520 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r June 21, ISS". 
the handsome Rhododendron-like Daphniphyllum glaucescens, and 
large plants of greenhouse Rhododendrons. All these were most effec¬ 
tively arranged, and there was also a fine collection of Irises and hardy 
flowers from the same firm (large silver medal). 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, was first with a group of hardy flowers, 
followed by Messrs. Paul & Son. Messrs. Collins Bros. & Gabriel, 
Waterloo Road, had a large group of hardy flowers (certificate). Messrs. 
Barr & Son, Covent Garden, a similar but more varied group (bronze 
imedal). Mr. T. S. Ware also had a large group of hardy flowers (large 
Bronze medal). Messrs Kelway & Son, Langport, sent nineteen boxes of 
Pyrethrums and Preony blooms, most varied and brilliant in colour. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had a collection of choice alpine and 
■other plants. 
Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, exhibited a most interest¬ 
ing group of fruit trees in pots, ad^iirably grown specimens of Peaches, 
Plums, Pears, Apples, &c., all bearing fine crops of fruit. In the corridor 
this group attracted much attention (silver medal). Mrs. Harry Turner, 
Horsemoor Green, Langley, Bucks, sent a handsome plant of Carnation 
.■Souvenir de la Malmaison, with ten fine blooms (commended). Messrs. J. 
Peed & Son, Roupell Park Nursery, had a group of Anthurium Schert- 
zerianum and Ferns (large bronze medal) ; and Mr. H. Eason sent a 
group of Gloxinias and Ferns (certificate). 
Large numbers of certificates were awarded for new plants, but we 
must refer to them in our next issue. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Cheehies. —In some districts extra heavy crops of these are swell¬ 
ing, and those on the w-ills especially will well repay for a timely 
thinning out. When too many are left on the trees the fruit is apt to 
be sm.all and poor in quality, whereas choice Cherries cannot well be 
too large, always providing they are grown in a sunny position. A 
pair of Grape scissors is most suitable for the work of thinning the 
fruits, and in many instances fully one-half of the fruits m.ay be cut off 
\\dth advantage. Left to themselves the trees will frequently refuse to 
swell the whole of the crops, but this natural thinning-out process 
has a most weakening effect, and ought to be prevented. All leading 
gi'owths to be laid in to their full length, but the laterals ought to be 
at once stopped at the seventh or eighth joint, this favouring the 
formation of numerous fruit buds at their base. Morellos may also be 
improved by being thinned out in good time, but as these fruit on the 
one-year-old wood, the young growths should only be thinned, re¬ 
serving sufficient to lay in between the old wood or to take the place 
of shoots fruiting this season. Not being of very rank habit of growth 
the young growths need not be laid in ; in fact, it is better for the 
fruit now hanging on the trees that no attempt should be made to nail 
or tie in the young growths. 
Plums.— The commoner varieties are the surest setters, many of the 
Gages, as well as Jefferson’s and Kirke’s, failing to set more fruit than 
the trees are capable of supporting. Not so Rivers’ Prolific, Victoria, 
Early Orleans, Prince of Wales, and Goliath, these being literally 
crowded with fruit, none of which will be of any real value unless the 
crops are freely thinned. The thinning may be done gradually, 
commencing at once, the later thinnings being given when the fruit is 
large enough for cooking purposes. Green Plums also make good 
preserve, and whether thus utilised or not they ought not to be left in a 
crowded state on the trees. A'oung growths may be laid in to their full 
length wherever there is wall space to be filled, but that not so required 
ought to be thinned, and those reserved and which are best springing 
out from the walls should be stopped at the sixth or seventh joint. 
Trees long in one position and bearing a heavy crop may well receive 
liberal supplies of liquid manure as well as a mulching of strawy 
manure, and orchard trees should have a number of holes pierced with 
an iron rod in the ground about the roots, and then receive a few 
tubs of farmyard liquid manure at the same strength as applied to 
meadows. 
Insect-infested Trees. —Caterpillars have been very troublesome 
among both Apple and Pear trees, these eating many of the leaves and 
young fruit. The only remedy is to examine the trees and crush all 
found coiled up in the leaves, at the same time thinning all clusters 
of fruit where the caterpillars are most to be found, leaving only the 
soundest of the former, and cru.shing the latter. It was the abundance of 
bloom that favoured the lodgment of the eggs by tiny moths, the petals 
hanging about the clusters of fruit till either removed by the hand or 
washed off by heavy rains. The black fly is very thick on some of the 
best Cherry trees, and unless washed off will soon spoil the fruit. Soapy 
water applied forcibly by a syringe or engine and followed by clear water 
will dislodge the greater portion of them. A weak solution of tobacco 
water is also effective. A free use of the engine is necessary in the case 
ef aphis-infested Plum trees, and as the water is beneficial to the roots 
no better remedy can be applied. 
Planting Forced Stra’vs'berries.— Plants of Vicomtesse Heri- 
cart de Thury fruited early in pots will, under ordinarily good treat¬ 
ment, yield a second crop in the autumn. The fruit can be ripened 
in the open, or if need be the plants may be lifted, repotted, and set on 
a shelf in a cool house to ripen the fruit in October and November. 
