592 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December SI, 1885, 
needed, owing to the weight of the fruit, this is supplied, but nothing 
more. 
“ Towards the end of July the fruit is ripe. The gathering extends over 
three or four weeks, the bunches upon the secondary shoots being somewhat 
later than those on the primaries. In six or seven days after being laid to 
dry, the berries begin to loosen themselves from the stalks, and in ten or 
twelve days all are free. Originally the bunches were laid out upon the 
bare ground, a piece being specially smoothened and cleaned for the purpose. 
Now the bunches are laid in wooden trays, 6 feet long by a yard wide, and 
just deep enough, say 3 inches, to hold a single layer. When the stalks 
have been winnowed out, the fruit is trodden into barrels ready for 
shipment. 
“ The botanical origin of this most interesting little fruit would seem to 
have corresponded with that of the Sultana. The diminution in the size of 
the berry ensued, we must suppose, upon some special local conditions, 
which led in the first instance to partially abortive flowers, accompanied by 
failure of perfect seeds. The seedless character of the great mass of the 
annual produce is, after all, by no means without exception. Individual 
berries often contain one or two seeds that will grow. In some localities 
there is a decided tendency to the production of perfect seeds. When, a few 
years ago, Currant culture was attempted at Leghorn, it failed through the 
plants, after three or four seasons, producing berries as well charged with 
seeds as the typical Grape. Similar disappointment has been experienced 
in Sicily and in Malta.” 
“ The total imports of Raisins and Currants, taken together, into Eng 
land, in 1880, amounted to 1,215,436 cwts., of the value of ill,801,860.” 
GREVILLEA ROBUSTA AND ACACIA LOPHANTHA. 
The Grevillea ranks foremost among the many useful foliage plants, 
being suitable alike for conservatory, table, and room decoration. 
Acacias are objected to as table plants on account of the leaves closing 
in the evening, or what is called sleeping by many people. This makes 
these plants most interesting to some, while to others it proves very dis¬ 
tasteful, as in this state they present a very peculiar appearance. They 
are quickly affected by light, whether natural or artificial, for some 
observers have noticed when suddenly exposed to bright lamp or gas 
light, that the leaves would partially open, and then close again. Seed of 
bath the above named plants can be obtained of any seedsman at a very 
moderate cost, and is easily raised, provided a warm temperature can be 
given. The seed should be sown in finely sifted soil, with a good quantity 
of sand added, and stood in a propagating frame or under a bellglass, or 
failing this, some m ^ss might be spread over the surface of the pot. 
Whichever plan is adopted, care must be taken that the seedlings are not 
left too long, or they may become drawn, this detracting from their 
beauty and usefulness for house decoiation. 
As soon as the plants are large enough they should he placed singly 
into small 60-sized pots, kept close for a day or two, after which they 
should be placed on a shelf as close to the glass as possible. When 
established in these they may be shifted into 5-inch pots. These will be 
found quite large enough for ordinary uses indoors. Plants can be grown 
in this size pot to from 1 foot to 3 feet in height, and this too in a 
very short space of time, clothed with foliage down to the soil. Neither 
Acacias or Grevilleas are very particular as to soil, but will grow in 
peat or loamy soil with a little leaf mould or decayed manure 
added. 
In the flower garden in summer both the plants are frequently used 
with good efiect for subtropical planting, and also for the more formal 
carpet or geometrical design. Either may be grown to sufficient size 
for the latter form of planting if sown in January and grown on quickly 
in a warm structure. When they become too tall they may be cut 
down to wi hin 4 inches of the soil, and allowed to form a bush- 
shaped plant ; these, if kept restricted as to pot room, would make service¬ 
able plants for the conservatory. Old plants, or any assuming a sickly 
appearance, ought to be thrown away and replaced by younger ones ; in 
fact, to keep up a good stock some seed should be sown every year. 
Acacia seed would be found to germinate more quickly if s aked for a 
time in warm water previous to being sown. Liquid manure and soot 
water are both good in promoting a healthy growth. Among artificial 
manures we have found fish guano most serviceable for many kinds of 
foliage plants.—S. B. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
The Pear Conference will probably lead to a more extensive culture 
of this popular fruit, and by cordons this can be done with remarkable 
facility. But we are bound to caution beginners not to be mislei by 
published lists, for if anyone supposes that the list of the fifty Pears 
exhibited the greatest number of times contains the best varieties in 
cultivation they will be mistaken. Out of the fifty, experience has taught 
us to regard thirty as only second-rate sorts. Take, for example, the 
leading sort, Beurrd Diel, of which 194 dishes were exhibited. It is 
undoubtedly very prolific of fruit, but we have never tasted a fruit of it 
that was worthy to take rank with our best Pears. It is, nevertheless, good. 
Of the fifty sorts enumerated, the best are Marie Louise, Winter Nelis, 
Passe Colmar, Josephine de Malines, Doyennd du Comice, Beurrd d’Arem- 
berg, Beurr6 Hardy, Comte de Lamy, Kuight's Monarch, Beurrd 
d'Amanlis, Beurre Superfin, G^udral Todtleben, Conseiller de la Cour, 
Thompson’s, Napoleon, Glou Morgeau, Van Mons Leon Leclerc, Huyshe’s 
Victoria, Gansel’s Bergamot, and Baronne de Mello. We have gTown almost 
all the Pears recommended by the Committee, and have found many of them 
good, but not all of them, and such would probably be a very general result. 
