354 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 25, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
Fruits under Glass. 
The Fig House. — Discontinue overhead moisture as the 
fruit begins to ripen, but. damp the paths, borders, etc., two 
or three times, daily, especially bright days ; and though fuller 
ventilation is beneficial while the fruit is ripening, avoid much 
front air while the wind remains due north, where it is at the 
time of writing—most treacherous weather after such an excep¬ 
tionally mild time for several weeks past. Great care is re¬ 
quired in gathering Figs—being so soft, they are easily 
damaged ; neither should they be taken from the tree until 
fully ripe, unless such fruit has to be packed and sent by rail, 
when it is wise to gather before the fruit cracks much, early 
morning being the best time to take them from the tree. 
Keep the shoots freely thinned, stopped at the fifth or sixth 
leaf and tied down, exposing the fruit to the sun as much as 
possible in succession houses, thinning the fruit if it is thought 
tooi heavy a. crop, and afford liberal supplies of manurial water¬ 
ings. at the root, and the foliage well syringed twice daily, 
closing soon after 3 p.m. with sun heat so. as to raise the tem¬ 
perature up to 90 deg. or thereabouts. The night temperature 
for swelling crops should he 60 deg. to 63 deg. ; 5 deg. higher 
for ripening fruit will do no harm. 
Pines.—Fruiting plants started in February will be fast 
swelling their fruit, and will require to be examined twice 
weekly as to. the state of moisture at the root, only affording 
water when really necessary, which should stand at 80 deg. of 
warmth, and diluted with manure water or a little imported 
guano, squeezed up in the can, using it weak and often in pre¬ 
ference to strong doses, pouring this into the sockets of the 
lower leaves, as many roots, are to be found there on healthy 
plants. Remove all gills at the base of the fruit, and support 
the latter with two; stakes, and cord to keep it erect, reducing 
the suckers to one, or at the most two, to a. plant. Syringe 
the plunging material at closing time, but avoid damping over¬ 
head for a. week or two yet, though, during bright days the 
paths-, walls, etc., ought to be frequently damped down. The 
night temperature may he 70 deg., admitting air when it 
reaches 80 deg. in the morning with sun. heat, advancing to 
85 deg. or 90 deg. towards the middle of the day, closing about 
2.30 p.m. Succession plants should have 5 deg. less at night, 
advancing to. 80 deg. during the day when bright, and 60 deg. 
at night is sufficient for suckers. 
Peaches.— As. soon as the fruits in the early house begin to 
swell afresh, a night temperature of 60 deg. to 65 deg. may be 
given, advancing to- 80 deg. or a. little more with sun heat, 
admitting air at 70 deg., and closing with plenty of atmospheric 
moisture not later than. 3 p.m. Trees carrying full crops must 
be assisted with frequent root-waterings, and will stand stronger 
dose® of manure at this stage than, earlier in the season. Give 
the fruit all the sun possible by pushing or tying aside the 
foliage and elevating the former that are inclined to face under 
the trellis by placing thin strips of wood underneath them and 
resting each end on the older wood, but avoiding much force, 
or the fruit may get twisted off. In the second house keep 
the growths tied in and the fruit thinned down to about 12 in. 
asunder, syringing the trees with force twice daily on bright 
days-, allowing the thermometer to- drop to 55 deg. by 6 o’clock 
in the morning. 
Later houses and those unheated will require daily attention 
in the removal of superfluous- shoots, also- fruits where a thick 
set has been secured, dispensing with fore right shoots and 
those fruits on. the under side of the branches. When heeling; 
in the yo-ung shoots do not tie too tightly, pinching the leading 
shoot where such has filled its allotted space, or those that are 
suitable to form spurs. Close, unheated structures about 4 
p.m., giving the heaviest syringing 'in. the mornings, which 
should be earned out before 8 a.m. Jambs Mayne. 
Bicton, Devonshire, 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Vegetation of all kinds has received a sudden and severe 
check during the past few days, the winterly weather which 
we have been experiencing reminding one more of the middle 
of March than the middle of April, and, unless due care was 
taken to render many of the more tender vegetable crops the 
necessary protection, as previously advised, much injury will 
have been done, I fear, in many districts. In such cases no 
time should be lost in doing everything possible to make good 
any failures, for, unfortunately, the kitchen gardener is ex¬ 
pected to keep the kitchen well supplied as the seasons come 
round, whatever the weather may have been, as any excuse he 
may offer in this respect is generally soon forgotten, and rnanv 
forget that positions and soils differ so much even in the same 
locality that where one’s neighbour may have entirely escaped 
injury from frost, another only a mile or two- away may have 
many crops grown under similar conditions ruined. 
Cauliflowers. — The advantage of autumn-sown plant' 
which were wintered in frames and planted out on warm border' 
will, in such a, season as the present one, gain a distinct advan¬ 
tage over those raised in heat early in the year. Naturally, tin 
first-named are much hardier and able to withstand from 10 
deg. to- 15 deg. of frost unharmed. The soil should be kep; 
constantly stirred with the draw-hoe about the plants, and the 
most forward plants will derive much assistance if any hand- 
lights can be spared to place over them ; but air freely during 
genial weather, and thoroughly mulch the plants with half- 
decayed farmyard manure. These will succeed any which are 
being brought forward under glass, either planted out or ii 
pots, the latter method of producing early Cauliflowers being 
the best I am acquainted with, as small, delicate heads, so mud 
appreciated for the table, are easily obtained if suitable kind.' 
are grown and the plants are well mulched and liberally fed 
Small, quick-growing kinds should be selected for this, and 8-in. 
pots, will answer well. The early sowing of Autumn Giant 
should now be planted out on deeply-trenched and well 
manured ground, allowing them plenty of room all ways. Them 
should produce good heads by July, and, by making frequen 
plantings from successional sowings, no difficulty will be fount 
in keeping up a good supply till the autumn Broccoli come in 
Make one- more good sowing of this variety. 
Broad Beans.—The last sowing made in boxes should no\ 
ho ready for planting out, and, at the same lime, sow Broai 
Windsor in the o-pen. The newer green variety is much to b 
preferred to the older kinds. On poor, shallow soils trenche 
should be irrepared and a. liberal dressing of manure givei 
The extra time and trouble bestowed on them will be wel 
repaid. 
Peas.— Plant out the latest sowing raised under glass, allot 
ing ample room both between the rows and individual plant; 
always hearing in mind that overcrowding is fatal to the sucees 
of the larger’ a.nd best kinds especially. Continue to so'! 
suitable varieties every ten days, and after this date always pi 
them in trenches, and apply an unstinted amount of goq 
manure, as, by having a deep root-run of rich material, til 
plants are able to withstand long spells of drought, and are i 
consequence much better able to- resist attacks of mildew, ofte 
so disastrous to the late sowings. Utilise the ground betwee 
the rows with Spinach and Horseradish. 
Lettuce.— Continue to plant out these as soon as lan! 
enough, and make frequent sowings about every ten days, 
capital position being, in the centre of the ridges between tl 
Celery. 
Endive. —Though full early to sow in quantity, it alwa; 
makes a desirable addition to the salad bowl, especially tl 
curled varieties, when well blanched, and every endeavol 
should be made to include it as long as possible. Early so’ 
ings quickly run away to seed, so that quite small quantities 
seed should be put in at least every ten days, the Moss Curb, 
being the best for this season, as the plants can he blanche 
quite small. 
French Beans,-—Make a good sowing on a south horde 
where protection can be given them when needed ; though th 
