£>ecember 8, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
231 
demonstration that comes to those who commence 
their career under professional guidance. Amateurs 
who take to gardening without such aid experience 
many difficulties in overcoming the rudiments of the 
art, and, as a rule, take a good many years to acquire 
the necessary knowledge ; but with such ocular 
demonstration in the form of simple illustrations it 
only needs an attentive eye and thinking head, 
Coupled with enthusiasm, to make a deft hand in the 
course of a season or two. Flowers more than vege¬ 
tables constitute the stumbling block of the beginner. 
The method of pruning the well abused standard 
Rose, to make it conform to garden usage, is well 
shown, but we hope that standard Roses will soon go 
out of fashion as an anomally. The large cottage 
garden bush would be preferable. We have seen 
La France Rose 8 ft. high and profusely flowered in 
the form of a bush. Exhibition ideals mostly rule 
the fate of Roses in gardens at present. 
A large number of garden tools, necessaries and 
accessories are also illustrated without stint; and 
some of them show how an amateur may contrive to 
make new tools out of an old and worn-out one. We 
have no doubt some of such hints will be appreciated 
particularly by those who resort to various 
expedients to furnish their toolhouse cheaper and 
expedite the labour of weeding and stirring the 
ground amongst growing crops. The taking and the 
timing of buds of Chrysanthemums receives explana¬ 
tion and illustration. We think it is high time that 
professionals should amend their terminology with 
regard to this operation. The present system of 
explanation and theory is technical to a fault, but 
the phraseology is absurd. 
The latter part of the book is taken up with select. 
lists of vegetables, average time in maturing and 
weight of crops, time and depth of sowing and dis¬ 
tance of planting, quantities of seeds for given areas, 
remedies for insect pests and fungi, and a pictorial 
garden calendar. Even a method for outwitting the 
garden cat has not been overlooked. 
FRUIT UNDER GLASS. 
Figs in pots.— Those who have much Fig-forcing 
require suitable structures in order to continue the 
work with success. A lean-to or hip span house is 
generally employed, and the lower and flatter the 
roof is, the more convenient will it be to the cultiva¬ 
tor, and also better for the plants. The beds in 
which to plunge the pot Figs should now be 
prepared. Raise the beds so’high that the pots when 
plunged will be within i ft. or i£ ft. of the glass. 
Oak and Beech leaves are cleanest and best. The 
plants for forcing should be bushy and well estab¬ 
lished in 9-in. or ro-in. pots. When the heat of the 
leaves has decreased to 70° F., plunge the pots to 
their rims. Previous to this merely leave them on 
the top of the leaves. A top temperature of 50° is 
quite enough to maintain during the first fortnight 
that the plants are under process of forcing. This 
may be raised to 6o Q as a minimum after the first 
fortnight and so on up to 70°. A moist atmosphere 
is necessary. When the plants begin to swell their 
fruits feeding may commence. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —The earliest house 
is started at the present period, and this should now 
be ready. The pruning and washing, top-dressing, 
and painting (if any was required) must have been 
finished previously. The trees need not yet be tied 
to the wires. Merely close the house without addiog 
fire heat. Keep the borders damped down and 
lightly dew the trees on bright days. In ten days 
apply sufficient heat to maintain a day temperature 
of 6o° and 50° at night. Be attentive in damping 
down. Go over the trees in search of mealy bug or 
scales which may appear even after all the cleanings. 
A touch with methylated spirits is death to them. 
Have the trees tied and arranged before growth 
starts. Fill the evaporating troughs with cow wash, 
and also sprinkle some about on the borders. If the 
ammonia smells sharply, open a 'mere seam in the 
ventilators on the lee side of the house. The Peach 
and Nectarine borders may be watered whenever a 
quantity of rain water can be obtained. Chill all the 
water before applying it to the roots. 
Cherry House.— Cherries will soon be in pre¬ 
paration for an early start. If they have been 
pinched and attended to as they ought during the 
summer very little pruning will be necessary. Some 
of the leadmg shoots on well developed trees may 
need to be shortened, and some of the smaller 
lateral shoots may be spurred in. Old blank wood 
with dead eyes should certainly be cut out it good 
young wood can be got to fill in instead. The trees 
must be gone over in order to wash and clean them. 
