790 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
September 19, 190'S. 
Readers' Competition—continued. 
Tlie following should also be included :—Epidendrum vitel- 
linum (one of the prettiest of Orchids), Dendrobium jamesianum 
(white), Stenoglottis longifolia, Disa grandifiora, Anguloa 
liuckeri, Sophonitis grandifiora, Cypripedium insigne, etc. 
Many others could be added if space permitted, but i hope to 
return at a future date, and mention a few more. 
W. Anstiss. 
Hardy Heaths. 
These can now be bought at a reasonable price from most of 
our larger nurseries ; but those desirous of increasing their own 
stock can do so in several ways—by seed, cuttings, layering, and 
division. The seed matures in October or November, and is 
most easily collected on a bright dry morning after foggy 
weather, when it can be readily shaken out on to a fiat tray or 
sheet of paper ; it should be sown as soon as gathered. 
To do so choose a position partially shaded, but where there 
is plenty of light, absolute freedom from drip, and yet withal 
a place that is inclined to keep moist during summer; for 
example, behind a north wall or tall hedge. Seedling Heaths 
are not fastidious in the matter of soil, loam peat or burnt 
earth appearing to suit them equally well ; but it must be firm, 
solid, not too fine, and quite free from worms and other insects, 
which by burrowing, etc., often prove destructive. When the 
surface is prepared sow the seed evenly, pressing it into the 
soil with a flat piece of wood. It requires no covering,, and as 
long as the soil remains fairly moist no water. Weeds, must 
be removed by hand. The plants appear in May or June, and 
by September they should be about 2 in. or 3 in. in height,, and 
can be transplanted into nursery beds of sandy loam or peat. 
Allow them to remain in these beds two years, using the shears 
occasionally to cut off the longest shoots, compelling the plants 
to assume a bushy habit. 
Cuttings can also be inserted in small frames in beds of sandy 
peat, or in pots filled with the same material ; the smaller side 
shoots root easiest after removing the lower leaves. Fix firmly, 
giving a watering to settle the whole. Keep the frame close 
and shaded. When the cuttings are rooted, treat as for seedlings. 
This method can be used for Erica arborea, E. australis, and 
E. codonoides, which by reason of their more tree-like habit 
cannot be propagated by division, and are less easy to layer. 
The Callunas and Erica ciliaris and E. Tetralix, with their 
varieties, can be rooted by a much easier and quicker method'—- 
plant deeply, and lift again at the end of two years. It will 
then be seen that the lower portions of the branches have formed 
roots, and can be easily divided. Erica cinerea does, not root 
quite so readily ; in this case. place .some sandy loam, mixed 
with leaf mould, round an established plant, peg the stems 
firmly on it, add more soil, and, pressing tightly round them, 
raise their points until they are almost vertical ; when rooted, 
separate with a sharp knife. 
It is often supposed that peat is necessary for Heaths, but 
whete sandy loam can be obtained it answers the purpose well. 
Our collection of some 10,000 plants in 49 species and varieties 
are growing vigorously in nothing else. Whether it is peat or 
sandy loam it should be thoroughly broken up, but not turned 
too deeply, or the best soil will be lost to the Heaths. In 
heavier soils drainage must be secured and peat or leaf mould 
and sand added. 
; Plant early, before the ground loses its warmth ; never when 
it is wet or sticky. Do not expose the roots to wind or sun, but 
keep them moist. Plant carefully, placing fine soil over the 
roots, tread firmly, using the Dutch hoe afterwards to obtain a 
loose surface. Should the following summer prove dry, over¬ 
head watering will be beneficial ; mulching with leaf mould 
will help to retain moisture. The plants should be clipped 
annually after flowering, which prevents seed production and 
induces a freer growth. j. 0 . 
The Peach aud Nectarine under Glass. 
After all the fruit has been gathered off the trees they should 
be gone over and have all unnecessary wood, in the shape of old 
wood that has made weakly growth, removed, to expose the re¬ 
maining wood meantime to as mnch light and ir as possible, 
and the hose or syringe should be used freely on the trees every 
day, and given a thorough good soaking at the roots, and towards 
the end of this watering give an application of liquid cow 
manure, which will help greatly to develop good sound fruit 
buds. 
