570 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
:f ___ 
Fruit under Glass. 
Strawberries. —No sooner lias the last batch of pot plants 
been moved out from the houses or frames than it is time to 
start layering the. stock for next year’s forcing, and for prefer¬ 
ence the runners should be taken from plants set out for the 
purpose last September, from which all flower trusses are kept 
pinched out as fast as they appear, so that the energy of the 
plant may go to the formation or supply of runners for this 
purpose. There are a trio of ways practised in getting the 
stock—fastening the young plantlet on to pieces of turf 2J in. 
square and about the same depth, merely scooping out- a 
small cavity in the centre, layering the runner direct into the 
pots they will fruit in, or into 3 in. pots tilled with loam soil 
made fairly firm. The last-named method is that usually 
adopted, always giving satisfaction. 
The pots should be washed and dried before using ; no crock 
is required, a few pieces of turfy loam being sufficient ; then 
fill nearly to the rim, and convey the same to the bed. A good 
supply of crocks, or pegs 2| in. long, should be prepared, the 
common bracken doing nicely for it, as they are only required 
for a few weeks, placing the runner in the centre of each 
pot, making it- secure with the peg, and pinching off the leader 
just beyond the ro-otless plant so treated, remembering the 
strongest runners make the best plants, and those nearest the 
parent plant-, unless the variety is very scarce, when some¬ 
times two- plants are secured on the same string. In dry 
weather the pots must be examined two or three times daily, 
as keeping the soil continually moist aids the rooting pro¬ 
cess. Stand the pots quite level, or the plants will get very 
little nourishment from the water-can. Examine the stock 
in a- week’s time, as some may get- away from the peg. Re¬ 
specting varieties for forcing, a long list is unnecessary. 
Royal Sovereign, Yico-mtesse Hericart de Thury, President, 
Leader, and Sir Joseph Paxton are all good, and the new one— 
the La-xton—was well shown in pots at the Temple Show, and 
will probably make a good forcing variety. 
Pines.—Owing to such cold, sunless weather of late, or up 
to the longest- day, the earliest fruits have been long in ripen¬ 
ing, but are now coming on fast, and require free ventilation 
and less moisture among the plants, but damp the walk, walls, 
etc., two or three times- daily, and from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. a 
thin shade is beneficial during bright weather, which, it is 
hoped, we shall get plenty of from now onwards. Afford no 
root watering after once the fruit, takes on the- yellow tinge, 
and for home use the fruit- should be fairly ripe before being 
cut- Should it be necessary to retard any fruit, remove the 
plant- to a vinery. 
Such varieties as Smooth Cayenne, Black Jamaica, and 
Charlotte Rothschild are more- suitable for winter fruiting 
than The Queen, and should be started about the middle of 
the month, giving a bottom heat of 85 degrees ; the tempera¬ 
ture of the house or pit- at night should be- 68 or 70, advancing 
to 85 degrees on bright days, and see that the plants do not 
get dry at the root- Insert, suckers as soon as. large enough, 
using 4 in. and 6 in. pots and turfy loam, with a. little bone 
meal and charcoal. A few of the bottom leaves should be 
moved, and the base cut- clean, across before- potting, and 
rather on the dry side before roots are emitted, as well a.s a, 
little shade. Repot- any ro-ote-d suckers into 9 in. or 11 in. 
pots, ramming the soil quite firm. 
Late Grapes.— Get all thinning of the berries done forth¬ 
with, which must- be done with a free hand, especially such 
varieties as Lady Downes, Alicantes, Gras Colman, and Gros 
Maroc, which have to hang some months on the vine, and 
unless the air can penetrate among the berries they are apt- 
to decay towards autumn and the winter months. Keep all 
lateral growth persistently stopped up to the time colouring 
begins, when a- little more latitude may be given them. In¬ 
side borders should be kept in a moist, condition. Nothing 
better than drainings from the cowvard can be given vines 
July 4, 1903. 
swelling their crops. Owing to such a heavy rainfall fi 
June, out-side borders should be all right for the time, b\ 
frequent examination is the best guide in the matter. Ye 
tila-t-e the structures early in the mornings of bright days, at 
do not close much before 4 p.m., with abundance of moistui 
from the syringe, avoiding the use of the water-can for sui 
work. James Matxe. 