Cherries started at the new year will yield fruits in 
four months. 
Strawberries — The earliest batch of Royal 
Sovereign Strawberry in pots must be sought out 
within the next fortnight for a start in forcing. 
Worms are nearly always present in the pots. By 
making a solution of lime water, used nearly clear, 
to water the plants the worms are either killed or 
expelled from the pots. Dead leaves should be 
picked off and the pots should be washed. Keep 
the plants in cold frames in the meantime.— J. H. D. 
when required, a portion should be covered with 
litter to exclude the frost. 
Endive. —This is very much in request during the 
winter months, both as a salad and dressed vege¬ 
table. Ia order that it may be had in the finest con¬ 
dition blanching is necessary. This can be done in 
various ways, but the most simple is to lift the 
plants and place them in a house with the Seakale, 
Chicory, &c. 
Rhubarb will need attention also, as this is usually 
in demand soon after Christmas. Stalks grown in 
the dark are preferred to those which are exposed, 
therefore the same structure in which the former are 
grown will be found suitable for this also. Roots 
that were lifted and exposed as previously advised 
may now be introduced into heat, when growth 
will soon commence.— F. W. J. 
Kitcnen Garden calendar. 
Forced Vegetables. —These will now be in great 
demand, for though, so far, the autumn has been 
mild, and a plentiful supply of all kinds of green 
vegetables may be had, it is necessary to have a 
change. Where due care has been exercised in pre¬ 
paring material for hoUbeds and where there is 
proper convenience for forcing there should be no 
difficulty in keeping up a supply. It is where make¬ 
shift appliances have to be resorted to that causes 
so much anxiety and worry to the grower, and where 
the demand so outweighs the means of production 
that causes so much trouble. 
Asparagus. —The forcing of this vegetable has 
now become general, and where large quantities are 
in demand, roots must be grown specially for that 
purpose, as it is not advisable to disturb the perma¬ 
nent beds unless the roots are getting worn out, as 
they sometimes do on cold, heavy land. Having 
prepared a hot-bed suitable for the reception of the 
roots, taking care that there is no danger of over¬ 
heating, spread over the surface about 4 in. of rich; 
light soil, and on this lay the roots as close together 
as possible. They are best lifted and taken straight 
to the hot-bed, for if allowed to dry they do not so 
readily start into growth. When the frame has 
been filled with roots, cover them with 3 in. or 4 in. 
of light soil. Some prefer a greater depth. It is, 
however, not necessary, unless for blanching the 
growth. This done, give the whole a watering to 
settle the soil, then place on the lights and cover 
with a mat for a few days, till there are signs of 
growth pushing through the soil ; then take advan¬ 
tage of all favourable weather to admit air and light. 
Examine the bed frequently to ascertain whether 
the temperature is of the requisite degree of warmth. 
If likely to decline too rapidly, add a lining of fresh 
material to generate fresh warmth. If too hot, give 
a liberal watering, and admit more air, allowing a 
little to remain on all night when the weather is 
mild. , 
Seakale. —So far, there has not been sufficient 
frost to cause the leaves of this to decay ; therefore, 
until the growth is somewhat arrested, the roots 
cannot be lifted for forcing. As soon as the foliage 
has died down lift a portion and place in a gentle 
heat where light can be excluded. The most crisp 
and tender growth is that made where the tempera¬ 
ture is not too violent, from 55 0 to 6o° being ample. 
It is essential that every particle of light be excluded, 
otherwise the growth made will not be of that deli¬ 
cate flavour and colour so desirable. It is also 
advisable to cover a portion of the stock of roots 
with litter to exclude frost that they may be lifted at 
any time when required. Seakale may be blanched 
in the open ground, and for a late supply this is pre¬ 
ferable to lifting. When such is contemplated, the 
sets should be planted in clumps so that they may 
be covered with Seakale pots, over which fermenting 
material can be placed to generate the necessary 
heat to induce the plants to start into growth. 
