838 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 22, 1904. 
Fruit Under Glass. 
Early Peach House. —Much, df not. all, the foliage will 
have fallen by now, and as. far as can be noted the wood appears 
well ripened, but much foresight, also care, is required in.the 
management of thei trees from this date until the blossoms are 
set. Dryn.es.si at the root must, not occur with Peach culture, 
either under glass or out of doors'; even when devoid of foliage 
the tree Iras much to. do in plumping up itsi dower and leaf 
buds for another year’s' display. Fully ventilate the structure 
by day and night, keeping it clear of pot. plant® if possible, 
and get. 'the necessary cleansing of the house', pruning of the 
trees and top dressing of the border 1 carried out in good time, 
after the trees are again tied in position. The greatest 
ea.ro is required in using any sort of 'insecticide on the fruiting 
wood of Peaches and Nectarines. A little' weak soapy water 
nicely wanned may be used where red spider has gained a. 
footing, and if scale are in evidence a small sharp pointed 
stick ..should first be used to remove this dreaded insect., and 
then the. wood washed with a soft paint brush or sponge, work¬ 
ing it. to thei extremity only, because if it is pulled backward 
there is thei danger of knocking the fruit buds. off. Tree® in 
pots, may also receive attention as. to. cleansing, 'top-dressing, 
put in order, etc.., where such are forced for very early fruit 
instead of permanently planted-out. trees. Those standing 
outside and intended for late work must not be overlooked as 
to water, although from now onward they are often, over-done 
in this respect with autumnal rains, an evil which the gardener 
can usually rectify by covering with large pieces of slate or 
beards. 
Pot Strawberries. —Plants for the. earliest, hatch where ripe 
fruits are' expected in March should be placed in cold pits or 
frames', and the lights drawn back by day unless wet, closing 
down when frost, threatens, not that a bit of frost hurts the 
plants, on the contrary does them good, but unless the plants 
are plunged in ashes or litter the pots are liable to burst. The 
main, batch should bei plunged over the rims in coal ashes in 
a. sheltered corner, but fully exposed to thei sun before hard 
frost sets in. 
Figs .— Pot trees should have been, attended to. by this, time 
a® regards potting or top-dressing a® previously advised, but 
where' delay has been caused get it done forthwith. Those 
potted earlier in the season and. are now leafless may have any 
necessary pruning done, the' wood well washed and new stakes 
given before tying the shoot,si. Where a. house is set apart for 
pot trees and fruit expected early in April, the former should 
have all glass and wood-work thoroughly washed and the walls 
lime-washed, so that forcing operations may be commenced 
early next month. Get the fermenting materials well mixed 
together, which may consist of three pa.it,si Oak or Spanish 
Chestnut leaves (the latter usually fall first), and one part 
fresh 'Stable manure'. This must be turned over several times 
during the next two or three weeks 1 so. that all may be sweet 
before putting into, the pit. Large pots or a, pedestal of 
bricks are the best' to stand the potted trees on, and must, be 
put in before the heat ing material, which should be put. together 
lightly, so that the heat, may ascend from ithe base. Trees 
having any fruits to ripen; yet need a. little fire heat to finish 
them, but the sooner they are cleared and the house fully ven¬ 
tilated, so that, a rest may be afforded the trees, so. much the 
better. In the case of those occupying permanent borders and 
having made, exuberant growths which seldom show much fr uit,, 
lose no time in cutting the larger roots, or if' the trees 1 are not 
extra, large' lift, and replant in rough calcareous compost, made 
■very firm, and afford a thorough watering if the soil is on the 
dry side; otherwise delay this for two or three weeks, by which 
time the roots will have made a, fresh start. 
Cherries. — Similar remarks are applicable, here as regards 
rei-potting, top-dressing, root-pruning, etc., using a fair per¬ 
centage of o>id mortar rubble and wood ashes in the compost. 
Wash all the wood with soft, soap and a. little flowers of sulphur 
squeezed up in, it. This will kill red spider, an enemy the 
Cherry is much troubled with. James Mayne. 
Biot,on, Devonshire. 
Among the Orchids. 
Eeciduous Calanthes. —The winter-flowering or deciduous 
section of Calanthes now developing their flower scapes will 
need considerable care (to induce them to expand their flowers 
to the best advantage. The foliage of most of the early-flower¬ 
ing species and hybrids will be quickly on the decline, and as 
the leaves' decay less root moisture will be necessary, but on no 
account should thei compost remain dry. for any lengthened 
period or any attempt made to' altogether dispense with the 
watering-can until after* the flowering season is passed. The 
past summer 1 has. been, far more favourable to their cultivation 
than has been the ease for the previous two years; conse¬ 
quently, with the more robust and ripened pseudo-bulbs, the 
damp, spotting, which is so detrimental to the culture of these 
plants, is not so prevalent, and up to the present every prospect 
of satisfactory flowering is afforded'. 
It is premature to cry before one isi out. of the wood, for it 
songt.imeis happens, that the spot develops in the nrorei delicate 
kinds after the flowers commence to expand. The inbred 
- forms for four or live generations .from C. V eitchii are par¬ 
ticularly liable to become affected in this way, and are far more 
liable to the effect of spotting in the foliage than are the kinds 
belonging to the primary crosses'. There can be no doubt 
but that an .abundance of light and a, fairly dry atmosphere, 
especially when the outside conditions cause the temperature 
of thei houses to fall below the normal degree, is the best, anti¬ 
dote to. tins. Whatever damping is done, it is advisable to' do 
it sufficiently early in the day to allow time for its becoming 
distilled before the cooler evening temperature is reached. 
Ventilation should be freely resorted t.o. whenever the outside 
conditions permit. Place the plants in a position close to. the 
roof glass, for there is no doubt there are no Orchids that are 
more 'benefited by the effects of bright light after the flower 
scape® commence to develop. 
I can illustrate this heist, perhaps, by pointing out. the detri¬ 
ments found in growing C. Veitchii in the immediate! neigh¬ 
bourhood of London. Instead of the deep rosy-purple, even 
under thei best prevailing outside conditions of the atmosphere, 
they can be rarely found to produce' anything but. washed-out 
scapes of flower, rendering them of little value as decorative 
subjects compared with the brilliant hues procurable in more 
favoured localities. I have, previously suggested in The Gar¬ 
dening World the undesirability of attempting .their culture 
in the neighbouihood of London, for with the want of light 
and the fact of their being subjected to destruction with the 
least trace of fog, their cultivation, becomes altogether unsatis¬ 
factory to. those who have charge of the plants. 
l ire utility of the CWanthes for decorative purposes cannot- 
be over-estimated ; there is certainly no- Orchids that give 
Such a light, and effective display a,s do the well developed 
scapes of the different varieties that, are common in cultiva¬ 
tion. For the dinner table and room decoration's, particu¬ 
larly under the effect of the electric light, they are most grace¬ 
ful and striking. They last a considerable time in perfection 
after they are out if they can be taken and arranged at once 
in water. They are very susceptible to injury, and every care 
must be token to prevent their bruising. To pack and send 
the. flowers to. any distance, wet sphagnum moss should be 
tied around each scape immediately they are cut, for if allowed 
to- become the least, flagged they are rendered practically use¬ 
less, and when, packing see that each scape, is. separated and 
the individual flowers secured in such a way that will prevent 
injury from movement in transit. Tissue paper torn into 
small pieces and placed among the flowers assist travelling 
considerably. ' jj J 
