May 30, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
623 
FRUIT UNDER GLASS. 
Early Peaches and Nectarines. —As soon as 
the fruit begins to show colour the syringings, which 
up to the present have been regularly conducted, 
must be discontinued. Rather more air may be given 
also. The trees should be gone over carefully and 
where the leaves are observe to be shading the fruit 
they must be gently pushed aside, so that the ripening 
fruit may receive the full benefit of the sun's rays. 
The application of manure water will of course cease 
entirely, although clear water may still be given 
occasionally. Some cultivators favour the plan of 
hanging nets under the trees, about a foot or so from 
them to catch the ripe fruits that fall, and thus pre¬ 
vent them from being crushed and bruised by the 
fall. Such a contrivance, however, is by no means a 
perfect one, for the nets very soon assume, a bag or 
a pocket-like shape and the fruits falling in crush 
against and bruise each other. A better plan is to 
spread a thick layer of hay upon the border under¬ 
neath the trees. Each morning the fruit should be 
looked over and any that are ripe carefully picked in 
time. 
Gathering Peaches is an operation that calls 
for the exercise of a vast amount of care and skill, 
for the slightest squeeze bruises the fruit, and utterly 
ruins it, as decay soon sets in. The fruit must lie 
loosely in the palm of the hand with the tips of the 
fiogers and thumb resting lightly on its base near the 
footstalk. A gentle sideward pressure will then 
determine whether it is ready for gathering or not, for 
if it is it will readily part from the stalk without 
receiving injury, 
Early Permanent Vinery.— The canes in this 
house, that were started at the end of December of 
last year, will now be ripening their berries. At this 
stage the atmosphere of the house should be kept as 
buoyant as possible, and to this end a constant cir¬ 
culation of air must be kept up. In dull or wet days 
the pipes should be kept nicely warm, and air given 
as freely as it is possible to do without causing cold 
draughts. More air must be left on at night than 
there has been up to the present. This must chiefly 
be given by means of the bottom ventilators in cases 
where the top lights slide up and down instead of 
lifting. The temperature should not be suffered to fall 
below 75 0 at night. In cases where the house is 
fitted with stages, any plants that have been standing 
upon them should be shifted to other quarters at the 
earliest opportunity. For Ferns, especially, the 
atmosphere will now be much too dry. 
Syringing Wall Trees.— The garden engine will 
now need to be requisitioned pretty frequently, for 
where a good supply of fairly clean water is forth¬ 
coming all wall trees benefit greatly by occasional 
syringings. These should be given towards the close 
of the afternoon on bright days, say between five and 
six o’clock, for previous to this the sun will have too 
much power, and burning may result. Twice a week 
throughout the summer is not a whit too frequent for 
this attention to be paid the trees, and the reward of 
the extra labour will be reaped in healthy vigorous 
foliage, and the increased size and flavour of the 
fruit that is the invariable concomitant of health and 
vigour on the part of the trees. 
Watering. —Most trees are feeling the effects of 
the drought to a greater or less degree, and it will be 
necessary to water such of them as are carrying 
crops of iruit, if that fruit is to be brought to perfec¬ 
tion. A dose of liquid farmyard manure now and 
again will be productive of beneficial results. 
Mulching.— This is one of the most important of 
the operations that call for attention during the 
summer months. The advantages derived from its 
practice are of a two-fold character. First of all a 
mulching hinders excessive evaporation from the 
soil it covers, and thus serves to keep it cool and 
moist; secondly, when it is composed of manure it 
naturally conveys a good deal of useful nutriment. 
Moreover, after it has been on some time it affords a 
much cleaner foothold during wet weather than the 
ordinary soil, as it is not so apt to cling to the boots 
and be carried on to gravel walks, the appearance of 
the latter certainly not being improved thereby. All 
wall trees, therefore, should receive a good mulching 
of short stable manure at the earliest opportunity. 
Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines. —Continue 
to remove the smaller fruits, leaving the largest and 
best. It is far better to extend the thinning over a 
considerable period and to do it gradually than it is 
to perform it at one or even two operations. In all 
cases the final thinning must not be given until after 
stoning has been completed. 
Strawberries. —Where a mulching of manure 
was given early in the spring its virtue will by this 
time have become well nigh exhausted. Several 
good soakings with liquid manure will therefore be 
of the utmost service now, and will greatly assist the 
swelling of the fruit. After this a layer of clean 
straw should be laid down to prevent the fruit from 
becoming splashed with mud during heavy showers 
of rain. 
Nets. —As the season when all the nets available 
will be required for protecting purposes is now so 
close at hand it will be advisable to overhaul those in 
stock and to effect any repairs that may be necessary 
during rainy days, when work out of doors is 
impracticable. A sufficiency of pegs and forked 
stakes for securing and supporting the nets in their 
several positions should also be got in readiness 
during spells of bad weather. 
-«*•- 
TIE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Bedding out.— Under ordinary conditions the 
operation of transferring the multitudes of summer 
bedding plants to their flowering quarters will now 
be in full swing, and it will be necessary to work 
early and late in order to get things straight again as 
soon as possible. It is very true that at such times 
as these a semblance of untidiness is sure to prevail, 
but this should not be considered sufficient excuse 
for allowing empty pots and boxes to lie all over the 
place in glorious profusion and confusion. Small 
wonder is it that the breakages often are greater 
during a few weeks at this season than they are 
during the whole of the year. As soon, therefore, as 
pots or boxes are emptied of their contents they 
should be taken out of the way, and stacked neatly 
up in readiness for cleaning. 
Although there is but little danger of severe frost 
now, it will be the safest plan to keep the tenderest 
subjects, such as Iresines, Coleuses, Alternantheras, 
and sub tropical plants, back until the last. It will 
be all the better if these are not planted out until the 
second week in June, and where there is a great deal 
of stuff to plant out it will be quite as late as this 
before all the rest of the plants are seen to, and it 
comes to their turn, that is supposing a start to have 
been made during the past week. 
Watering. —All plants should receive a thorough 
watering the night before they are to be planted out. 
This is all the more important for those which, owing 
to scarcity of the requisite size of pots, have been 
accommodated in boxes. If the soil about the roots 
of such plants is not fairly damp it is well nigh im¬ 
possible to take them out with good balls of earth 
attached. Plants which are awaiting their turn for 
putting out must on no account be neglected for 
water. Generally speaking, a thorough watering 
overhead with a large rose-can given overnight will 
carry the plants through until the next evening, 
although in very hot days those growing in pots 
should be looked over in the earlier part of the after¬ 
noon, so as to make sure that none are likely to 
suffer. 
Dahlias. —Where old roots have been started 
into growth by laying them in shallow skeps or boxes, 
lightly covering them with soil,and placing them under 
glass, they may be planted out as soon as possible, for 
if left under such conditions for long the plants soon 
get starved. The same remark will apply to early 
struck cuttings or divisions of roots that have been 
kept growing on in pots. The stems of these soon 
elongate, and when accommodated in pits or frames 
have to be continually watched to prevent them 
beiDg crippled by being pressed against the glass. 
The pots, too, will have become filled with roots, 
and a deal of watering will be needed. It will 
accordingly be a great relief to get them safely 
ensconced in their flowering quarters. 
Carnations.— The staking of these must be seen 
to as soon as the flowering stems reach any length. 
