■April 22 , 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
325 
t.ions of fibrous peat, turfy loam, and sphagnum, with a liberal 
sprinkling of rough sand or broken crocks/ This should be 
pressed firmly about the base of the plants. The best t : 
to repot is when the new roots are being emitted from the 
base of the developing growth. The plants should not be 
turned out of their pots unless the compost is decayed or more 
room required. Liberal root moisture is necessary throughout 
the "rowing season. Only sufficient is needed while the plants 
are at rest to retain their normal condition. 
11. -J. CiIAI : iuA5i. 
Fruit Under Glass. 
Pines.—In modem houses with less woodwork, and conse^ 
quently a greater area of glass, and the-sun daily more power¬ 
ful in its action, it will be necessary in most instances to afford 
a slight shade to these plants from about 10.30 a.m. up to 
3 p.m. on bright days,, using a fairly open material for the 
purpose, which can be had from the horticultural sundriesman 
at a moderate price. It should be tacked on to a roller where 
such can be worked, as it can then be more expeditiously put on 
or taken off as occasion requires. Early started Queens will 
have fruits swelling away by now, and will require two stout 
stakes to be placed on either side of the fruit (not driven in too 
near the side of the pot to damage the roots), and supported 
with string, two ties being necessary—the crown and below the 
f ru if>—to keep the same in an upright position, allowing space 
in the ties for the fruit to swell, also lengthen. Gills clustered 
at the base must be rubbed off, and not more than two 
suckers for stock on a plant, or the fruits will be small. Give 
copious manurial waterings when required at the root, examin¬ 
ing them twice a week, and syringing well in between the pots 
once or twice daily, a light dew overhead afternoons doing no 
harm. Should the crowns show signs of getting too large, it 
should be at once discontinued. Swelling fruits delight in 
abundance of atmospheric moisture with sun-heat, the ther¬ 
mometer advancing to 90 deg. or even 95 deg. when closed 
about 3 p.m. for an hour or two will be sound practice for 
fruiters. Encourage succession plants to make sturdy growth 
by admitting air on all favourable occasions, and repot any 
likely to suffer for want of root space before they receive a 
check, and insert suckers as soon as large enough to place in 
5Lin. or 6-in. pots. 
Strawberries.— It is -only those who fruit these in pots 
know the amount of labour necessary to produce the finest 
crops, and any neglect in the water supply can soon be de¬ 
tected ; therefore examine each plant early mornings and again 
soon after 2 p.m., affording a stimulant once a day at least to 
swelling fruit if water is required, and syringe the foliage until 
colouring commences. Thin down successional crops to about 
nine fruits, and support- with forked sticks, or place three small 
stakes and strands of raffia to take the weight of fruit. Intro¬ 
duce the latest batch of plants under glass; cold frames or 
pits will bring them on fast enough at this season, and the 
fruits should be extra fine under comparatively cold treatment, 
but much care must be exercised as soon as the fruits begin to 
swell, or many may rot. A chink of air constantly on will 
tend to check this evil, if watering be done with care. 
Peaches. — In the early house attend to the tying-in of the 
shoots, pinching any extra strong ones or those that have 
reached their limit; expose the fruit to the sun as much as 
possible, and see that the borders or pots get ample supply of 
moisture at the root. There is nothing better for trees carry¬ 
ing heavy crops than drainings from the stable or farmyard, 
well diluted with clear water, and do not neglect the overhead 
syringing, as Peach trees quickly fall a prey to red spider. As 
soon as the fruit takes on its final swelling, feed liberally, and 
the temperature may be lun up to- 80 deg. or a bit higher ; and 
even 90 deg. when closed for an hour after 3 p.m. will not hurt 
the crop or the trees. Give the requisite attention to succes¬ 
sion trees in the matter of thinning the fruit and tying of the 
shoots, while the latest crops will need constant overhauling in 
the removal of unnecessary growths as well as superfluous 
fruits, dispensing with those out of the reach of light and the 
sun first. We have been much troubled this spring in un¬ 
healed houses with black aphis, and had to syringe with quassia 
extract immediately we noted the fruit had set, not being able 
to fumigate, as Cherries were in full bloom against the back 
wall. This pest must Ire kept under at all costs. Keep the 
borders well supplied with water as advocated above. 
Ripening Grapes.—Black Hamburghs began to colour here 
on the 8th inst., and should be ripe within five or six weeks 
from that date. As soon as colouring becomes general, admit 
more air front and back, avoiding cold draughts, arid allowing 
a chink to remain on during the night. Less water at the 
root will be necessary now, as well as atmospheric moisture in 
the house, but on no account maintain too diy an air, or red 
spider will gain a footing, and sponging with soapy water re¬ 
sorted to. During bright weather a good damping may be 
given about 7.30 a.m., and again about 3.30 p.m., gradually 
lessening the ventilation up to 5 o’clock, when put right for 
the night. Dispense with fire-heat as much as possible during 
the day, but push on the fire towards 6 p.m. to prevent the 
temperature falling below 60 deg. Where pot Vines supply 
May Grapes, see that they do not get diy, or the berries will 
shrivel, and although laterals may be allowed to grow more 
freely, they must not smother the principal foliage of per¬ 
manent Lines. James Mayne. 
Bicton Gardens, Devonshire. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Potatos. -—Every endeavour should now be put forth to com¬ 
plete the planting as speedily as possible, and on cold, unkind 
ground some extra pains should be taken to ensure success. 
Take out fairly good trenches and place in leaf-soil, old Mush¬ 
room-bed manure, or anything which will tend to lighten the 
soil. Place the sets carefully on this and cover with the same 
material; the extra trouble will be well repaid. If required 
for competitive purposes some such methods must be adopted 
on stiff ground, as it is useless to expect clean, shapely tubers 
otherwise. Allow plenty of room between the sets and rows 
according to the variety, as overcrowding, particularly among 
late kinds, is often responsible for much disease. Keep a 
sharp lookout for early plantings on warm borders, and imme¬ 
diately the young growths are visible take steps to protect 
them in case of frost, as when the leading shoots once become 
crippled the crop is never so satisfactory as when allowed to 
go away without interruption. Attend to the moulding up of 
those growing in cold pits and skeleton frames when 3 in. to 
1- in. in height; use a light compost in a fairly diy condition. 
Celery.—Lose no time in pricking off the successional sow¬ 
ings of this important crop immediately signs of the second leaf 
are visible. This should be done either in cold frames or in 
a. warm, sheltered position in a temporary made turf or wood 
pit: prepare a fine surface and make each young plant quite 
firm. Celeriac should be treated in the same way. The 
earlier sowings which have been brought forward in boxes 
ought now to be sufficiently advanced to be placed in cold 
frames to harden off gradually, admitting air and keeping well 
supplied with water at the roots as well as syringing twice 
daily. 
Preparing the Trenches.—Take the earliest opportunity 
of getting these in readiness to receive the plants, as by so 
doing the excavated soil becomes nicely weathered by the 
time the plants are ready for planting out. Celery is a gross 
feeder, and nothing is better than good horse manure : hardly 
too much can be placed in the trenches; tread and make 
thoroughly firm. London manure, when one is near enough 
to procure it, is capital for the purpose. 
Rhubarb — That which has been forced with fermenting 
material on the ground should now be freed from this, the 
ground neatly forked over, and little or none should be pulled 
from these stools after, and if this rule is observed these will 