Chicory. —When well blanched this makes a very 
delicate dish, and as a salad it is also much esteemed; 
therefore, a quantity should always be grown that the 
roots may be taken up for blanching. Like Seakale, it is 
essential that not a particle of light be admitted while 
it is making its growth, otherwise it will lose much of 
its delicate flavour. Only a small portion should be 
introduced into heat at a time as the leaves soon 
become tough. Fresh batches ought to be taken in 
for blanching at least once a week ; by so doing 
there will always be a supply of fresh crisp leaves 
for use. That the roots may be lifted at any time 
©leanings ft[om ftje 
of Science. 
Fitchia —-At the meeting of the Linnean Society of 
London, on November 15th, Mr. W. B. Hemsley, 
F.R.S., F.L.S., exhibited a number of specimens and 
drawings of Fitchia (Hook f. in Lond. Journ. Bot. iv. 
p. 640, pis. 23, 24), including a new species from the 
Island of Raratonga in the Cook Archipelago, dis¬ 
covered by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, a Fellow of this 
society. The genus was described from specimens 
thought to have been procured on Elizabeth Island, 
a remote coral island in the Eastern Pacific ; but Mr. 
Hemsley gave reasons for believing that the locality 
of the plant described by Sir Joseph Hooker was 
Tubnai Island in the same latitude, but 20° further 
to the west; an island of volcanic origin and moun¬ 
tainous, and therefore more likely than a coral 
island to be the habitat of such a plant, especially 
as it was originally discovered by Banks and Solander 
in Tahiti. Only three or four species are known: 
they are small resiniferous shrubs of tree-like babit, 
with rather thick branches, opposite simple leaves 
borne on slender stalks,and terminal, usually solitary 
flower heads. The systematic position of Fitchia is 
not very evident; although usually placed in the 
Cichoriaceae (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen Plant.), Mr. 
Hemsley considered its affinities as a resiniferous 
plant to be with the Helianthoideae, and near to 
Petrobium, a monotypic genus of St. Helena (Hooker, 
Icon. PDpt. t. 1053). After discussing the views of 
systematists on this point, he briefly described the 
new species from Raratonga (Fitchia nutans), re¬ 
marking that it secreted a resin which is exuded on 
the young branches and flower-heads, and is used to 
prepare an agreeably odoriferous oil. 
Large Cluster of Spanish Chestnuts.—On 
the same occasion Mr. Hemsley exhibited an abnor¬ 
mal cluster of fruits of the edible Chestnut fouod by 
Mr. Charles Read of Sway in the New Forest, and 
forwarded to Kew by the Rev. J. E. Kelsa'l. Usually 
there are two or three, rarely four in a cluster ; but 
in the specimen exhibited there were at least fifteen, 
the largest nuts measuring about an inch in their 
greatest diameter. 
Statice lychnidifolia.—At the same meeting 
Mr. James Groves, F.L.S., on behalf of Mr. Cecil R. 
P. Andrews, exhibited specimens of a Sea Lavender 
new to the Channel Islands, Statice lychnidifolia, 
Girard, discovered by Mr. Andrews in August of the 
present year growing sparingly on low rocks by the 
sea in Alderney in company with S. occidentalis the 
most nearly allied British species. The distinguish¬ 
ing characteristics of S.lychnidifolia, as noted by Mr. 
Andrews, were the large, many-nerved leaves, the 
stout scapes with large scales, the broad dark bracts, 
and the triangular calyx-teeth. Mr. Groves pointed 
out that the interest of the record consisted not so 
much in the fact of the plant occurring in Alderney 
(being a native of the adjacent French coast, and the 
Channel Islands being geographically more French 
than British), as in the fact that a species should be 
added to the flora of one of our possessions so neat 
home. 
--s- 
“ Some Recent Fires.”—Under this title one ol 
our American contemporaries describes the 
damages, which amount in one instance to seven 
thousand dollars, accruing to six florists’ firms in 
the past week or two. The fires originated more or 
less from faulty flues and boilers. But fires to such 
businesses are continually reported from Amsrica, 