No fruit is so fickle as the Pear. Soil, climate, seasons, all afEect it, and a 
Pear that is excellent one year may be almost uneatable the next. But 
we nevertheless plant every new sort we can get, for there is nothing 
more interesting in a garden than a collection of cordon Pears, and the 
inferior fruit can be rendered delicious by stewing. Depend upon it 
there is a wide field among Pears for the fruit-grower to explore, and 
many treasures rich and rare to be discovered among sorts little known. 
Fondante de Chameu is one of our most delicious Pears ; the tree is very 
hardy, robust, and of free growth, but how seldom is it met with ! The 
delicious little Dana’s Hovey is another somewhat scarce sort, but it is 
making its way. Summer Beuri6 d’Aremberg is indispensable, and why 
do we not more often see those fine sorts Red Doyenne, Doyennd Defais, 
Jewess, and Comte de Flandre ? 
Greater attentian should lead to better results. Really fine Pears are 
by no means so common as they ought to be ; plenty of fine fruit of the 
best sorts must be our aim. The Pear Conference will do good work if it 
only shows something of our faults and failings, and points to the im¬ 
portance of a more general trial of sorts little known. To produce fine 
fruit we must have robust wood growth, and it is found to answer best if 
we first of all strive to bring our trees to an advanced state of develop¬ 
ment before suffering them to bear much fruit. They will then continue 
to yield full crops of really fine fruit if spur and branch growth is kept 
thinned and the fruit is alar thinned. Deep, fertile, well-drained soil is 
indispensable to the production of high-class fruit. For cordons a border 
4 feet wide and 2 feet deep answers perfectly, the whole of the border 
being made ready before the planting, as the cordons are only 18 inches 
apart and the roots soon meet and become interlaced. On lofty buildings 
they are trained vertically, on walls and low buildings diagonally, at an 
angle of 45°. It has been so clearly proved that fruit from trees trained 
against walls or buildings is superior to any other in appearance and 
flavour, that cordcns should be planted in every available space, and it is 
surprising how many may be so planted if the sides of outbuildings are 
turned to account; and although it is undoubtedly picturesque to see Ivy- 
mantled walls and flowering climbers, yet most people prefer a supply of 
wholesome and delicious fruit. 
RTIIT FORCING. 
Figs. — Early Trees in Pots. —When the terminal buds have fairly 
broken advantage may be taken of mild weather for increasing the 
temperature, as the Fig when fairly started into growth delights in a good 
heat, plenty of moisture, and all the light that can be secured to it. The 
increased temperature will be the more beneficial if it can be obtained 
from fire heat combined with solar influence by day in preference to 
making any great advance by night. The glass under any circumstances 
should be kept perfectly clean and as free as possible from condensed 
moisture by changing the atmosphere, especially in the early part of the 
day. Syringe the trees and walls twice a day according to the state of 
the weather, and damp the floors in the evening when the weather is dull 
and unfavourable to the afternoon syringing. See to the fermenting 
material, and if the heat exceeds 70° to 75° turn the material over as a 
means of reducing the bottom heat and setting moisture at liberty. Main¬ 
tain the night temperature at 55° to 60°, give a little air at 65° when the 
morning gives promise of an increase from sunshine, and keep through 
the day under sun heat at 70° to 75°, closing sufficiently early for the 
house to run up to 80° after shutting up. 
Early-forced, Planted-out Trees. —If the house has been closed and a 
good body of fermenting material has been introduced but little fire heat 
will be required by night until the buds show s : gns of swelling, particu¬ 
larly when the trees have been started about the same time for a number 
of years ; but in the case of young trees that have not been forced they 
will require a somewhat higher temperature to cause them to break freely. 
Syringe twice a day with tepid water or a few degrees warmer than that 
of the house, and if found necessary to repeat the watering at the roots 
use water at a temperature of 80° to 90°. 
Succession and Late Houses. —Thin the wood that has reached the 
extremity of the trellis, wash the trees well with warm soapy water, and 
in the case of scale having appeared a wineglassful of petroleum to a 
gallon of water may be used with advantage. Thoroughly cleanse the 
woodwork and glass, and limewash the walls. Remove the old mulching 
if not already done, and supply a layer of good manure about 3 inches 
thick. Keep the house dry and cool. 
Young Pot Trees. —Make preparations for potting young plants in¬ 
tended for forcing twelve months hence, using good fibrous loam, with a 
fifth of old mortar rubbish, and a little or sixth of thoroughly rotted cow 
dung. Train to a clean, straight, single stem, and allow the radiating 
shoots to form the foundation of a good pyramid. If wanted for early 
work another season they should be placed in gentle bottom heat by the 
middle of January in order that they make and properly ripen their growth 
by the early part of September, it being essential that they have a few 
weeks’ rest before being again started into growth. Cuttings or eyes of 
kinds to be increased may now be inserted. 
Pines. —In order to insure a supply of fruit during what is known as 
the London season, the plants which are to afford it should be brought 
together for tl e purpose of induc’ng them to come into fruit sooner than 
