298 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
April 9, 1904. 
Fruit Under Glass. 
Pines,—The weather during March was an improvement on 
the two previous months, the bright sunshine proving very 
beneficial to these plants, especially to those in their flowering 
stage', a, period when lee® moisture should be maintained. Sup¬ 
port the fruits in good time by placing two states, one; on 
either side of the pot, and secure the fruit between with cord, 
tying the stem, also the crown, but allowing ample space for 
further development of the fruit, keeping the string in an 
upward direction so that, it shall not prevent the fruit from 
pushing upwards. Examine the plants once or twice each 
week as to water, and only apply it when really necessary, 
but, on the other hand, they must on no account suffer from 
drought after once the fruit has formed ; diluted farmyard 
drainings with alternate weak guano-water warmed to 80 deg. 
will be found suitable for fruiting plants. Maintain a. nigbtl 
temperature of 70 deg., with a. rise of 10 deg. or 15 deg. with 
sun-heat, closing from 2.30 to 3 pan., well .springing the plung¬ 
ing material, walls, path®, -etc., and keep the evaporating 
troughs charged with ammonia of some kind. Should the 
crowns be inclined to get extra large, destroy the centre with 
a small stick, car’e being taken not to bruise the fruit; a light 
dewing overhead is beneficial to swelling fruits, a.s; likewise to 
growing plants, but excessive; moisture overhead favours large 
crowns. Remove any gills; that is; small growths, which 
appear on the stem at the base of the; fruit, and do not allow 
more than two suckers to develop on a plant. Another batch 
of plants for early autumn fruiting should be started this 
month, choosing well-rooted plants for the work, giving a. 
bottom heat of 80 deg. or 85 deg., the temperature of the; house 
being 65 deg. to 70 deg; at night, with the usual advance by 
day. Repot any plants or suckers before they get pot-bound. 
Bananas. —These may be successfully grown in pots or tub®, 
providing ample headroom can bei given with the necessary 
temperature; 60 deg. to 70 deg. at night. Well grown, good 
clusters of fruit can be had in from fifteen to eighteen months 
after planting the sucker, which may be done; at various times 
in the year, but similar to most other fruits, the summer’s sun 
is necessary to ripen and add flavour to the huge bunches 
varying from 20 lb. up' to- nearly 100 lb. The Banana, being 
a gross feeder, frequent applications; of manure-water are re¬ 
quired while; the fruits; are swelling, but as soon as ripening 
begins clear water only should be given. Heavy syringings 
are beneficial, except when in flower, and as' the; weight of the 
bunch increase®, support- with wire; but see that, it is not allowed 
to cut the bunch by placing a piece of bag between. Surface 
dressings, too, are beneficial after the fruits are set, good turfy 
loam, ho-rse droppings; with a little wood-ashes being suitable. 
Heavier bunches are; grown when planted out ini specially pre¬ 
pared borders, which must be well drained; Musa Oavendishii 
being the on,e most generally cultivated in, this country. 
Melons.—The earliest, set-out plants of January sowing have 
made rapid progress the past few weeks, and where daily atten¬ 
tion was paid in fertilising the blossoms fruit will be swelling 
away by now. From two to four fruits are ample; on a, single 
cordon, suspending, these with- boards or nets so. .as nor to 
cripple the bine; or lateral .bearing the fruit, and when water 
is; required at the root, too much care cannot be; taken to see 
that it is not poured on close, to the stem, where canker usually 
sets; in near the base. Manurial waterings should be given 
alternately with clear water, examining them every few days 
.when growing in borders, while those in, pots; must be tested 
two or three times' each day, and often need water twice, if n,ot 
thrice during bright weather. Syringe; the plants lightly early 
mornings and again at closing time towards; 3 pan., and main¬ 
tain. a night temperature’ of 70 deg., advancing to 15 deg. with 
sun-heat. Drain, and fertilise succession plants when the pollen 
is dry about, midday, and pinch the point of the shoot out at, 
the first or second leaf beyond the fruit according to; spaoei 
between, each cordon. Sow every third week, and plant out 
for succession before the plants; geib pot-bound—a, check they 
seldom get over—and sponge with warm, soapy water, should 
red spider put in an appearance, using care, a® the foliage soon 
breaks off. 