Another plan, which answers equally as well, is to plunge the plants in 
the pots so as to quite bury the latter, a border near to a pathway being 
the best position. Being kept supplied with water the roots soon find 
their way into the surrounding soil, and this materially assists the 
plants. When lifted in the autumn much of the soil and the outer 
roots may s.afely be cleaned off the pots, and with the aid of small 
saucers of water extra fine late crops result. Plants of Sir J. Paxton, 
President, Sir C. Napier, and other favourites that have been 
either forced or fruited under glass, duly planted out, will not, as a 
rule, fruit again this season, but next year will produce exceptionally 
heavy crops. They require deeply worked fairly rich ground, should be 
watered prior to planting, the balls must be buried well below the 
ordinary garden level, and have the soil very firmly packed about 
them. The rows should be not less than 3 feet apart, a distance of 
2 feet dividing the plants in the rows. For a few weeks they will 
require to be kept well moistened, a mulching of short manure further 
serving to keep the old balls of soil and roots in the requisite moist 
condition. 
FRUIT FORGING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Early Forced Trees .—Continuous 
early forcing to ripen the fruit in May is a great strain upon the 
energies of the trees, as they have to make the growth during the early 
spring months, and mature it in early summer. After the fruit is all 
gathered, ventilate to the fullest extent, if possible removing the roof 
lights entirely by the early part of July, or earlier if the weather be 
hot and the trees sufficiently matured. If the roof lights are not 
moveable, in addition to full ventilation the border should be frequently 
damped and duly watered, so that no check is given likely to induce 
the premature ripening of the young wood and leaves. Keep the latter 
free from red spider by syringing occasionally, and if necessary apply 
an insecticide, as it is of the greatest importance that the foliage be kept 
healthful and ripen naturally. Laterals must be stopped, Isut where 
there is space to allow of growth being made without overcrowding en¬ 
courage it, as a steady and continuous growth by promoting root action 
will prevent the buds and foliage maturing too early. All shoots that 
have supported fruit, and are no longer required, should be removed to 
admit light and air freely to the growths, and if there is too much 
crowding of the shoots for next year’s bearing thin them well to make 
space for the free admission of light and air, and the action of water 
upon the foliage to cleanse it of red spider. 
Houses xoitlb Fruit Itijyexiing .—Gentle fire heat is necessary during 
cold nights and on dull days to admit of a steady progress, and the 
admission of air, a little constantly, to insure flavour. It is also neces¬ 
sary to assist the later varieties in swelling and finishing. Afford a 
moderate air moisture for the benefit of the foliage, and do not allow 
the borders to become dried and cracked, but afford water as required 
to keep the soil moist, and a mulching of rather strawy material will 
keep the surface in a condition favourable to the keeping of the roots 
active there, and that without undue atmospheric moisture. If the 
weather be very bright some netting spread over the roof lights will bo 
an advantage in preserving the thin or delicate skinned varieties, such 
as Noblesse, from being unduly heated by the sun’s rays, causing the 
fruit to ripen at the apex, greatly in advance of those on the lower 
parts, and the fruit not infrequently decays there through over-ripeness, 
whilst the lower part is scarcely fit for use. These, indeed all fruits, 
are better ripened gradually than roasted as is sometimes done under 
the large and clear panes of glass rightly employed in modern fruit 
houses. It is easy in a period of very hot weather to apply a double 
thickness of herring or a single thickness of pilchard net, which will 
sufficiently break the force of the most powerful sunlight, ensuring the 
fruit an evenness of ripening. 
Young Trees .—These will have been disbudded, and the shoots 
regulated so that the principals will be 12 to 15 inches apart, and the 
shoots for next year’s fruiting originated from the previous year’s shoots 
disposed about 15 inches asunder along them, stopping them if requisite 
at 15 inches of growth, and the laterals to one joint as produced. The 
extensions or main shoots should be trained in their full length, provided 
they are evenly balanced. If the shoots on one side are stronger than 
the other depress the strong and elevate the weak, so as to induce an 
equal distribution of vigour throughout each tree. Any gross shoots 
may be stopped, as they are a great inducement to gumming. Trees 
marked by gross wood when young seldom turn out healthy, therefore 
it is better to cut out excessively strong wood, eneouraging the short- 
jointed and sturdy. Ventilate early in the day, increasing it with the 
advancing temperature, avoiding a close vitiated atmosphere. It is 
essential that the growths be trained sufficiently thin to allow of the sun 
and air having free access, the growths being thoroughly solidified as 
made, the foliage kept clean and healthy, so that the buds may be duly 
supplied with nutriment and accumulation made in the adjacent wood 
of elaborated matter for the due setting of the blossom and the stoning 
of the fruit in the ensuing season. 
Strawberries in Pots. —The outdoor fruit is late, therefore the 
resources of the cultivator will be taxed to make those in pots afford a 
supply of fruit until those in the open ground come in. Our latest 
supplies will be obtained from plants in a span-roofed structure used 
principally for wintering bedding plants, and from those on shelves ui 