Bict-o-n, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
Ca-tt-leya Skinnerii is onei of the- most beautiful and attra 
t-ive of the genus; when grown as large specimens no plant 
of more telling effect in an exhibition group. The biilliancy 
its coloured trusses of flowers are most- attractive, contrast! 
with other kinds of Orchids. One of our prominent Oreh 
amateurs remarked some years ago, after being on a vi> 
to the Continental Orchid establishments, that in the mai 
collections- lie- visited lie never came across a- finely-grown pla. 
of Cattle,ya- Skinnerii. I wonder how many of our Engli 
collections could be visited to-day in which finely-cultivat- 
specimens could be found which had been under artificial ci 
Ovation for a- number of years. I am well aware that tl 
plant thrives and flowers profusely for a time, but what b 
comes of the large specimens that have been in cultivate 
only a few years since? Years ago I remember seek 
plants- in tubs that had been, in cultivation from suit 
pieces- If plants could then be- successfully cultivate 
surely with the better facilities afforded of the prese: 
day they should be done with e-qual merit- One of the pri 
cipal caus-es of the failure of- successful cultivation is in tl 
fact- that- the plant- requires a lengthened period of absolu 
rest. It commences to emit its new growths at the prese: 
season immediately after flowering; these reach maturi 
about the end of September. From the time the growl 
matures until the flowers a-re- observed advancing in the shear 
in spring, the plant, if placed under suitable conditions, in¬ 
quires practically no water a-t- the roots. 
I also consider this plant- an exception to the rule of Cattle; 
repotting. Instead of waiting until the new root appears, it 
best to attend to repotting requirements as soon as they pr 
out- of flc-wer. Here is a species whe-re the use of a large pr< 
portion of leaf soil may be- used with, advantage in the pottin 
compost- Tha leaves should not- be in an advanced stage o, 
decomposition- when, used, a-s it- is not advisable the plant 
should be annually repotted. Ample rough sand or broke! 
crocks should be also- added to render it- as open and porou 
as possible. After repotting the plants must be- shade-d heard 
for a- time, but as soon- a-s. roots make their a-ppearance moi 
lio-ht may be given. The rvarmest position of the Cattle; 
house or an ordinary stove treatment should be afforded tl 
plants as soon as they start- into growth, and continued uni 
they reach maturity ; after this- period the plants should 1 
removed to- cooler and bright positions, when, the water supp 
may be reduced to the minimum and the plants may remain 
a dry state until the flowe-rs commence to advance in thesprin 
It- will often occur that the flo-wer-shea-ths of Cat-tleya Ski 
nerii will turn brown and die during the winter months. Pi- 
viding these dry up, no danger may be anticipated by th: 
decaying. Although they afford an unsightly appearance, th: 
should no-t- be cut- asunder or removed from the plants : thy 
will not- interfere with the advancing flower-scapes in tf> 
spring. 
Like all summer and autumn-growing Cattlevas. they a? 
liable to be attacked by thrips and infested with white sea- 
Regular intervals of fumigation will keep the former in check 
fort-he latter, it- is- necessary to sponge- the foliage with dibit 1 
soft-soap water. _ - 
The species is not very variable. The pure white C. S. an 
is a- scarce and lovely variety, worthy of a- place in ever 
prominent collection. C. S. Limpet's- variety is one of t? 
darkest and most beautiful of the coloured kinds. 1 
hvbridisation it- is one of the species that have been little uy- 
This is- remarkable when- one considers- the results that hr. 
