November 14,. 1903 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
943 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Tulips.—In tliei cultivation of these bulbs for eaily flower¬ 
ing- it is necessary to- pot or box them up early in October, and 
to purchase only those varieties that are known to be adaptea 
for forcing. The “ Van Tholsi” are the easiest forced, and 
although the flowers are not large, they are exceedingly attrac¬ 
tive and bright. Other varieties that I have found to give good 
results for early flowering are Le Blason, Duke of h ork, Bac¬ 
chus, Canary Bird, Pottebakker, Thomas Moore, and Prosen 
pine. Good results may be obtained by placing five or six 
bulbs in a 5-in. pot, but equally good flowers may be had by 
placing the bulbs rather thickly in small boxes 3 in. or 4 in. 
deep and when the flower-buds are thrown up and about to 
open, lift with a trowel and pot them up five in a pot, with a 
small Fern in the centre. Thus treated, they make pretty 
plants either for rooms or for the embellishment of the con¬ 
servatory, and it is surprising what a length of time they last 
in a fresh condition. 
When potted a good watering must be given, and but little 
more will be required. The compost should consist of equal 
parts loam, leaf-soil, and well-decayed manure, with plenty of 
sharp sand or road-grit added. Plunge the pots or boxes in 
cocoa-fibre in a frame, so that the rains are carried off, and 
when growth commences and the roots are active remove first 
toi a oreenhouse for a few days, and afterwards introduce to a 
temperature of 60 deg. or 65 deg. Successional batches may 
be similarly treated and brought on according to the require¬ 
ments of the garden. Many varieties of Tulips are not adapted 
for early forcing, and if such are utilised disappointing results 
will accrue; whereas, by a judicious selection, and following 
the line of culture laid down, excellent- results may he achieved. 
Watering.—.From now onwards throughout the winter 
very careful watering of plants in pots must be exercised. 
During the short, dull days of winter all plant-life is more or 
less inactive; even the roots of plants that a-rei naturally at 
their best at this time are less active than at other periods 
of the year; therefore it will be obvious that less water will 
be required to sustain them. More failures in plant, growing 
may be attributed to over-watering in the winter months than, 
from any other cause. Especially does this apply to plants 
that have hut recently beem, potted. It is much better to err 
on the side of dryness at the roots than to over-water. It, 
will be readily understood that there is not so much fear of 
injury resulting in the case of established' plantsi that ha,vet 
their pots full of roots. The water used in stoves and tem¬ 
perate houses should be warmed, i.e.. used of the same tem¬ 
perature as the structure. Likewise the water used for syring¬ 
ing should he lukewarm and taken from rain-water tanks for 
preference. It should at the same time be clearly understood 
that drib-1 et:>are harmful, and when a, plant requires water it 
should he applied copiously, as the young feeding roots that 
are often at the bottom of the pots will suffer. 
Pits and Frames. —The occupantsi of these will not now 
be of a tender nature, hut there will be- some that require 
protection by covering with mats at night and during frosty 
days. Violets must be kept covered with mats in preference 
to turning on fire-heat, even if planted in pits having pipes, 
running through them. These should only be warmed in ex¬ 
ceptionally severe weather. K. M. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Apricots. —The planting of these may be undertaken -as- soon 
as the ground can be worked, but ;it is madness to trample on 
it while in a soddened state ; better defer the operation until 
the New Year ; yet, weather permitting, there can he no doubt 
trees planted before Christmas start away much better than 
those planted late in the season. The fruit under notice is not 
a success in all places, even when the situation is all that, can 
he desired. Soil has a great, deal to do with it, and good friable 
loam thoroughly drained will grow it best, for, if water lodges 
near the roots, failure will surely result. In our precarious 
summers a. wall with a southern aspect is alm-o-st essential, 
though at times good fruits are found growing on trees facing 
south-east and even western aspects, but I fear trees in the 
latter position will fail to ripen their wood in a season like the 
present; it will he marvellous if it does this on the two hrst- 
na-med sites. Light sandy soils require clay marl well pul¬ 
verised. with it to the extent of one-fourth, and too heavy soils 
can be made suitable by adding road scrapings, old mortar, or 
plaster rubbish to that extent, thoroughly incorporating the 
whole. The border should be about 4 ft. wide and 2 ft. to 
3 ft. in depth, and in low-lying districts would be all the 
better if raised 6 in. above the ordinary level. Fan trained 
trees two or three years from the bud are the best to plant, 
and this holds good for all stone fruits, except very low walls, 
when cordons may be-substituted, the latter 2 ft. apart, and the 
former from 18 ft. up to 24 ft., but. supernumeraries may be 
grown between for the first few years. Avoid deep planting in 
all cases-, spreading out the roots carefully, and inclining up¬ 
wards rather than downwards, and do not nail the trees until 
the soil 'has settled, but .secure them in position with pieces 
of string tied across the branches, and defer .any pruning until 
the new year. Needless to say, cut off any mutilated roots or 
extra robust ones in planting all fruit trees. Royal, Henrskerk, 
Grosse Peeke, Moor Park, Shipley’s, and St. Ambro-is© are all 
good. 
