1022 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 12, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Pruning.—Advantage should be taken to push on this work 
before the New Year, each day from then onwards bringing 
more work for the gardener. We make it a point, to tackle 
the north walls while the leather remains mild, as the work 
can be done more expeditiously, while peing much more com¬ 
fortable to those employed. The Morello Cherry, which usually 
occupies such a site, claims first attention. This fruit, bearing 
principally upon wood made the previous summer, requires to 
be laid in its full length if well ripened from 2 in. to b in. 
asunder, and there can be no objection to young shoots being 
laid in to cover bare stems towards the centre of the trees. 
Fruits are also borne upon spurs ; therefore encourage these 
wherever space allows by cutting back to within a couple eyes 
of their origin all growths not required for intervening spaces. 
At this time of year, when the ground is so wet, it is a good 
plan for the men to have planks to stand upon, thus avoiding 
trampling on the borders to a, great extent, and either in tying 
or nailing see that sufficient space is left for the growths to 
swell, this remark specially applying to young trees of all 
kinds. A lad should follow the men, cleaning up the primings, 
rubbish, etc., which should be burnt, and the trees engined with 
an insecticide, which will remove many an insect hibernating 
among the branches and crevices of the wall. Avoid using the 
knife too freely on. sweet cherries—that is, the leading shoots— 
and practise more pinching during early summer, as the trees 
are so liable to gumming. Though bearing mostly on the spur, 
very little pruning ought to be' necessary at this date, provid¬ 
ing they were well attended to in summer. 
Plums.—Cooking varieties thrive well on a northern aspect, 
and may be taken in hand next, and bear similarly to the 
Morello Cherry. The greatest number of fruits are had from 
spurs, but these are often, left far too* thick, as well as allowed 
to grow too far away from the face of the wall. This should 
be rectified by thinning out a few each winter, cutting fairly 
close back, when in many instances fresh growth will result, 
and should there be more than is necessary the surplus should 
be rubbed off early in summer. Robust growths made during 
the past season should be shortened to half their length, or 
they fail to break or .start a l b the base. Dessert varieties re¬ 
quire identical treatment, and in. pruning bush, pyramid, or 
standard Plums endeavour to keep the centre thin, so than 
light, sun., and air can penetrate: well among the branches. 
Shorten all growths for forming spurs: back to within an inch of 
their origin ; short, stubby growths of that length need not 
be cut at all this winter, as many are fruit buds. Old trees 
with large stems are often found with moss or lichen growing 
on them ; this •should be removed with a blunt instrument, and 
the trees washed with caustic alkali, frequently recommended 
in these pages, any time from now until growth becomes active 
in spring. 
Apples and Pears •—The pruning of these may be undertaken 
any time now, except during hard frost, but even then there 
are generally a few hours towards the middle of the day when 
such work may safely be carried out. Pears should be the first 
to receive attention, and in dealing with wall trees, whether 
trained horizontally or fan-shape, the extension shoots require 
the point removed, as they generally form a fruit-bud there. 
With the former trained tree a space of 9 in. to 12 in. should 
be allowed between each set of branches, which must, be regu 
lated when shortening the leading or central growth; in. fact, it 
is merely a manipulation of the branches, whether the tree 
shall be trained horizontal or fan-shape. The latter method 
covers a wall quicker than the former, and I am of opinion 
carries finer fruit. Espalier trees, also bush and pyramid, 
have made much growth this: summer, especially Apples, and 
will require a. free hand to, keep the centres open, spurring well 
hack all surplus growth not required for extension of the tree, 
tying in small bundles, correctly named, any varieties it is 
intended to increase by grafting next spring, heeling them in 
under a north wall. Standard trees should be gone over each 
winter, thinning out a branch here and there, and any sorav 
growth that is likely to crowd the centre, which should be 
kept fairly open for the admittance of light, etc., to ripen up 
the wood. 1 
Figs, in some localities, require protection from severe 
frosts, especially after such a wet, cold summer as the past 
lias been. This is best accomplished by loosening the trees 
and tying in bundles, to be covered with mats, hay-bands, or 
bracken, but, to be removed when the weather is mild. Vo 
never think of protection down west, 12 deg. to 15 dem do in" 
the trees no, harm, though it is seldom we get a continuance 
hard frost for more than a week. James Mavxe. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
Dendrobiums.—Where it is advisable to have plants pro¬ 
ducing flowers early in the season it is desirable that a selec¬ 
tion of the kinds most suitable should now be made. Owin«- 
to the practically sunless character of the past summer, it- 
has, not .been the most, suitable season for the proper ripenino- 
of the wood ; consequently there are a, number of plauts which 
have at- the present time their flower-buds in a prominent 
condition. To select for early work plants with prominent 
buds and immature wood will bring with it anything but 
satisfactory flowering conditions. Such plants, immediately 
they are transferred to more liberal conditions of treatment, 
begin to! advance with considerable rapidity,, and just when 
they reach the stage when, you are expecting the flower-buds 
to form, you line! almost the whole lot of the buds are pro 
duc-ing gimwtii excellent for increasing stock, but disappointing 
in the extreme when we are looking for and require flowers 
for some most particular purpose. If the unripened plants 
are discarded and allowed to remain and develop under ordinary 
conditions at, a, later season, the further rest thus afforded 
generally induces them to flower in a satisfactory manner. 
With a season, like the past, it, is much more satisfactory to rely 
on a, few kinds that one may feel satisfied about in. respect to 
maturity. D. aureum and D. wardianum can generally be 
relied upon, to produce satisfactory results. Care must be 
taken not to hurry the plants at first. Take them gradually 
from their resting quarters, and transfer them by degrees to 
the warmest division. At first very little root moisture is 
necessary, and they will require exceeidingly careful treatment 
up to the time that the flower-buds can be clearly discerned, 
after which they may be afforded more liberal treatment. A 
position close to the roof glass, where they may obtain the 
maximum, amount, of light, at the present season, is desirable. 
The effect of light upon the quality of the flowers, after they 
have become expanded, is very considerable. Not only are 
the colours more intensified, but the whole substance of the 
flowers is greater, and they a,re thereby rendered more useful 
and attractive. If a succession, of blco-m of Dendrobium flowers 
is required, the most forward of the thoroughly ripened plants 
should be selected at, intervals of about a fortnight, transferring 
them to, their growing quarters as above advised. It is more 
satisfactory to keep, the whole of the plants back as long as 
possible ; there is no season that will produce equal quality of 
bloom like the, natural season of flowering. The better condi¬ 
tions prevailing outside during March and April are the most 
favourable for the development of flowers. 
Coelogyne cristata, with its flower-scapes prominent, must 
be kept in a, fairly moist and. warm position, in the warm 
intermediate house or stove, if it, is required for early flowering. 
Care must he, taken to remove, the plants of Coelogyne cristata 
and its varieties from a, house where fumigation may be 
thought necessary. If allowed to, remain in the house while 
the vaporisers are in operation the flower-scapes' will almost 
certainly turn black and become so affected that they can, be 
rarely induced to expand their flowers afterwards, and the 
whole season’s labours are thus destroyed. 
