May  10,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
405 
Fruit  Forcing. 
Cherry  House. — The  Cherries,  now  ripening  rapidly,  must  be  kept 
dry,  but  the  surface  of  the  borders  should  be  damped  with  the  syringe 
occasionally,  air  being  admitted  constantly,  or  condensation  will 
seriously  affect  the  fruit.  The  moisture  of  the  border  is  apt  to  be 
miscalculated  by  the  syringing  keeping  the  surface  damp,  hence  it 
should  be  examined  and  water  supplied  to  keep  the  soil  moist  down 
to  the  drainage.  Tie  in  the  shoots  as  they  aavance,  and  stop  those 
required  to  form  spurs  at  about  the  fifth  leaf,  pinching  sub-laterals  to 
one  joint.  Black  aphides  must  be  kept  under  by  dipping  the  shoots 
affected  in  tobacco  water,  gently  rubbing  them  with  fingers,  or  their 
shining  bodies  will  throw  off  the  decoction  and  escape.  Ventilate  freely 
on  all  favourable  occasions,  and  when  the  external  conditions  are 
unfavourable  recourse  must  be  had  to  the  heating  apparatus  to  insure 
a  circulation  of  air.  Netting  will  be  necessary  over  the  ventilators  to 
prevent  birds  attacking  the  Cherries.  Trees  in  pots  should  be  well 
supplied  with  water. 
Cucumbers. — Plants  in  bearing  all  the  winter  will  now  be  showing 
signs  of  exhaustion,  and  had  better  be  removed  and  their  places  filled 
with  others  without  delay.  Assist  young  plants  which  show  signs  of 
weakness  by  removing  the  staminate  flowers  and  the  first  fruits, 
stopping  at  every  third  or  fourth  joint,  removing  all  weakly  superfluous 
growths.  Shading  will  be  necessary  for  an  hour  or  two  in  the  middle 
of  the  day  when  the  sun  is  hot,  especially  for  houses  facing  south,  but 
shade  only  to  prevent  flagging.  Houses  with  the  roof-lights  facing 
east  and  west  will  not  require  shading,  or  only  in  the  afternoon. 
Little  or  no  fire  heat  will  be  required  by  day,  shutting  the  valves  about 
8  A.M.,  and  opening  them  again  about  4  p.m.,  or  later,  keeping  a  good 
moisture  by  damping  the  floors. 
In  Pits  and  Frames. — Sow  seed  to  secure  plants  for  placing  in  pits 
and  frames,  a  fair  amount  of  bottom  heat  being  necessary,  which  is 
secured  by  using  the  less  decomposed  material  from  exhausted  hot¬ 
beds,  with  about  a  fourth  of  fresh  material.  Ventilate  moderately  if 
the  weather  is  cold,  and  close  as  early  in  the  afDernoon  as  safe,  running 
up  to  90°  or  more,  and  employ  night  coverings.  Attend  to  the  linings 
with  a  view  to  maintain  good  bottom  heat,  but  be  careful  to  avoid 
rank  vapour. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Houses  Started  at  the  Neiu  Year. — The 
fruit  is  about  completing  the  stoning  process,  but  it  must  not  be 
subjected  to  a  higher  temperature  than  60°  to  65°  by  artificial  means, 
commencing  to  ventilate  at  65°,  and  not  allowing  75°  to  be  exceeded 
without  full  ventilation.  If  the  fruits  are  too  numerous  remove  the 
smallest,  allowing  one  fruit  to  each  square  foot  of  trellis  covered  with 
foliage,  leaving  them  a  little  closer  on  strong  wood,  and  less  on  the 
weaker.  By  apportioning  the  crop  to  the  vigour  of  the  parts  of  a  tree  the 
evenness  of  the  growths  may  be  maintained.  Tie  the  shoots  as  they 
advance,  removing  the  superfluous  growths,  as  it  is  important  no  more 
be  retained  than  can  have  exposure  to  light  and  air.  Draw  the  leaves 
aside  or  even  shorten  them  so  as  to  expose  the  fruit  to  light,  raising 
such  as  require  it  on  thin  laths  placed  across  the  wires  of  the  trellis 
with  their  apices  to  the  sun. 