Planting Vines.—Early April is a good time to plant youuu 
Vine® under glass; making the border of good maiden turfy 
loam, with the addition of lime rubble, wood ashes, and a little 
bone meal thoroughly mixed and put in on the dry side, when 
possible, making fairly firm. The depth neied not exceed 2 ft., 
with 6 in. to 9 in,, of drainage below, and a width of 3 ft. to 
4 ft. is sufficient, for the first two; or three years. Vines just 
on the move should have most of the soil shaken from the 
root® and the latter spread out, covering with 3 in. or 4 in. of 
so-il and not over watered, very little being necessary until 
growth becomes; active; but, syringe morning and early after¬ 
noons, borders; walls;, etc., maintaining a night temperature 
of 55 deg. to 60 de;g. James Mayne. 
Breton, Devonshire. 
Gloriosa superba. 
This is, one of the most curious of stove bulbs, and especially 
belonging a,s, it, does to the order Lilia,ce-ae. It, is not grown 
nearly so much as it, deserves to be; although it succeeds in 
any warm house after it gets started a bit.. It should be re¬ 
potted now in a, mixture of one. part good turfy loam, one of 
peat, a,nd one of leaf so-il, with a, little sand, and be well mixed 
together. It -should be nice and lumpy, about the size of 
liens’ eggs. The- b-ulb® should be placed about three; in a 12-in. 
po-t, taking care to select bulbs of a, uniform size; so- that they 
start -off together. These should be placed in the stove; or, 
better still, they could be plunged in. a- little bottom heat in 
a temperature; of 70 deg. Sometimes they are a bit long in 
making a start, owing, no d-o-ubt, to the b-ulbs not being pro¬ 
perly ripened the previous year. After the- gro-wth gets about 
1 ft-, high they should be placed in their quarter® where they 
are to flower, and trained up pillars -o-r up the roof, where they 
are best- seen to- advantage; but can be trained any fashion, 
whichever suit® the employer best. 
As the pots, get full of roots-, they will benefit by being fed 
with manure-water or a, little artificial manure-. If artificial is 
used, it, should be mixe-d with about twice as much soil, and 
spread around the top of the p-ot. By mixing the manure with 
soil, the ro-ots are; not s-o- liable to get injured, as some manures 
are very fiery. The plants thus treated will be in flower in 
July, and will last a, good while; fresh flowers kee-p coming as 
the others -go- off. 
It is, indeed, a, curious flower, but still very pretty, the 
flower being of a, deep orange and red colour, and it lasts well 
cut-. For the dinner-table it is unique, with a, few fronds of 
fern. It shows up wonderfully well by lamp-light-. The plants 
when growing like; plenty of heat and m-oisture, and must never 
he allowed to get- dry at the ro-ot. They are; subject to red 
spider and t-hrips, s-o- that the syringe- must be frequently used. 
A spray over with some insecticide about once a week would 
keep them free; and clean, -always bearing in mind that pre¬ 
vent,i-on is 1 better than cure-. 
After the plants have do-ne flowering they should be re¬ 
moved to a, warm pit, where; they will get a, little s-un, and a.s 
the foliage; dies down water should gradually be withheld. 
Then the- pots could be; placed on their side in a, warm ho-use. 
Underneath the stage is, a very good place; taking care the 
pots, are; no-t, too cl-o-se to- the hot pipe®. 
'Seed of Gloriosa® should be sown in January, and treated 
very much the same as above, although it, is, best to give- them 
a dro-p -o-f water occasionally in winter, or the; small bulbs may 
get dried up. Of course, they would not flower for several 
years. There are- three' o-r four varieties of Gloriosa®, all re¬ 
quiring the;-s-ame treatment,. Littonia. modest a. does well under 
the same; treatment. J Q 
Erica carne-a is now in perfection, aud in spite -of its being 
an old and well-known Heath it is yet one of the best. 
