July 23, 1 904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
591 
bserved to see that syringing overhead is done sufficiently 
■airly to permit the foliage to become dry before the cooler 
veiling temperature set® in. The houses should be closed 
irly and a high degree of temperature obtained, say from 
5 to 100 degrees, or even a little more, providing there is noi 
angei” of the developing growth becoming scorched by the 
irect rays of the sun. Fire heat is necessary only when the 
Lnperature is likely to fall below 75 degree®, but I would! 
dvise that the hot-water pipes should be warmed sufficiently 
> permit of a little ventilation being put on nightly. 
Intermediate House Orchids. —We cam only class the 
attleyas, Laelias, and Laelioeattleyas as warm intermediate 
Ouse Orchids', but they actually require warmer conditions 
t this present season, when so many kinds are either in full 
rowth or about to start afresh. There is one thing—with 
ivourable outside conditions, the proper use of sun heat is 
? beneficial to this class of plants as it is to any genus of the 
i r ebid family, and therefore the required warmer conditions 
re obtainable with but little difficulty. Here again: the 
loisture requirements!, when properly provided, play a great 
■ark but it is not desirable to recommend syringing the plants 
verhead in the same manner as applied to the less shaded 
ubjecfo in the warm divisions. The floors' and staging must 
e kept wet during the hot dry weather, which can only be 
one by damping the floors, etc., three or four times a day. 
endeavour to avoid using the top ventilators if possible, and 
urs are rarely opened ; and we find that by damping early and 
etting on the lower ventilation to 1 the leeward side of the/ 
ouse as soon as convenient afterwards, and by the discreet 
ise of the blinds, it is quit© possible to keep the temperature 
rithin reasonable limits without interfering with the top' venrti- 
itors, and we are thus enabled to retain, a considerable amount 
f moisture in the atmosphere which would escape where possi- 
ility is given through top' ventilation. 
The young growth of C'attleyas must be protected from too 
luch sun until their pseudo-bulbs are reaching maturity, after 
duch more light and drier conditions are necessary to 1 induce 
hem to become properly ripened'. Without the latter it is 
npossible to obtain satisfactory flowering results. Lycastes, 
liltonias, Zygopetalums, and other intermediate-house subh 
?cts which may he cultivated satisfactorily in the Cattleya, 
ouse during winter, will be benefited if removed to the cool 
ouse during the nest six weeks. 
The cool house plants are the worst to deal with in hot 
readier, but it is desirable to use every effort to keep the 
emperature as low as possible, but avoid giving too' much! 
ir, which dries the life out of the plants ; rather put on more 
hading for the time being, and keep down the temperature 
uring the prevalence of hot weather. H. J. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Currants. —The red and white varieties will hang and keep' 
lump for a very long tune if securely netted, but the black 
hould be gathered as soon as ripe. A north wall is a' suitable 
•osition to plant all the varieties of Currants, and I have 
uown them to keep fresh right into the month of October. 
□ netting them against walls or buildings, a few forked sticks 
hould be used to keep the net away from the fruit, or the) 
Irds will sample them. 
Apples. —These are supposed to he ready tor cooking after 
he middle of July, at least down West, and varieties such as 
! jords Grosvenor and Suffield, Duchess of Oldenburgh, Ecklin- 
ille, and a few others that mature early may be further 
hurned for the. purpose, as it gives a change in the kitchen) 
rom the bush fruits before stone fruit comes in. Dessert 
finds that ripen towards the end of the month and early 
tugust, such as Mr. Gladstone, Red Juncaring, Irish Peach, 
I leauty of Bath, and River's Early Peach,. must also have 
roteotion betimes if perfect specimens are to be had. From 
ome quarters it appears Apples are not going to be a, heavy 
rep, but around this locality a better 'State of things present 
hemselves, as full crops are general, but a steady day’s rain 
would benefit the trees very much, the month of June proving 
the driest of the year, less than an inch being recorded. Where 
it is possible, keep the surface of the ground frequently worked 
with the Dutch hoe, which to a great extent prevents the 
ground from cracking, and when a shower comes it has a 
better chance of absorbing the same. 
Figs. —Trees carrying full crops would likewise benefit with 
a good soak of water from the manure tank, diluting it if con¬ 
sidered too strong. Secure the leading shoot®, affording 
plenty of space, so that the same may have the full benefit of 
the sun, as ill-ripened wood quickly succumbs to the first 
spell of severe frost. Mulch the border after applying water 
if it has not. already been done, and should red spider present 
itself, as it may do after the spell of hot weather, syringe a 
few evenings with soft soapy water. 
Apricots. —These are the worst crop we have had for years, 
very little blossom showing this spring ; consequently the tree® 
are making exuberant growth, which will have to. be rectified 
in. early autumn by root-pruning. Little can be dome 
at present beyond cutting away the secondary growth® and 
pinching robust, shoots. A good wash with the garden engine 
onoe a week tend® to 1 keep the foliage clean, but this must 
be discontinued when the fruit begins to ripen, and a net put 
over the trees, to ward off the feathered tribe. Set traps for 
wood lice; pieces of broad-bean stalk a foot long stuck ini 
between the branches will entice many, and should be examined 
early mornings, blowing them into a pail of water. Snails, 
too, frequently do a deal of mischief ; these must be looked 
for, and will often be fonnd hiding behind the older branches. 
See that the borders are kept moist, these quickly drying up 
this time of the year, even with a thick mulch on, as usually 
this fruit is given a southern position where the sun shines the 
greatest part of the day, and during early this month there 
has been many very drying days with a north-easterly wind. 
Strawberries. —Bed® to be retained another year should 
have all runners, and a few of the older leave® cut off with 
a knife and cleared away, and the ground either flat-hoed or) 
merely pricked up with a garden fork where they appear to) 
be extra hard. Some condemn using a, fork at all, but in, 
these gardens we always fork in the manure early in April 
and find the plants are much benefitted thereby, and do not 
consider Strawberries are such surface rooters' a® many imagine. 
Where plants were set out 12 in. to; 15 in. apart in the rows 
last August, every other one should be chopped out; those 
left should fruit' for a. couple of years and then be destroyed, 
but I would advise all who can secure forced plants to rely 
upon them for the main crop, which, if planted out before 
midsummer, will fruit well next season. The crop has been 
enormous this year, and the greater part well harvested, 
thanks to the delightful weather experienced during the latter 
half of .Tune and the first fortnight of July. 
Bict.on, Devonshire. James Mayne. 
Aethionema grandiflora 
is, a charming little plant for the rock garden, where its 
panicles of bright rose-pink flowers are seen to advantage 
during the months of May, June, and July, the time of 
flowering varying considerably according to environment. 
Its favourite situation is undoubtedly one of exposure.to full 
sun, but with a cool deep root-run, which can best be insured 
by planting where the roots can run under the rock-work, 
which will shield them from the parching influence of the 
sun’s rays, while tlie herbage enjoys the full benefit- of then* 
light and warmth. 
The plant is best propagated by means of seed, which should 
be sown, soon as ripe, the young plants being transferred to 
their permanent quarters the following spring. Half-a-dozen 
plants will cover a square yard or so in a season, and it is 
by plan,tin 0, thus the beauty of the plant is best demon¬ 
strated. A. J. MacSelf. 
Formby. 
