March 26. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
253 
Lettuce. — The whole of the plants which have been win¬ 
tered in cold frames may now safely be planted out, if due 
care has been taken to properly harden them, on a south 
border on ground which has been well manured and deeply 
dug. The larger varieties, such as Hicks’ Hardy White and 
Brown Cos, should be allowed a distance of 1 ft, apart all ways, 
and for the smaller Cabbage varieties 10- in. will suffice. Lift 
with, a trowel, plant firmly and well water in. Plants which 
have been raised in heat and pricked off into boxes should be 
thoroughly hardened by placing them in skeleton frames or at 
the foot of a south wall where they can be protected from 
severe frosts. Prick out seedlings where protection can be 
afforded them, and make further sowings in the open in a warm 
part of the garden, the seed of which will need to be well 
protected against slugs and birds. 
Cauliflowers.— -The whole of the autumn-sown plants should 
now be planted in their final positions, but it will be well, 
should the weather be unfavourable, to afford the plants some 
slight protection until they become established. A few Spruce 
boughs thrust into' the ground round the plants answer well. 
Plants in pots which are intended to produce the earliest crop 
should receive a thorough dressing of half-decayed cow manure, 
and if room can be found for these either in a cool orchard 
house or cold frame, if suitable varieties are grown, these will 
prove to be extremely useful, but to ensure the best results) 
plenty of feeding must be given. Air freely those which are 
planted out on old hotbeds, removing the lights entirely oni 
fine, balmy days. These likewise will be much benefited with 
a good mulching of farmyard manure. Make another good 
sowing of Veitch’s- Autumn Giant, Magnum Bonum, Walcheren, 
also Self-Protecting and Michaelmas White Broccoli. 
E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Fruit Under Glass. 
- Cherries. —This fruit requires very careful management 
from starting tune until they have stoned, and no attempt at 
hai’d forcing should be practised, or the crop will be a light one. 
Early started tree® that have set may be lightly syringed once 
or twice daily, according to the weather, affording ventilation 
at 60 deg., but avoiding cold draught® and closing about 3.30 
on bright days, but, a® before said, avoid running up a high 
temperature. Succession houses must be frequently examined 
before expanding its blossoms, and fumigating immediately 
green or black aphis appear, the latter being the worst enemy 
the Cherry has to encounter, under- glass or in the open. 
Laterals or shoots require pinching at the fifth or sixth leaf to 
form spurs, and a keen eye must be kept for the small maggot 
or grub, which often attack the foliage and are either found in 
the point of the shoot or rolled up in the foliage, which they 
quickly disfigure if left long to themselves; a squeeze between 
the finger and thumb is all that is necessary for their destruc¬ 
tion. Aim at a night temperature varying from 40 deg. toi 
50 deg., the latter figures during mild weather, when, after 
stoning has passed, 55 deg. to 60 deg. will not be too high, 
advancing to between 70 deg. and 80 deg. with sun-heat if the 
fruit are required as early 'as they can be got.; otherwise, the 
cooler, or, at least, the quieter Cherries are brought along from 
the start up to the ripening of the crop the better the results. 
Copious supplies of manure water are beneficial as soon as the 
fruit, begins to swell warmed to' the temperature of the house if 
possible. 
Early Grapes, if in, pots, will now take plentiful supplies 
of manorial waterings up to the tune colouring begins', when 
it must be discontinued and clear water only be given, ex¬ 
amining them two or three times daily in bright weather. 
Vines that will ripen their fruit towards the end of May will 
be claiming attention just now in the matter of thinning the 
berries, and though no- hard and fast line can be laid down, space 
should be allowed for each berry tO' swell to its normal size, 
but not so skeletonised that when it is cut and laid on the 
dessert-dish it falls all over the place ; and a trifle less thinning 
should be given when the fruit ha® to be packed and sent long 
railway journeys. I must reiterate former remark, which i®, 
do' not let any part of the' body or even clothe® come in touch 
with the berries, or disfigured bloom or rusty fruit will be the 
order. Test the border's every three or four weeks and apply 
a fertiliser or drainings from the stable, or, better still, the 
cowyard whenever waterings are a necessity, avoiding strong 
doses, and warming the same to' 80 deg. or so before putting 
it on. A night temperature of 60 deg. to 65 deg. will be a 
suitable one until the fruit is ripe, rising to 80 deg. or even, 
85 deg. towards mid-day when bright, but admitting air when 
the thermometer registers 70 deg., dispensing with front ven¬ 
tilation until the weather becomes more genial. 
Succession Vineries. —The occupant® of these houses will be 
coming along fast with the extra sun we are now getting, and 
almost daily attention required, either disbudding, pinching, 
or pulling down the laterals clear of the glass with strands of 
raffia, which must be gradual, or robust, shoots may be easily 
snapped, if not actually twisted out at the base. As regards 
disbudding, it is wisest to defer it until the bunch can be 
discerned, retaining the shoot nearest the main end for choice, 
or long, ugly spurs soon form, and do not allow more laterals 
to remain than there is space to train in without crowding, 
10 in. or 12 in;, being necessary between each lateral on either 
side. 
Vine Eyes. — Bepot these into 5-|- in. or 6-in. pots as the 
roots work down to the crocks of the pots they were inserted 
in, and cut-backs -shifted into their fruiting pots before they 
make lengthy growths, or the latter may get damaged or suffer 
from root mutilation Good turfy loam, with a, sprinkling of 
soot and bone meal, together with a little broken lime rubble, 
forms a good compost; making it firm with the rammer favour® 
short-jointed wood, which is essential for pot Vines. Afford a 
slight bottom heat for both, and syringe mornings and after¬ 
noons, -a, nightitemperature of 60 deg. to. 65 deg., with the usual 
advance by day, being necessary from now onwards. 
James Mayne. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Temperatures. —-The stove-houses should now be kept at 
higher temperatures, accompanied with abundance of 
humidity, than ha,® hitherto been desirable, for the occupants 
will be growing actively now that the days are lengthening 
and other climatic conditions are favourable. Assuming that- 
the majority of the subjects have been re-potted or top-dressed, 
as advised, there should be nothing to mar free growth from 
this time onwards. 
The tempera,tui-e should not fall below 60 deg. at, night, and 
it, may rise in the day with sun-heat to 80 deg. Syringing 
should be done by 7.30 in the morning, -and the stages and 
floors damped frequently. Close the structures by 2 o’clock in 
the afternoon, and well syringe, thus bottling up, so to speak, 
the sun-heat. By so, doing there is no necessity to start .the 
fires so soon, thus effecting a, saving of fuel and inducing 
healthy growth. Excessive fire-heat is- harmful to all plant 
life and conducive to the spread of insect®; therefore when it 
is possible to; dispense with it, wholly or in part, it should be 
done. The blinds or other shading should now be put on, as 
the new growth made under the conditions herein advised will 
a;t first be tender and liable to burn. To obviate this, it is 
good practice to admit a little top air for two- or three hour® 
in the middle part of fine days; this will keep the structure 
sweet and will prevent injury to the tender- foliage. It is a 
mistake to shade too heavily. 
Greenhouse and Conservatory.— On all favourable occasions 
admit plenty of air and use only sufficient firedieat to dispel 
superfluous moisture. Great care is necessary not to open the 
front ventilators when the wind isi in a north or north-eastern 
direction. At such times only the top ventilators should be 
opened. 
