440 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 28, 190 
Hardy Fruit. 
Figs .—Similar to most other fruits, this season Figs promise 
well, and this in spite of such an untoward summer and autumn, 
which most of us thought meant ill-ripened wood and scanty 
crops of fruit this year, and probably there is something in the 
theory that wood may be too well ripened, as in the case of 
the Peach under glass, though it would be unwise to say that 
the wood of the Fig could be ripened too much. The most 
important work here is the removal of surplus growths, which 
should be carried out in good' time and before many inches 
long, a.s the Fig bleeds a good deal, and the smaller they are 
when pulled off the less check to the tree in consequence. See 
that there is ample space to train in any shoot that is left with¬ 
out crowding, and unless it is a, shoot that can be dispensed with 
at the next, pruning no pinching should lie practised. 
Pears have set capitally, and require thinning in many 
places, care being taken that the smallest and any deformed 
fruits are removed first, and, while going over the trees, keep 
a sharp outlook for the small maggots curled in the leaf ; 
squeezing them between the thumb and finger is certain death 
to them. The Pear Midge spoils many a. crop of fruit, which 
turns black during the early part of .Tune, and drops, from the 
tree wholesale ; these ought to be gathered up and buried deep 
in the ground to prevent the increase of such a pest. It 
appears no spraying lias any detrimental effect, on this insect, 
but that a dressing of kainit early in June is; said to be of 
some avail for another year. One ton per acre is recom¬ 
mended by the Hoard of Agriculture-, forking or ploughing this 
in 4 in. to 6 in. deep. The; earliest, varieties of Pears, it. -s 
said, are- more frequently attacked than, late ones, though we 
have a Glou Morce-a.u and Ea.ster Beurre, which generally fall 
a prey to them, and many.of the' fruit are spoilt, the eggs 
being laid in the centra of the blossom, as in the case of the 
Apple. The midges emerge at the end of March from the 
ground, and commence laying their eggs ; therefore the more 
the soil underneath Pear trees: is disturbed in early spring, the 
greater the chance of destroying the lurking enemy. 
Strawberries. —These also promise well, and the quarters 
will have been strawed down e-re- now, and as birds begin to 
sample the fruit before they begin to colour the nets should 
be- put in good time, or many of the best will be ruined. Half¬ 
inch square mesh netting defies the feathered tribe, and as 
Strawberries] are a valuable as well as a, remunerative crop, it 
repays to take extra trouble to- protect, the fruit, which can! be 
conveniently done by placing 2-in. square pieces of deal 
3 ft. 6 in. long every 10 ft. or 12 ft. apart, with a hole bored 
through near the top to cany a. galvanised wire pulled as tight 
a.s possible', these bo support the nets, which, being about 
2 ft. 6 in. from the ground level after the stakes have been 
driven in, they will be clear of the plants and fruit, and may 
easily be put aside while gathering. Royal Sovereign still 
maintains its reputation as a. heavy cropper, strong grower, a.nd 
is as early a.s any variety we cultivate, and, although we have 
The Lax ton, I must have this season before I can s.a.y much 
in favour or much against it, but up to the present last year’s 
runners, though rather small when planted, are all that, can 
be wished. 
Peaches —The crop here is a. heavy one, and during the past 
tc-n days the trees have been relieved of thousands of small 
fruits ; those remaining are swelling away most kindly, a.nd 
now the nights a,re a bit warmer the trees will be much bene^ 
fited by a, syringing at least two evenings a. week, beginning 
about 4.30 p.m. The removal of surplus shoots should be 
finished by now, a.nd those that will be cut away after the 
fruits have been all gathered may be pinched at .the fourth 
leaf, as well as any to- form spurs. If the weather continues 
bright and warm a. strawy mulch may be given the border e . 
in June, which will prevent it drying too rapidly, and in m 
gardens this is a consideration, as water is sometimes a set 
article during a dry summer. Watch for aphis, and treat 
formerly advised. James Mayxe 
Hie ton, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
The Cattleya House. —The season at. hand is perhaps 
most attractive in this division, the abundance of flowers giv 
a greater interest to those who are not. Orchid enthusiasts ; 
to the grower who is rewarded far more by the pleasure afior 
to others than from the thought, or the- harvest of a ye; 
work, care, and attention. The spicus, such as Laelia. pur 
rata, Cattleya. Mos.sia.e-, C. Mendelii, C. Skinnerii, and 0. A 
nerii, in their varied characteristics and distinctive tints 
colour, blend charmingly with the large-flowered hybrids, s 
as Laeliocattleya Callisto-glossa, L.c. e. bletchleyensis, Le. c.c 
hamiana, and others far too- numerous to mention m the sp 
allotted to the writer of this column; yet all lie-lp to m; 
the charming display such as no other class of plants 
enabled to- produce. It is at. this- season, when it is de.-ira 
to maintain a successive display of blc-om which will last sevt 
weeks, that plants often suffer from the effects of permitt 
the flowers to remain on the plants fo-r too long after t! 
have expanded, and the- pseud-o-bulbs become shrivelled throi 
exhaustion.. In some kinds of Orchids a slight shrinking of 
last-made- pse-udo-bulb is n-o-t injurious, but. in the case"of a 
of the Cattleya, family it means a, long time before the bi 
regains its normal state, and the effect, generally becomes. 
parent in a diminution of the- following season’s growth, 
flowers of epiphytic Orchids should be removed as soon 
possible after they have become fully expanded, thereby 
mbvirg any possibility of injury from the above-mentior 
cause. 
Cutting Orchid Flowers. —One- often hears complaints tl 
there is a difficulty in getting Orchid flowers to last wli 
cut and used for house decorations and other purposes, and t 
want of durability has caused some prominent remarks in ; 
Horticultural Press, which has in some- cases been attribut 
to the fact, of having used leaf-soil as a potting compost, a 
I have no doubt many have been dubious of adopting this p 
cess of Orchid cultivation from having read these remarks, 
have during the last two years more so than previously re-co 
mended itsjuse in. this column. I now am more convinced tli 
ever of the desirability of its inclusion to a more or less degi 
fo-r 1 -all the- epiphytal Orchids. There- is nothing whatever 
ing in the lasting qualities o-f our Cattleyas and their allies. 
The Odo-nto,gloss-urns develop larger pseudo-bulbs, with 
corresponding increase in strength -o-f flower scape and in t 
individual texture of the flowers. Our flowers have been. m< 
prominent than most people's at the. meetings o-f the Ro; 
Horticultural Society, where- the awards given is the best ill 
t,ration, perhaps-, o-f the quality -o-f flowe-rs produced. The c 
spikes have been used in the house- in the most pro-mine 
positions, and others- have- been packed and sent to long d 
tanc-es; we have- had no cause for complaint in the lasti 
qualities -o-f the flowers. There is a- rule that, must be follow 
as much in the case of Orchids as in other genera, of t, 
vegetalble^kingdom. If we cut, any flowers before they ha 
become properly developed, it. will affect to a, greater or It 
extent-tihe lasting qualities of the flowers after cutting. . 
Orchid flowers used for decorative purposes should be ful 
expanded before- they are cut at. least, a. couple of days. It 
from this cause, I am convinced, that complaints are found, a 
often also from failure through heavily shading to proper 
ripen the increased growth or pseudo-bulbs obtainable whej 
leaf-soil is adopted as a. potting compost. H. J. 
Readers’ Competition. —Particulars of weekly prize s 
centre page. 
