June 18, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
501 
Fruit Under Glass. 
Pines —As soon as the earliest batch are all cut and the 
suckers large enough to pot remove the old stools, fork up 
the plunging material andi add a little fresh, if need be, when 
the succession plants can be thinned out, giving them a 2-ft. 
space between each one. Plants, whether in flower or further 
advanced to maturity, must be handled carefully, and a,void 
tying up the foliage, if possible, while shifting the plants at 
either one of the stagesi just mentioned, as the fruits are 
easily damaged. Fruits that show signs of colonring seldom 
require more water at the root to finish them off, but if con¬ 
sidered necessary clear water only should be given, while 
those that are still swelling will take water once or twice a 
week, liquid manure and guano water being given, alternately, 
and plenty of atmospheric moisture maintained during the 
day, closing between 3 and 4 p.m. on, bright days, the house 
or pit running up. to 90 deg. doing no harm at this time of 
year. Pull out the snekers while small if not required for 
propagation; but I advise a few being put in eveiy month, if 
procurable, considering that a better succession of fruit is 
maintained. Repot any that appear to require more root 
space, and do not overwater for a few weeks, though no plant 
must actually get dust-dry at this season, or they would be 
throwing up fruit of a miniature size, causing disappointment 
all round. Now we are having real summer weather, apply a 
light shade on the sunny side from 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., 
and afford full ventilation when the thermometer registers 
85 deg. in the structure, giving it early mornings, and increas¬ 
ing it gradually as the power of the sun, acts' on the same. 
If it is necessary to retard any fruit, remove the plant a, bit 
before the fruit gets too ripe to an early Grape or Peach 
house, where a free circulation, of air is kept during the day, 
and a lessor amount at night. 
Peaches.- —The earliest fruits will have 'been gathered ere 
now, which will allow the trees to be again syringed once or 
twice daily, using a, little soap-suds from the laundry, if red 
spider lias found a footing while the crop 1 was ripening. These 
early trees should be gone over and the shoots'that have borne 
fruit this season cut away if not required for extension, and 
apply plenty of water at the root, which may be manorial, if it 
is considered thei trees stand in need of such; but remember 
too thick wood is not the most fruitful. Give the tree® as 
much exposure a® possible, and a strawy mulch will prevent 
the border drying so rapidly during bright weather. Succes¬ 
sion houses will be coming in, now, and the syringing should 
be lessened as the fruits ripen, affording plenty of ventilation 
by day and a nice circulation of air by night, which will add 
flavour to the fruit, which must be examined each morning, 
gathering what are- fit and placing them in a cool fruit or 
packing room for a day before sending to table. Cool or 
unheated structures! should be closed about 4 p.m. where it is 
necessary toi hasten the ripening; if not, and it is requisite 
to retard them, keep the house wide open day and night, but. 
well syringing the trees before eight in the morning, and again 
towards 5 p.m. Avoid watering the trees when the fruit is 
ripe, if possible, otherwise abundance should be given and a 
mulch applied. If thrushes or blackbirds find their way in, 
nets should be put over the ventilators, or they quickly spoil 
the best and most forward fruits. 
Strawberries. —For the earliest forced batch runners 
should now be secured, using 3-in. pot® filled with loamy soil 
pressed fairly firm, and making the yonng plant! e-t stationary 
with, a, small peg. Some go to the labour of plunging the pots 
m the ground, but considering the few weeks ere they are fit 
to Ire cut from the mother plant it seems unnecessary. Pinch 
off any foliage likely to shade the layers, and keep' the pot® 
constantly moist, using a rose cam for the purpose. Royal 
Sovereign still holds the field as an early forcing variety, 
Leader answering well for May and early June supply. 
Grape Thinning.—This should be completed by the end 
of the month; early morning is the best time for men to 
perform this tedious work, when the houses are nice and cool, 
compared to what they are after a hot day. Afford ventila¬ 
tion soon after 6 a.m. when Lady Downes Grape is growing, or 
scalding will take place; in fact, it is wisest to leave on a 
chink during the night. Keep the borders in a moist state 
with frequent, manurial waterings. James Mayne. 
Breton, Devonshire. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Hippeastrums. —-Established plants of these that have re¬ 
cently flowered sho.uld be afforded liberal treatment for the 
summer months, in order to build up 1 strong bulbs for flowering 
in ensuing years. These plants are deserving of every atten¬ 
tion, for they afford a gorgeous display in the temperate house 
during many weeks of the spring months unequalled by few 
others. 
At, no time should the bulbs be dried off completely; but 
when active growdh ceases in the autumn, the supply of water 
must, be gradually lessened, and the -plants placed in a sunny 
position in any cool pit or greenhouse*, where, they may become 
matured before storing away for the winter. 
Violets.—There are several methods adopted in propagating 
the required number of plants for flowering -under glass next 
winter. I invariably divide the old stools when flowering 
ceases, and select the strongest of the yo-ung crowns to form 
the future plant. These are planted singly in cold frames in 
nursery lines for a Tew weeks; they are then lifted and trans¬ 
ferred to a border under a wall having a north aspect for the 
summer. The results have been all one could desire. The 
young plants should be transplanted to their Summer quarters 
before the sun) becomes excessively hot, and they should be 
well syringed twice daily. Abundance of water both at the 
root and overhead is absolutely essential in order to check that 
dreaded past, red spider, and for the general well-being of the 
plants. If for any reason the work -of planting has been de¬ 
layed, it should receive immediate attention) so that the plants 
have time* to become strong before lifting-time in September. 
A light mulch of spent mushroom-bed material will keep* the 
roots cool and moist and will assist them materially to make 
quick, robust growth. As the plants re-establish themselves, 
runners will be produced, and these must be assiduously cut 
clean off at regular intervals, thus concentrating the whole 
energy to the parent plant. For the same reason!, any blossoms 
that- may show during the summer should be removed. Run a 
Dutch hoe through the alleys on fine, dry days, to' keep down 
weeds. 
Solanum Capsicastrum. —To increa.se the stock of these use^ 
ful berried plants, that are in perfection dtiring the dullest part 
of the winter, cuttings may be inserted when they attain 3 in. 
in length, or seed- may be sown when the plants are cut back in 
April. If the cultural details are of the best, good plants will 
result from either mode. Cuttings readily emit roots if in¬ 
serted in light, sandy soil and placed in a Cucumber or other 
warm frame. Pot off as soon as rooted, and give liberal treat¬ 
ment throughont the summer. Old plants may now he put 
out in fairly rich soil in, a partially shaded border in the open. 
To promote free growth, syringe well overhead twice daily. 
This method is preferable toi retaining the plants in pots 
during summer. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias. —A good time to sow seed of these 
useful plants is the last week in June or the early part of 
July. Seed should be procured from a reliable firm and dis¬ 
tributed thinly and evenly on the surface of finely-sifted sandy 
soil in pans'. It is a good plan to prepare the pans and water 
the soil with a fine-rosed cam an hour or two before sowing 
the seed. No soil should he used for covering, but a sheet of 
glass should be placed on top of the pan, covering this with 
moss, which should be kept moist. A shelf in a shady p-art 
of the greenhouse will be best until the seedlings appear, 
when the glass should be removed and the pans placed in a 
cold frame. When large enough to* handle, prick off thq 
