July 15, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
563 
journey. Young trees on grass ground should 
be cleared at the base as here it often lurks, 
and is quickly up among the branches if un¬ 
molested, and a second survey in a few weeks’ 
time is advisable. 
Black Currants. —As soon as ripe these 
must be gathered from open quarters, those 
hanging on a north wall may keep a few weeks 
longer, but it is a fruit that soon drops or 
shrivels, unlike the red or white, as these will 
remain fresh and plump for a very long time 
after being ripe, especially when trained on a 
northern aspect and securely netted. 
Melons. —The season has been good for 
these, plenty of sunshine being indispensable 
for this fruit. Fertilise about mid-day those 
coming into flower in frames or pits, keeping 
the surroundings rather on the dry side for a 
few days, until a set has been secured, when 
revert to the usual routine of applying mois¬ 
ture once or twice daily. Avoid much water, 
though, near the base of the plant, and should 
canker appear, dust with slaked lime to dry 
up the wound, repeating this every few days. 
Elevate the fruits on pieces of slate or 60-size 
pots, allowing from four to six on each plant, 
and keep sublaterals in check by pinchingj. 
Ventilate early in the morning with abun¬ 
dance of air, towards eleven o’clock on bright 
days and close towards 4 p.m. These remarks 
are applicable to melons growing in houses 
as well, and where such are at command make 
a final sowing of seed, whose crop should be 
ripe in about thirteen weeks. 
Figs, whether growing in pots, tubs, or 
borders, will take abundance of root water¬ 
ing^ at this season, and the syringing of the 
foliage must be with some force to prevent red 
spider getting the upper hand. Feed the trees 
copiously until the fruits begin to ripen, 
which they soon should do even in unheated 
structures, but while overhead moisture is 
stayed, keep the surroundings constantly 
moist with the syringe or rose-can. Dispense 
with superfluous growth while in a young 
state on trees in borders, and pinch any 
shoots that have filled their space, tying m 
those necessary for furnishing the tree if not 
yet attended to. Maintain a circulation of 
air during the night where fruits are ripening, 
closing other structures at 4 p.m., where the 
fruits are still swelling, with a little manure 
water sprinkled over the border, etc., the 
ammonia arising therefrom being most benefi¬ 
cial to any kind of fruit tree confined under 
glass. Do not allow the trees to carry too 
heavy a crop, as they are prone to do when 
not judiciously thinned. James Mayne. 
Bicton Gardens, Devonshire. 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
Delphiniums. —These are making a brave 
show this year ; in fact, I never remember see¬ 
ing them better, if as good. The spikes are 
large, finely developed, and very rich in 
colour ; especially is this so where trouble has 
been taken to thoroughly mulch and pay the 
necessary attention to them as previously ad¬ 
vised. The better-named varieties should 
most certainly be cultivated either in large 
or small gardens in preference to haphazard 
seedlings ; nevertheless, it is well to sow a 
batch of these of a fine strain annually, and 
make a selection of the very best. Nowhere do 
these stately plants look more grand than 
when planted boldly in the shrubbery beds 
and borders, arranging them as far as,possible 
to harmonise pleasingly with some good 
coloured foliage. Charming indeed do these 
look, for instance, when planted near the 
Copper Nut or Acer Prinz Handjery. Among 
some of the best grown here are Tennyson 
conspicua, Mdme. E. Geny, Beauty of Lang- 
port, Cantab, Prince of Wales, and Royalty. 
Wallflowers. —These should now be pricked 
out into rows on a well-enriched open part of 
the garden. Allow a good distance between 
the plants to insure them making a stout, 
sturdy growth ; one foot apart all ways will 
suit them admirably. A. E. T. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Hedges. —There is nothing more handsome 
or pleasing as a fence than a well-kept live 
hedge, and nothing more unsightly when in 
a bad condition as, alas ! is far too frequently 
the case. Unfortunately the/re is no doubt, 
generally speaking, we have taken a retograde 
step in relation to this. The difficulty, to a 
great extent, is owing to the trouble in obtain- 
„ c - X 
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___ J 
ing suitable men for the purpose. July is 
the best month for the pruning and clipping 
of most of these. 
