734 
THE GARDENING WORLD , 
September 17. 1904. 
Hardy Fruit. 
The Fruit Room. — Again the time has come round 
when 'this will be required for the 'storage of apples and pears, 
therefore give the structure' a thorough cleansing, by brushing 
down dirt, cobwebs, etc., and if necessary scrub the woodwork 
forming the shelves, after the ceiling has been lime washed, 
when all will be ready for the reception of this year’s harvest 
of fruit, which, I am glad to read, is much better than, ait first 
anticipated. Keep 1 all ventilators wide open, is© that the in¬ 
ferior may be sweetened as much as possible by the time it 
is. necessary to close the same. 
Fruit Gathering.—It is too early to think of harvesting 
the general supply, but. there are many varieties of apples and 
pears that need attention at. this date, notably of the former 
stands Kerry Pippin, Lady Sudeley, Worcester Pearmain, among 
dessert kinds, while for cooking purposes Lord Suffield and 
Gro'svenor, Cellini Pippin, Keswick Oodlin, Potts Seedling, Eck- 
linville, Golden Sphere, Emperor Alexander, and Tom Putt are 
all ready to be stored, neither variety keeping plump for any 
length of time. Pears are not: s-o. numerous perhaps, but many 
are. fit with us, such as Williams, Bon Chretien, Souvenir du 
Congres, Clapp’s Favourite, Triomphe de Vienne, Fondant© 
d’Automne, and one or two others. Examine the trees two. 
or three times within a. week or ten days, only removing those 
that part easily from the tree when raised to a. horizontal 
position,; this will lengthen the: supply, gathering at intervals. 
Peaches, and Nectarines should bei gone, over every either day, 
removing any that are near ripe, especially Nectarine®, as l 
find with us the wasp® and flies are proving a. great nuisance 
to 1 these fruits, piercing holes at the apex, and have already 
spoilt the ripest, it being a, big job to cover a. tree with wasp- 
proof netting. The later varieties of Plums, a.s Golden Drop', 
Rein© Claude dei Bavay, Monarch, and some others, are ripen¬ 
ing indifferently this year, and the wasps again are working 
them in .spite of syrup bottles placed as a bait among tlhe 
frees 1 . Gather the ripest, every few days; these may be fi nis hed 
off on a, shelf under glass., if not quite fit. for use. 
Strawberries. — Healthy plants persist in throwing out 
many runners, which waste the energy of the crown®. These 
must be periodically removed, after which ply thei hoe between 
the plants, t© kill seedling weeds:, so. numerous after such 
showery weather during August. Ripe fruits: of St. Joseph 
and St. Antoine de Badoue: should now be forthcoming, but 
must be securely netted from the birds, and .some means de¬ 
vised to keep them from the slugs, or thei best will be spoilt. 
Late rooted runners: may still be planted, not omitting that 
new variety Laxtom’s Latest, which evidently ha® a. great 
future before it. Plantations should .also be made for the 
(supply of runners next mid-summer for pot work ; these may 
be set out 6 ins. apart each way, and for 'convenience planted 
in bed® or lines: near the margin®' of walks where they can be 
easily attended to as regards waiter, etc. 
Routine Work.—Wei have removed all mulch from 
the roots: of trees, and moved the surface with the hoe or fork, 
so< that the sun and air may aerate thei .soil, which assists to 
ripen up thei wood above a.s aveill as benefiting the roots below. 
Thei early part of this month has 1 been seasonable:, and the flat 
hoes have had but little rest, plying them among all fruit 
quarters. 1 after pulling up any big weeds:. Now outside fruit 
is getting scarce, if nob already done, the later varieties of 
Apples, and Pears., the latter especially, that can be ofttimes 
allowed to. bang on. walls until quite the end of October,-.sboxdd 
be protected from the raid of tomtits, which delight in. pecking 
at the base of the fruit long before it shows thei least: signs: of 
ripening. Nets, muslin bags, or stiff pieces, of round card¬ 
board placed close up to: the stems, will prevent this mischief 
t© a, great extent. Filberts will soon be fit for storing here, 
but further north more time will be required, and it is no use 
gathering until quit© ripe or they will surely shrivel. When 
they are gathered spread them out in an airy shed for a few 
days until all signs of heating have passed, when they may be 
stored in large flower pots or pans with the. husks, or the latter 
taken away first, but I have an idea they keep plumper with 
them. 
The Orchid Houses. 
Heating Arrangements.— Tlie present is a suitable season 
for the; thorough examination of the heating apparatus. It 
will often occur that valves, which have not been in regular 
use become fixed, and they are thus practically useless at a 
critical moment when: the purpose perhaps for 1 which they are 
placed in their position arises. To. guard against any such an 
occurrence is most desirable, and as the boilers; may be emptied 
at the present .season, the opporiunity is thus afforded to 
attend to: necessaries: of this description. Faulty joints, should 
bei made good and the air taps put in working order. The 
furnace also should bei thoroughly overhauled, the chimneys 
and fiuesi swept, so that the condition of the boiler may be 
thoroughly ascertained and necessary repairs be at once 
■attended to. The replacing of firebars which are eaten away, 
if attended to now, prevents greater difficulties occurring at a 
more inconvenient moment. It is essential that a small col¬ 
lection should have these particulars .attended to than the 
larger ones, for in the. latter case: provision is usually made to 
overcome accidents! by furnace® working independently of each 
other 1 . 
Permanent Shading.—In all the warm divisions of the 
Orchid houses permanent shading should he dispensed with 
as soon a.si possible. It. is only at the warmest portions of the 
day that shading becomes necessary, and it is: far better to 
use: some temporary means of screening thei plants for two. or 
three hours] than to. have an obstructor of light over them for 
a much greater period, which is. certainly more detrimental 
than beneficial to. their advantages. Side shading in all case®, 
excepting facing direct south, should be removed without delay, 
for if any advantage! is to be derived by the plant® from side 
lights, it is from now until the time that thei frosty nights set 
in,. I would 1 advise, all who anticipate erecting Orchid houses, 
to dispense! with the side light., from which only broken and 
reflected rays of light are obtainable, which- is: of doubtful 
advantage, while in winter it. practically act® a,® a freezing 
machine within, easy distance generally of the plants. Brick 
outer wall® dispense with a good deal of artificial heat in 
winter, and for cool house® is- certainly advantageous in 
summer. Such, houses do not look so artistic from a hor¬ 
ticultural builder's 1 point, of view, but it is desirable: to have 
the useful before the -ornamental where valuable plants have 
to be successfully cultivated. 
Vanda cosrulea.—/This- lovely blue-flowered species: is one of 
the. most! attractive of thei autumn flowering Orchids. It is 
perhaps more remarkable in this particular Vanda., thei effect 
which light, produces', than, perhaps, any that I am familiar with. 
Grow this .plant, in London and its immediate neighbourhood. 
Thei flowers which may be induced to expand by the end of 
the preis'enit. month .are generally of a. satisfactory character, 
but those opening through October and November produce., in¬ 
stead of the deep, azure blue, flowers almost white and prac¬ 
tically useless. The same: remarks; apply to unfavourable sur¬ 
rounding® throughout, the country, but in favourable districts 
the normal characteristics are maintained, even, when the 
flowers expand in December. It seems- to. me to present one. 
of tlhe principal illustrations, of the 1 light effect on plant life it. 
is possible to obtain, and points out the lesson: of the desira¬ 
bility of taking advantage of all the available light procurable 
at. the present season. H. J. 