After the leaves have fallen the tree should be pruned. When 
performing this all young shoots should be left uncut except 
where they have reached tne top or sides of the trellis ; even in 
these cases it is as well to fall back to another shoot, even though 
it leaves a space open, as it gives room for the next season's 
growth to develop). Now all wood and trellis work of the struc¬ 
ture, likewise the trees, should be subjected to a thorough cleans¬ 
ing, and after the tree has been again fixed tidy to the trellis for 
another season the border will claim attention. Firstly, all 
loose soil should be cleared away and the hard surface soil 
removed down to the roots and wheeled out to make room for 
a richer compost, which should consist of a quantity of good 
loam, lime rubbish, wood ashes, and well rotted farm manure, 
and have all well mixed, when it should be wheeled on to the 
border to the desired depth, and the border should again have 
a good watering. 
This operation is often left to provide work in a storm durinc 
the winter ; that is, in its way, good enough, but by the time 
the storm conies the trees may have been subjected to ill-treat¬ 
ment in the form of dryness at the root and lack of sufficient 
nourishment, when bud-dropping, a bad set, and small inferior 
flavoured fruit are sure to follow. By all means attend to the 
wants of the tree in due time, and if good weather prevails the 
work will be all the easier accomplished. Plenty of air must 
now, in all favourable weather, be admitted to tile house, and 
unless very early fruits be required it is not advisable to start 
the tree too early. A house started about the middle of January, 
and not too hard forced, will produce finely flavoured fruits, and 
if the house is not too well supplied with means of heating, it 
is as well to defer starting another fortnight, and if the border 
appears at all like dry it should have another good watering 
wnen the house is closed, and have the border covered with a 
good coating of leaves, thus preventing too hasty evaporation, 
this watering should serve over the flowering period, and all 
floors and paths should be damped and air admitted in fine 
weather. 
When the tree is in flower it must be gone over every day 
about noon so as to make certain of fertilisation, and for this 
purpose a rabbit tail tied on the end of a stick answers admir¬ 
ably. When a good set has been ensured the fruits should be 
carefully thinned and gone over again later, and after they are 
fairly on the move the leaves on the border may be removed and 
a good watering again given. The tree will now take feeding 
either in the form of chemicals (applied no stronger than 1 
directed) or liquid farmyard manure (well diluted). An appli¬ 
cation of soot in liquid occasionally is most beneficial, and the 
syringe should be used freely among the foliage morning and 
afternoon in find days until the fruit is well on towards com¬ 
mencing to colour. 
Meanwhile disbudding will have taken attention, an opera¬ 
tion which must be performed with great care and skill, taking 
care not to be too heavy on it at once. The tree should be gone 
over three times at least, a week fully elapsing between each 
time. The base shoot, if at all well placed, as well as the ter¬ 
minal one, should be laid in, and while it is well to leave plenty. 
!t must be borne in mind that a too dense body of foliage will 
prove detrimental to the general condition of the fruit. During 
the stoning process a steady temperature must be maintained, 
and after it is safely over the fruit should be thinned to its 
proper distance, a foot apart being a safe rule. In this thinning, 
as well as in previous ones, it should be the endeavour of the 
operator to leave all, or as many as possible, of the fruits look¬ 
ing up to the glass, then another good watering and feeding 
given, and as required till the fruit commences to get colour, 
when plenty of air must be given and heavy damping withheld. 
While it is well to have a net or other means to save a falling 
fruit, it should be observed that a Peach gathered and placed 
in a cool, airy room ere it is quite ripe is greatly improved in 
flavour. With borders and roots in favourable condition and by 
attending to these few simple hints good healthy trees and a 
crop of good fruit will be almost a certainty, as failures and 
near-to failures are often caused by overcropping (both wood 
and fruit) and insufficient attention to the trees generally during 
the resting period- J. R- B- 
