476 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
r Jui.e ", 1888. 
possible, and on the upper side. The intermediate shoots to be thinned, 
reserving any near a good fruit, and if these are duly stopped at the 
third or fourth joint there will be sufficient leaves to nurse the 
fruit. Near the centre and stem of the trees especially as many 
young shoots should be laid in as there is room for, these eventu¬ 
ally taking the places of worn out older branches. Very healthy trees 
are apt to form extra gross shoots, which, if preserved, rarely ripen 
properly, and in fact are very liable to spoil the trees. I’inch these 
back, or, better still, disbud or pull them out of their sockets, and if this 
is done early better shoots will start from the same bud—rank growth 
usually proceeding from triple wood buds. Green fly is plentiful, and 
this must be washed o2 either with the syringe or engine, using soapy 
water. 
Pears. —Where moderate numbers of flower trusses were formed on 
the trees a good set has resulted, but those very freely flowered have not 
■done so well, the greater portion of the bloom having fallen and left 
but few fruit behind. The worst offenders in this respect are Duchesse 
d’AngoulSme, Josephine de Malines, Glou Mor^eau, Marie Louise, and 
Winter Nelis. Trees much exhausted last season in very many instances 
are only lightly set with fruit, and this ought to be a warning not to 
overcrop any that arc well furnished with fruits this summer. The 
thinning ought to be timely and unstintingly carried out, all being 
sufficiently advanced to render it an easy matter to distinguish which 
are the best-formed. No clusters should be left, more especially in 
the case of such large varieties as Williams’ Bon Chretien, Jargonelle, 
Marie Louise, Beurre Superfin, Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre Diel, Beurrd 
Olairgeau, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marcchal de Cour, Van Mons Leon 
Leclerc, Beurrh Bachelier, General Todtleben, Easter Beurrd, Ne Plus 
Mouris, Glou MorQcau, and Beurrei de Eanee, all of which should be 
grown to their full size, or otherwise the quality is not so good. The 
medium-sized and smaller varieties, notably Winter Nelis, Bergamottc 
Esperen, Josephine de Malines, Beurre d’Aremberg, and Ollivier de 
■fcierres, arc, a? a rule, heavy croppers, but unless freely thinned the fruit 
■ss small and flavourless, and it is much the same with numerous other 
Pears that could be named. In the case of the larger varieties, includ- 
ang those first mentioned, each cluster .should, unless they are few and far 
l:)etween, be reduced to a single fruit, and where very thick they ought 
eventually to be still further thinned. As a rule the trees are not form¬ 
ing so much strong growth as usual, and it is advi.sable to prevent their 
wasting any of their apparently already impaired vigour. The lateral 
growths should therefore be freely thinned where at all thick, and that 
reserved stopped at the fifth or sixth joint. Closer stopping must not 
be resorted to, as this most probably would force fresh growth from buds 
that it is desirable should be converted into fruit buds, while if the 
growth is left unstopped till after midsummer this will necessitate the 
use of a pruning knife. Early stopping, in addition to favouring the 
fmit, also encourages the strong growth of the leatlers where space has 
yet to be filled. Pyramids of medium or small size to be treated 
similarly to the wall trees, but large trees need not be touched at 
present. 
Mulching Strawberries. - Gentle rains have much benefited the 
Strawberries, and those mulched with strawy manure will not be dry at 
the roots for some time to come. Any not mulched ought to be attended 
to at once, this being necessary to enclose moisture, and also because it 
ctnnot be done so cleanly after the fruits are heavy ami falling clear of 
■the foliage. Before this is applied a good soaking of liquid manure 
should be given if possible, and the ground being already in a moist 
state will be in just the right condition to absorb the greater portion of 
the manure. Guano, soot, or other manures as previously .advised may 
also be w’ashed in with advantage, something of the sort bein t neces¬ 
sary where the plants have been on the ground more than one or two 
seasons. Directly after the watering has been given apply the mulch¬ 
ing. Clean sti’awy manure is perhaps most generally used, .and this, if 
not washed sufficiently clean before the fruit is ripe, may l;c further 
faced over with a thin layer of straw cut into 1-foot lengths. The latter 
alone is sometimes used ; but though it keeps the fruit clear of the 
ground it does not sufficiently prevent the loss of moisture ; and for this 
reason it is a good plan, failing strawy manure, to freely use short lawn 
grass by way of a mulch. This may be put on as fast as it is cut by the 
mowing machine, or better still a quantity may be cut with scythes 
■from banks and other spots not mown very often ; and the grass beins 
duly dried or converted into hay is fit to use among Strawberries with- 
•out a surfacing of straw. 
Strawberry Supports. —During a dull wet summer e.^pecitillv the 
wire supports .as advertised .and sold cheaply by different makers are 
simply invaluable, and they are of good service even in a season favour¬ 
able to the proper ripening of the fruit. They prop up and expose the 
'firuit to what sunshine there may be; they preserve it from the slugs, 
and admit of liquid manure being freely used about the plant.s without 
touching the fruit. For reasons just eiven, and also for preventing soil 
being splashed over the fruit, some kind of mulching must be given in 
conjunction with these supports. Those who may have a plentiful 
supply of strong old fencing wire m.ay easily m.ake a number of Straw¬ 
berry supports. • If wanted for fairly strong plants cut the wire into 
B feet lengths, turn down about 9 inches "of each end, and form the 
centre into a half-circle, this being easily done with the aid of a strong 
hammer .and circular block of wood. Two of these are required for 
■each plant, one person holding up the leaves an<l fruit while the other 
thrusts the uprights or legs into the ground to a sufficient depth. A 
strong collar is thus formed round them quite capable of supporting the 
heaviest crops that may be produced. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peache-s and Nectarines. — Earlicut Ifmise. —When the fruit is 
all gathered, or from individual trees, the wood ujion which it has been 
produced should be cut .away to the shoot at its base, which is to afford 
the bearing wo'xl of next se.ason, except if the fruit has been produced 
on wood that it is necessary to retain for the extension of the trees. All 
growths not absolutely necessary for be.aring next se.ason or the exten¬ 
sion of the trees should be cut away, as it is importiint -that the foliage 
be fully exposed to the influence of light and air, and it is equally 
important that it be kept healthful and die naturally. Employ the 
syringe freely, keeping the inside borders well watered, and the outside 
border must not be neglected if the weather be dry. All the atr pos¬ 
sible should lie iiilmitted, and when the buds are plumped, and the wood 
thoroughly ripened, the roof lights where moveable may be taken off. 