After  stoning  maintain  a  good  moisture  in  the  house,  and  water  the 
inside  border  copiously,  which  in  well-drained  soil  will  be  required 
about  once  a  week,  mulching  the  surface  with  about  an  inch  thickness 
of  short,  rather  lumpy  manure.  If  the  fruit  is  not  required  ripe  as 
soon  as  practicable,  continue  60°  to  65°  as  the  night  temperature,  65° 
artificially  by  day  in  dull  weather,  70°  to  75°  with  sun  heat,  closing  at 
the  latter  with  plenty  of  atmospheric  moisture.  In  a  high  night  tempera¬ 
ture  of  70°  to  75°  by  artificial  means,  80°  to  85°  or  90°  from  sun  heat, 
and  moist  atmosphere.  Peaches  swell  to  a  great  size  after  stoning, 
but  they  are  not  usually  so  high-coloured  or  so  well  flavoured  as  those 
ripened  in  less  heat  and  moisture,  and  with  free  ventilation. 
Houses  Started  Early  in  February. — The  fruit,  being  in  the  early 
stages  of  stoning,  should  be  reduced  to  two  .on  strong  shoots  and  one 
on  the  weaker,  not  leaving  too  many,  for  there  is  danger  of  their  not 
stoning  in  that  case,  while  they  will  be  small  if  they  should  stone. 
Retain  in  all  cases  the  fruit  best  situated  for  receiving  air  and  light. 
Thin  the  shoots  where  crowded,  pinching  laterals  to  one  leaf,  and  secure 
the  growths  to  the  trellis  as  they  advance.  Syringe  the  trees  twice  a 
dsy  in  bright  weather,  but  once  only  in  dull,  and  not  then  if  the  foliage 
does  not  become  dry  before  nightfall,  or  is  found  dripping  with 
moisture  iu  the  morning.  The  temperature  may  be  kept  at  55°  to  60° 
at  night,  and  60°  to  65°  by  day,  ventilating  from  65°,  and  fully  between 
70°  and  75°.  Supply  water  to  the  roots  as  required,  affording  weakly 
trees  and  those  carrying  heavy  crops  top-dressings  of  chemical  manure 
occasionally,  say  every  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  washing  them  in 
moderately,  or  afford  liquid  manure  alternately  with  the  waterings. 
Trees  Started  in  March. — Thin  the  fruit  now  that  it  is  swelling 
freely,  and  choice  can  be  made  of  the  most  promising  for  the  crop. 
Reserve  those  on  the  upper  side  or  front  of  the  trellis,  two  or  three  on 
strong  shoots  will  be  ample  to  leave,  and  proportionately  fewer  on 
weaker  growths.  Remove  all  sui^erfluous  shoots  gradually,  retaining 
those  only  for  attracting  the  sap  to  the  fruit,  which  stop  at  two  or  three 
good  leaves,  and  those  from  the  base  of  the  present  bearing  wood  for 
furnishing  fruit  another  year,  with  such  extensions  as  are  necessary. 
Train  the  growths  as  they  advance,  securing  them  loosely  to  the  trellis. 
Afford  liquid  manure  to  such  as  require  more  vigour,  but  avoid  stimu¬ 
lating  vigorous  trees  too  much,  as  that  will  encourage  wood  at  the 
expense  of  the  fruit  stoning.  Keep  red  spider  under  by  syringing,  and 
if  aphides  or  other  pests  appear  promptly  apply  an  insecticide, 
those  advertised  being  thoroughly  efficacious  and  safe,  provided  the 
instructions  are  carefully  followed. 
Late  Houses.  —  The  fruits  being  well  set,  the  trees  will  need 
syringing  in  the  morning  and  on  fine  afternoons  to  rid  them  of  the 
remains  of  the  flowers.  Commence  thinning  when  the  fruits  are  the 
size  of  horse  beans,  removing  the  smallest  and  worst  placed,  leaving 
a  few  more  only  than  will  be  required  for  the  crops,  but  regard  must 
be  had  to  the  vigour  of  the  trees,  and  their  liability  or  otheinvise  to 
cast  some  of  the  fruit  in  stoning.  Disbudding  and  laying-in  the  shoots 
should  be  carefully  attended  to,  doing  the  first  gradually,  and  the  latter 
with  due  regard  to  the  swelling  of  the  shoots.  A  temperature  of  50° 
at  night  and  65°  by  day  artificially  will  be  sufficient  to  keep  the  trees 
in  steady  progress,  ventilating  freely  above  that,  unless  it  is  desirable 
to  hasten  the  crop,  when  a  temperature  of  55°  at  night  and  60°  to  65° 
may  be  secured,  with  70°  to  75°  from  sun  heat,  ventilating  from  65°. 
