160 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
pinnate or leafleted leaves, which, at first, assume a very 
peculiar aspect at the commencement of the growing sea¬ 
son ; then, as the young leaves break hud, they hang down 
almost perpendicularly over each other in long strings ; and 
were it not for the horizontal position of the old leaves, a 
young gardener might readily mistake this kind of drooping 
for that commonly induced by deficiency of moisture at the 
roots in his pot plants. As the leaves gain strength, they 
gradually assume their leathery texture and horizontal posi¬ 
tion. The flowers are bright orange, arranged as is shown 
in our wood-cut. and are fragrant. It belongs to 1-Hcptan- 
dria 1 -Monogynia of the Linnsean system, though it very 
frequently has only six stamens. Its name in Bengal, 
where we have frequently seen it in gardens, is Usok. It is 
a great favourite of the Brahmins, who plant it about the 
temples of their idol Siva. —J. B. 
THE ERUIT-GAEDEN. 
Fruit Setting. —As usual, the reports concerning 
this important matter are of a very varied character. 
Peaches and nectarines here (Cheshire) are a thorough 
crop; apricots only partially so. Plums, a fair crop 
apparently; pears moderate; apples, the greatest pro¬ 
mise we ever knew; rasps, strawberries, gooseberries, 
and currants, all heavy crops,—the gooseberries uncom¬ 
monly laden. It would be rather interesting if reports 
could be obtained and published from every county in 
Britain; such horticultural statistics would be of great 
service, and. subsequently, might be thrown into a tabu¬ 
lar form, illustrative of the influences of the varying 
character of atmospheric moisture, warmth, &c., in their 
relation to each other. In such reports, the elevation of 
the district should be stated, and the nearest range of 
hills, if any, with their bearings. To be useful, they 
must, of course, be highly condensed; a dozen lines 
would amply suffice. 
We have now to recommend a most careful hand- 
picking of all choice fruits. People are scarcely aware 
how much a sure supply in the ensuing winter depends 
upon assiduity in this respect. It need scarcely be ob¬ 
served, that merely unfolding clustered leaves will not 
suffice. We have known idle and lounging fellows set 
to this business, spending hour after hour over the 
trees, and the latter no better for their labour. The 
enemy must be sought out and destroyed; for if they 
(the caterpillars) are simply ejected and thrown on the 
ground, they will speedily crawl up the trees again. If 
any aphides appear, no quarter must be given ; tobacco 
and soap-suds will be the best remedy. When there is 
only a shoot point here and there infested, the best way 
is to dip the points in a bowl, and as this is an econo¬ 
mical way of proceeding, a strong solution may be used. 
Six or eight ounces of strong shag tobacco, added to a 
gallon of ordinary soap-suds, will thoroughly extirpate 
them. 
Calendarial Companion. —We may now enlarge a 
little on some points in the last calendar— 
“ Apricots Thin." — These are such trickish things, 
that unless they are set very thick indeed, it would be 
premature to remove many until the first swelling is 
nearly complete. Still, where doubts exist, and where 
much crowded, they must have assistance. If the trees 
are healthy, they may, at this period, be thinned to 
about three inches apart, certainly not thinner for the 
present. 
“ Apples Searching, dec'.' —We do not know how this 
fruit has set in other parts, but here it is so uncommonly 
thick, that we intend to give the trees a pruning shortly 
in the old wood, removing whole shoots smothered with 
fruit, especially in the interior of the trees. We only 
advise this course where the trees are of some age and 
full of branches, and as apples need thinning when too 
profuse, this will prove a great relief to the trees. The I 
[June 12. 
American blight, if it appears, should be instantly 
attended to; a touch with spirits of turpentine will soon 
settle them. 
“ Disbud all Trained Trees, dc." —The great importance 
of a thorough attention to this has been most frequently 
pointed out in these pages We would now submit 
that too much care cannot be taken over this proceed¬ 
ing ; for on its due performance depends, in the main, 
the setting of the blossom in the succeeding spring. 
Covering, or non-covering of the blossoms, retarding, 
&c., all fall into a mere secondary position before the 
question of maturity in the young wood, practically 
termed ripening of the wood. 
“Mulching.'' — Now is the time when about three 
inches in thickness of manurial matters will prove of 
immense benefit. Wherever a heavy crop of fruit pre¬ 
vails, wherever soils are too light and sandy, or where 
young or other trees are scant of shoots and freedom of 
growth, a case for mulching exists. Our practice is to 
water well immediately the mulch is applied, if the wea¬ 
ther is dry. 
“ Strawberries Water, dec!' —Another important affair 
with respect to the late kinds especially ; for the earlier 
will now be ripening. We know it is scarcely safe to 
recommend watering during the latter condition; cases, 
nevertheless, sometimes occur when watering is of great 
utility, even during the ripening process, especially 
where the soil is shallow and poor ; for it is not altoge¬ 
ther unusual to see them “ flag ” during a period of 
drought, a condition quite at variance with the produc¬ 
tion of fine fruit, although it contributes to intensity of 
flavour. The Alpines especially require liberal water¬ 
ing, or they may become infested with red spider. The 
runners also should be kept in due subjection. 
“ Vermin Destroy!' —If there be any one period when 
such advice is of the greatest import, it is the present. 
It matters not what the kind be—rats, mice, or even the 
various aphides, red spider, &c., this is the period when 
their ravages may damage the plans of many months. It 
is unnecessary here to detail the various plans of extir¬ 
pating them, such may be found in our back numbers. 
Assiduity, without procrastination, can alone accomplish 
such things. 
“ Wasps Destroy." —We give a penny per head each 
up to the middle of May, and thence a halfpenny to the 
second week in June. About this period the young 
brood, in early situations, will begin to appear, when the 
destruction of nests should immediately commence. 
People hunting for them, should look out for the Vespa 
Britanica also, a wasp which builds in bushes, or low 
trees, generally about a yard from the ground. 
“ The Stove." — “Atmospheric Moisture, &c.”—The 
abundance of ventilation rendered imperative in all 
houses, where it is essential to use artificial warmth, 
calls for the application of frequent washings. There is 
nothing which tends more to the wholesomeness of the 
atmosphere, than frequent washing down the floors, &c. 
There is something in this that tends, in a peculiar way, 
to remove impurities, as well as to soften the atmos¬ 
phere. To those, therefore, who can spare the labour, 
we say let your man wash down all floors at eleven 
o’clock, a.m., and again at four, p.m., using plenty of 
water. 
“ Fire-heat dispense with.” —It may be fairly presumed 
that no person would continue to use fire-heat, unless 
for some specific reason, such as to hasten a crop of any 
kind to maturity, or to raise a necessary temperature 
during cold periods, which sometimes occur even in 
June. To be sure the pinery will require less or more 
through the season, and the same may be said of the 
melon house or pit; but as for the ripening of fruits, 
such as the grape, peach, &c., a much greater degree of 
perfection will be attained without artificial heat, pro¬ 
vided the weather he seasonable. 