For the purpose nothing is really better than bam¬ 
boos, as they combine the advantages of lightness, 
neatness, and strength. If these are unobtainable 
stiff hazel stakes will answer very well. The dry 
weather we have had of late has been rather trying 
to Carnations, and although rain has fallen in liberal 
showers in parts of the country, in many other parts 
the eflects of drought are still apparent. An 
occasional watering, therefore, will be necessary to 
to keep the plants going well. Liquid farmyard 
manure will make an excellent stimulant if applied 
judiciously. Keep a sharp look-out for green fly 
upon the points of the shoots. The dry weather has 
been all in favour of this little pest, which outdoors 
as well as in, spreads with such inconceivable 
rapidity. Dusting the affected shoots with Tobacco 
powder in the most expeditious way of getting rid of 
it, as fumigation is, of course, entirely out of the 
question. 
Violas.— If these are to do really well they must 
have plenty of water. The plants have been having 
a sad time of it of late, and in some cases they seem 
to have got smaller instead of larger. A good 
shower bath of an evening does them incalculable 
good, and this plan should be practised whenever it 
is practicable. A rose or spreader affixed to the 
hose, providing there is a fair pressure of water 
behind will break the stream up into a spray fine 
enough to enable a good soaking to be given with¬ 
out any undue washing of the soil. 
Roses.— These will be greatly benefited by an 
occasional syringing with the garden engine. It is 
astonishing how much fresher the plants look after 
the dust and filth have been cleansed from the 
leaves ; besides, green fly has been much too preva¬ 
lent of late amongst our Roses, end a few good 
syringings will go a great way towards preventing 
this little pest from getting a foothold.— A. S. G. 
TIE ORCHID HOUSES. 
East India House. —The outside temperature has 
been very high to-day, May i8th, and will most likely 
continue to be so. It is, however, not advisable, unless 
we get some rain, to open the top-ventilators, as the 
admission of hot dry air directly on to the plants 
would have anything but a beneficial effect. At the 
same time give plenty through the bottom openings, 
and keep the atmosphere fairly moist by frequently 
syringing the walls and paths to prevent the plants 
from drying up too quickly. 
Fire Heat.— This can, with the exception of the 
warm and intermediate divisions, be entirely 
dispensed with. If the temperature does run down 
a few degrees below what is generally considered to 
be the minimum, no harm will accrue. In fact, I 
believe the plants are much better for it, especially 
after a very hot day. We are told that in their 
native habitats the temperature often falls very low, 
but the nights are short, and the plants have thick 
leathery leaves, so different to those uDder cultiva¬ 
tion, that one might be easily led astray in attempting 
to follow Nature’s laws too precisely with respect to 
Orchids ; so that the cultivator must use discretion 
always. 
Oncidium tigrinum. —This beautiful autumn¬ 
flowering Oncid, after a loDg season of rest, has 
begun to start into growth, and should be re-potted 
forthwith. We always pot ours each year, for 
having as they do such a long spell of inactivity, 
the compost, especially the moss, becomes unfit for 
them to make a second season’s growth in. The 
smaller the pot by comparison, and the firmer 
the potting, the better it will be for them, as, unlike 
some Oncids, the roots are small. Peat, moss, and 
bits of crocks mixed with it, are what they like, and 
a position close to the glass in the cool house. The 
season of growth being rather short, they should be 
liberally treated or the spikes will be small. 
Sophronites grandiflora. —This pretty, dwarf¬ 
growing, cool house gem is just now rooting freely, 
and should, if requiring it, be afforded some fresh 
material. Grown in shallow pans, in peat and moss, 
and suspended near the roof, the plants rarely fail to 
produce a profusion of their brilliant scarlet blossoms 
at a time when they are much appreciated. 
Disa grandiflora. —Plants that have been grow¬ 
ing with the Odontoglossums will be all the better, 
if they can be accommodated with a cooler place—a 
brick pit facing north, where they should be stood on 
a bed of coal ashes or some other moisture holding 
material. Keep them shaded from the direct rays 
of the sun. Being great lovers of moisture, they 
will require watering at least once a day. This is 
best done in the afternoon, using a fine-rosed water¬ 
ing-pot, at the same time damping the walls. Give 
air by tilting the lights, and on warm nights the 
latter may be removed altogether.— C. 