Unheated  Houses  or  Wall  Cases.'— The  fruits  have  set  well,  very 
many  more  than  the  trees  can  bring  to  a  full  size,  and  they  should  bo 
thinned  as  soon  as  the  best  can  be  decided  upon  by  their  taking  the 
lead  in  swelling.  Overburdening  the  trees  in  the  early  stages  of  the 
fruit  swelling  prevents  their  making  wood  for  another  season’s  crop, 
while  excessive  disbudding  may  cause  the  fruits  to  fall,  or  a  strong 
growth  to  be  made.  A  moderate  syringing  on  fine  mornings  will  be  of 
great  assistance  in  ridding  the  trees  of  the  remains  of  the  blossoms,  but 
afternoon  syringings  are  not  advisable ;  nor  sprinklings  that  are  likely 
to  cause  a  moist  atmosphere  at  night,  as  the  weather  is  not  yet  to  be 
depended  upon,  and  a  severe  frost  occurring  while  the  trees  or  house  is 
damp  is  very  much  more  likely  to  prove  disastrous  to  the  crop  than  if 
the  atmosphere  be  dry.  Ventilate  at  50°,  not  allowing  an  advance 
above  65°  without  full  ventilation,  and  close  at  50°,  or  before  if  there  is 
a  prospect  of  frost  at  night.  If  water  be  necessary,  apply  it  sufficiently 
early  in  the  day  to  allow  of  the  surface  becoming  fairly  dry  before  the 
house  is  closed. 
■ - - 
1 
I 
HE  BEE-KEEPER. 
Young  Queens. 
It  is  a  recognised  fact  that  bee-keepers  who  have  studied  the 
requirements  of  their  bees,  and  who  endeavour  to  obtain  as  much 
honey  as  possible,  have  a  system  of  rearing  young  queens.  There  is 
no  comparison  between  a  stock  headed  by  a  worn-out  queen  and  a 
colony  having  a  young  queen  reared  from  a  good  strain.  In  the 
former  case  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  surplus  will  be  stored.  But  in 
the  latter  instance  a  rich  harvest  will  be  obtained  if  ordinary  care  is 
taken  and  the  weather  is  favourable. 
Bearing  these  facts  in  mind,  it  is  surprising  the  amount  of 
ignorance  one  often  finds  among  the  lural  classes  in  various  parts  of 
the  country.  During  a  recent  visit  to  the  New  Forest,  where  the 
early  spring  flowers  were  much  in  advance  of  the  midland  and 
northern  counties,  we  saw  numerous  colonies  of  bees,  the  majority  of 
them  being  in  straw  skep?.  In  conversation  with  several  bee-keepers 
we  learnt  the  bees  were  left  very  much  to  chance,  and  no  system  of 
queen  rearing  was  attempted  We  tound  more  often  than  otherwise 
that  the  bees  were  placed  over  the  sulphur  pit  to^  obtain  honey 
m  the  autumn.  It,  however,  shows  how  necessary  it  D  that  bee¬ 
keepers  should  do  all  in  their  power  to  assist  those  who  are  not  so 
favourably  situated.  The  e  are  probably  more  queenless  stocks  at  this 
season  than  at  any  other  time  of  the  year.  The  reason  is  not  far  to 
seek.  Owing  to  a  variety  of  causes  young  queens  may  not  have  been 
reared  the  previous  season.  Some  of  the  queens  may  be  in  their  third 
year,  and  have  passed  through  the  winter  safely  and  well ;  they  arc, 
however,  unable  to  fulfil  their  duties  in  the  hive.  If  they  do  not 
succumb,  the  bees  will  take  steps  to  replace  them  by  starting  queen 
cells  ;  at  the  same  time  some  drone  brood  will  be  found  in  the  hive. 
During  the  past  week  we  have  examined  a  stock  in  this  condition. 
The  bees  only  covered  two  frames  ;  there  were  a  few  square  inches  of 
worker  brood,  and  about  twenty  drones  just  sealed  over.  We 
concluded  this  was  a  certain  sign  that  tfie  stock  would  soon  be 
queenless.  They  were  therefore  united  ti  the  next  colony.  The 
queen’s  wings  were  ragged,  which  is  a  sign  of  old  age. 
System  in  Rearing  Queens. 
The  operation  of  rearing  young  queens  is  not  nearly  as  formidable 
as  a  novice  would  imagine.  There  are  so  many  ways  of  doing  it,  and 
if  worked  on  the  right  lines  there  need  be  no  difficulty  in  carrying  it 
out  successfully.  It  is  too  early  to  commence  operations,  but  it  is  as 
well  to  make  arrangement‘s,  so  that  when  the  time  comes  there  will  be 
no  delay.  Queens  are  at  their  best  the  second  year.  It  is  as  well 
therefore  to  have  as  many  at  that  age  as  possible.  Thus  queens 
hatched  during  the  coming  summer  will  be  at  their  best  next  year. 