Second Early House. —In gathering the fruit great care is necessary 
in handling it, as sRjht pressure is sufficient to spoil the appearance. 
Fruit for packing should be gathered before it is quite ripe, and all is 
better taken from the trees rather under than over ripe. Some netting 
suspended beneath the trees is useful to prevent fruits that fall from 
being bruise^l. Ventil.ate freely, leaving a little on constantly, and 
to ensure the necess.ary moi.sture so essential for the preservation of the 
foliage in health sprinkle the paths and borders in the morning and 
afternoon, not allowing the soil to become dry, but giving water as 
required to maintain it in a moist healthy state. A mulching of short 
spent material is very useful in preventing the surface cracking and 
the roots going down in quest of moisture. Syringing must cease directly 
the fruit commences to soften for ripening, or the moisture will c.ause 
the skin to crack and leave an unpleasant musty flavour. 
Trees Sta/‘ted in January. —There is a great difference in the fruit 
ripening, not only as regards varieties, but in the tre.atment they receive. 
Sharp work is seldom good work. We have trees now that under 
ordiu.ary forcing would have ripened the fruit early in the current 
month. The varieties are Early York and Royal George, with Elruge 
Nectarine. They have been brought on very gently and in accordance 
with the weather, which is later than usual in forwarding the crops, and 
as a consequence the fruit will be later by fully a month. This is as 
regards the size and quality of the fruit a m.atter of great importance. 
The fruit will when ripe be heavier, and its juices being more fully 
elaborated, be very much high-r in quality. This we mention, as those 
that w.ant quality must allow time for it. Mere size and even appear¬ 
ance—Lc., colour, can be h.ad, but there is no comparison of the fruit 
ripened in a high and moist, somewhat close atmosphere, and that 
finished in a well ventilated and naturally aided structure, no more 
artificial heat being employed than is necessary for the safety and 
gradual progress of the crop. There is the still further difference that 
the fruits in the stage of swelling prior to stoning attain to a much larf.er 
size, and they m.ake more rapid progress after that process is completed, 
th.an those having more heat during the early stages. Then there is a 
difference .ag.ain as to the time of month the trees are started, also as to 
the tre.atment of the trees during the resting period. Those that have 
fixed roof lights may, if the we.ather have been mild, have the buds 
advanced in swelling when the house is closed, whilst those that have 
been exposed will be fully a fortnight behind, a.ssuming them to be 
started at the same time. Those are matters retjuirlng notice in calcu¬ 
lating the time the fruit is to be ripe. After stoning the fruits assume 
colour and flesh quickly ; every attention should therefore be given the 
trees in watering either with liquid manure, or affording water through 
a goo 1 mulch of rather fresh short material. The shoots should be 
allowed to extend, not pinching the laterals in too clo.sely, but they 
must be kept from sh.ading the fruit, which must be raised with its apex 
to the fullest light. This can be effected by laths placed across and 
secured to the wires of the trellis. Continue forcible syringing morning 
and afternoon until the fruit begins ripening, then cease syringing, but 
do not allow the border and other surfaces to become parchingly dry, 
as molerate air moisture, provided the ventilation is liberal, will not 
injure the fruit, and it is absolutely necessary for the benefit of the 
foliage. 
Trees Started in Fehrunry. —The fruit of these is stoning. It has 
made very satisfactory progress, attaining to a good size, and to con¬ 
tinue this there must not be any deficiency of moisture at the roots, and 
the foliage must be kept clean by daily syringings, and if necessary the 
prompt application of an insecticide. The temperature should be con¬ 
tinued at 00° to 0')° artificially, and a free circulation of air allowed 
between 70° and 75°, having it full when the latter is reached, and close 
at 75° with plenty of atmospheric moisture. If the temperature rise to 
80° or 85° it will not do any harm, but ailmit a little air before night¬ 
fall, so as to allow the pent-up moisture to escape and the temperature 
to gradually cool through the night. Commence increasing the ventila¬ 
tion with the advancing heat from (>5°. 
Later Hou.^es. —The failure of Peaches and Nectarines outdoors in 
many places this season owing to the frosts and prolonged cold will 
render those under glass particularly desirable, and it may be desirable 
to retard trees that under ordinary circum.stances would afford a supply of 
fruit in advance of th.at from trees on walls, so as to prolong the season of 
supply. This is readily effected by a freer and lengthened ventilation 
during the day. There is only need to ventilate day and night to keep back 
the crop so as to ripen about the .same time as that usually occurs with 
trees against walls, and by judicious ventilation the fruit may be h.aJ 
over a prolonged period. Tne crops under ghass are abundant, but they 
are not stoning so well as could be wished, which is probably a conse- 
j quence of the wood not being so well matured as would have been the 
