’s Early, 
Stirling Cas'le, Royal George, or Dymond Peaches, with Lord Napier 
and Elruge Nectarines to afford ripe fruit at the end of May or early in 
June, should now be started. Damp the trees and house two or three 
times a day, but the former must be allowed to become fairly dry before 
nightfall, and in dull weather the syringing should be omitted, or had 
recourse to occasionally only. Turn the heat on in the morning so as to 
secure 50° through the day, ventilating at that temperature, and allowing 
it to rise from sun heat to 65° with free ventilation. Sufficient fire heat 
at night to maintain a temperature of 40° to 45° will bring the trees on 
quite fast enough. The inside borders must be brought into a thoroughly 
moist condition by repeated waterings, but where the roof lights have 
been removed water will not be required until the fruit is set and 
swelling freely. The outside border should be protected with litter— 
all that is wanted is a covering to prevent chill from snow and the soil 
being frozen. 
Later Houses .—These should be put in order forthwith, and if any 
trees are swelling the buds more rapidly than is desired, a covering of 
mats over the lights will prevent the temperature being raised by sun 
heat to a great extent, and the flowering will be retarded considerably. 
Where the roof lights have been removed the buds are as yet quite 
dormant, and the lights may remain off until the time arrives for 
starting the trees, or in the case of late houses until the buds commence 
swelling. Pruning may then be effected and the lights replaced, which 
will not he required until the end of February, or later. 
Cherry House. —The house having been closed as advised last 
month, or if the trees have not yet been started, they must be set to 
work at once to have the fruit ripe with certainty early in May. Fire 
heat may be employed to maintain a temperature by artificial means 
of 40° at night and 45° in the day, advancing 10° by sun heat, venti¬ 
lating at 50° and closing at that point. Sprinkle the trees occasionally 
only in dull weather, and in the morning and afternoon when bright. 
Ventilate very freely in mild weather, and avoid hasty treatment in the 
early stages of growth. Examine the trees caretuily, and if there is 
the least trace of aphides fumigate the house repeatedly, or syringe the 
trees with some approved insecticide for the thorough extirpation of 
the pests. Trees in pots must not be neglected for water, supplying it 
repeatedly, if necessary, to thoroughly moisten the balls through to the 
drainage. 
IVXelons. —Sow seed at once for the first crop. The seeds may either 
be sown singly in 3-inch pots, or a dozen or more be placed round the 
edge of a 6-inch pot, to be afterwards shifted to 3-inch pots. In the 
first case, the pots should only be about half filled with soil, covering 
the seed about half an inch deep, plunging the pots in a bottom heat 
of 80°, and covering each with a pane of glass, which must be removed 
so soon as the plants appear. In the other case, the pots should be 
three parts filled with soil, covering the seeds with fine soil and a square 