Cherries.-—The -sweet varieties are the first stone fruits to 
ripen outside; consequently are highly prized as a dessert 
fruit, and, though they are not a -success, in every garden, a lot 
can -be done in the matter o-f site, soil, and due attention in the 
summer months. We find south walls a bit hot for these, 
so have planted against eastern aspects, and a few with Morellos 
on north walls, where they do- fairly well, but the fruit is not 
so sweet -on the last-named aspect. For wa-l'ls 8 ft. to 10 ft. 
high fan-trained trees are the best. Higher walls may have 
a standard between each dwarf tree, allowing 12 ft. to 15 ft. 
between each. The following are of good flavour and crop 
well:—Elton, Black Tartarian, Governor Wood, Fro-gmore, 
Biggarea-u, Biggareau Napoleon, May Duke, Black Eagle, Early 
Rivers, Emperor Francis, and The Noble—-the latter a very 
fine fruit o-f quite recent, introduction. 
Morellos are usually found growing against north walls, 
where they ripen perfectly towards the middle o-f August- if 
securely netted from the thrushes and blackbirds. As -soon as 
colouring begins the same kind -of trees a-s advocated above are 
the best -to plant, and -all Cherries will he found to- succeed in 
a similar soil as given for Apricots. Plant- no deeper than 
when the trees left the nurseries, and carefully cut away all 
bruis-e-d pieces of root with the knife when planting, and the 
less pruning of leading shoots 1 -the better for the Cherry, as 
they are s-o liable to gum; if any growths are unduly strong 
pinch out ’the points early in -the season. 
Plums.—These may be planted now the foliage is falling, the 
cooking varieties succeeding -on north walls; but dessert Plums 
are more 'satisfactory on south-east or west walls, dwarf trained 
trees being the best to select. Plums also succeed a-s standards 
and bushes, but-, where wall space is at co mma nd, -better crops 
are generally to be had when -the -season is precarious. Stan¬ 
dards require 15 ft. to 20 ft- apart, according 'to soil. Bush 
and pyramids 8 ft. to 10 ft. will be sufficient-, while those 
against walls or fences 12 ft. to 15 ft-, asunder. For standards, 
and pyramids dho-ose Victoria, Pond’s Seedling, Waterloo, 
Monarch, and Czar; while for walls add the following: — 
Kitchen or cooking, Diamond, Early Prolific, Magnum 
Bonunr (white), Denbigh, Wyedale, Early Orleans, Grand Duke, 
and Belle de Septembre. Dessert: Coe’s Golden Drop, Golden 
Esperen, Kirke’-s Angelina Burdett, Comte d’Atthems Gage, Old 
Green Gage, Denniston’s Superb, Jefferson, Reine Claude de 
Bava-y, and Golden Transparent. Damsons, also Bullaces, 
should be found more frequently than at present, and may be 
planted a.s a. shelter to the Plum in standard form. Farleigh 
Prolific, Bradley’s King, Frogmore Damson, and Blue Prolific 
are good Damsons. Shepherds and white and black Bullaces 