In my opinion there is nothing makes a 
more pleasing oy lasting hedge than Holly, 
and especially so where it naturally does well. 
Oftentimes one sees these occupying far too 
much space in width, entailing far more 
labour than is necessary, and the fence being 
less effectual. If pruned in hard about the 
middle of the present month to the desired 
Avidtli and shape, take care that the top is 
always considerably narrower than the bot¬ 
tom, not, as one too often sees them, just the 
reverse; these will break away freely, and 
by the end of the summer fo,rm a thick, dense 
hedge, which I venture to say will give in¬ 
finitely more pleasure than it has hitherto 
done. After the pruning is completed, the sur¬ 
face soil near the roots should be thoroughly 
cleansed and a good mulching of half- 
decayed farmyard manure applied. Hedges of 
the same which need not such severe treatment 
should bo clipped before the 20th of the 
month, and in any case where it is not so 
vigorous as it should be, give a good surface 
dressing of loam and farmyard manure. 
Yew probably comes next in order of merit, 
and grand indeed aro some of the fine old 
hedges we come across in many parts of the 
country. These should receive two clippings 
at least, where possible—one now, and one 
again in early autumn. The Yew, as most 
people are aware, is a long-lived plant, and 
will do well in almost any locality and any 
soil, but it enjoys liberal feeding either in 
liquid-manure form or half-decayed farm¬ 
yard manure applied as a mulching at this 
season. 
Clip also Box, Hornbeam, Beech, Quick, and 
Myrobella Plum during the present month. 
A. E. Thatciier. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Propagating. —The present time is oppor¬ 
tune for inserting strong cuttings of certain 
plants of which the stock is insufficient to 
meet the demand that usually occurs in 
autumn and winter. It is generally advised to 
perform this work in the early spring months, 
and rightly so, but it frequently happens that 
many plants lose their lower leaves and be¬ 
come shabby through constant use in rooms, 
and by taking off the strongest shoots and in¬ 
serting them at this time they quickly take 
root and make nice stock plants in small 
pots that are admirably adapted for table 
and other decorative purposes later on. Some 
of those to which I refer are Coleus, Crotons, 
Abutilon Sawitzii, Acalyphas, and various 
low-growing plants as Pilea, Panicum, Fit- 
tonias, and Lycopodiums. Those who do not 
possess a properly appointed propagating pit 
may obtain excellent results by placing the 
pots of cuttings in a cucumber pit or frame, 
or round the side-stages of the stove. 
Roses in Pots. —Plants grown in pots as 
bushes that have oeased flowering and are 
wanted for forcing next winter should now 
receive attention. Cut away all flowerless 
and weak shoots, thus concentrating the 
whole energy of the plant to the remainder. 
Any repotting required should be deferred 
until the time arrives for restarting the plants 
into growth, but the drainage should now be 
examined, and 'in cases where the surface soil 
is washed out, or has become green, it should 
be cleaned and a little top-dressing of loamy 
soil applied. Plunge the pots in a bed of 
coal-ashes in a sunny position, and if insects 
are present syringe well with an insecticide or 
soap-suds. 
Palms. —One of the greatest mistakes made 
in the cultivation of these, especially in cool 
houses, or where the plants have been used 
largely in rooms, is to over-pot them. At this 
time growth is most active, and any plants 
that are in need of a shift onwards should be 
taken in hand forthwith. Use a lumpy com¬ 
post consisting of two parts loam, one leaf 
soil, and one decomposed manure, adding 
sufficient sand to insure porosity. Attend 
assiduously to syringing and cleansing the 
leaves of dirt and insects. K. M. 
Orchids for Amateurs. 
Odontoglossums.— At this season of the 
year importations of Odontoglossum crispum 
are coining to hand, affording opportunities 
of securing imported plants, which amateurs 
and professional gardeners alike should avail 
themselves of in securing or replenishing 
their stock. I have advocated in the columns 
of The Gardening World preferences for pro- 
