June  7,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
493 
Frnit  Forcing. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Early  Houses. — When  trees  of  the  very 
early  varieties,  such  as  Alexander,  Waterloo,  and  Early  Louise  Peaches, 
Cardinal,  Advance,  and  Eiyers’  Early  Nectarines  have  been  cleared  of 
the  fruits,  the  shoots  on  which  they  were  borne,  if  not  required  for  the 
extension  of  the  trees,  should  be  cut  away  to  allow  light  and  air  free 
access  to  the  foliage.  Syringe  forcibly  to  cleanse  the  leaves  of  red 
spider,  and  if  this  and  scale  continue  troublesome,  the  prompt  appli¬ 
cation  of  an  insecticide  will  be  necessary  to  eradicate  the  pests.  It  is 
highly  important  that  the  foliage  be  kept  healthy,  and  to  prevent  over¬ 
maturity  of  the  wood  or  buds  it  is  necessary  to  keep  the  atmosphere  of 
the  house  cool  by  ventilating  to  the  fullest  extent  after  the  frnit  is 
gathered,  excepting  when  the  weather  be  unusually  cold  and  the  wood 
somewhat  sappy.  Keep  the  borders  moist,  and  in  showery  weather 
remove  the  roof-lights.  Keep  gross  laterals  stopped,  but  avoid  giving  a 
check  by  a  great  reduction  of  foliage  at  one  time,  as  this  has  a  tendency 
to  hasten  the  ripening  of  the  growths,  and  when  such  is  the  case  the 
trees  will  be  swelling  or  casting  their  buds  through  over-development 
when  they  should  be  resting. 
Trees  of  Hale’s  Early,  A.  Bee,  Rivers’  Early  York,  Early  Alfred,  Dr. 
Hogg,  Dymond,  Stirling  Castle,  Royal  George,  Grosse  Mignonne, 
Noblesse,  and  Bellegarde  Peaches,  with  Lord  Napier,  Rivers’  Orange, 
Stanwick  Elruge,  and  Humboldt  Nectarines,  in  the  same  house,  will  be 
ripening  their  fruits,  and  must  not  be  syringed  unless  the  trees  become 
infested  with  red  spider.  When  water  hangs  on  the  fruits  for  any 
length  of  time  after  they  commence  ripening  the  skin  is  liable  to  crack 
and  the  edges  of  the  fissures  are  soon  attacked  by  a  mould,  which 
imparts  a  musty  flavour.  The  trees  must  not  be  allowed  to  suffer  by 
want  of  water  at  the  roots,  but  any  excess  of  moisture  at  this  stage  has 
a  tendency  to  cause  splitting  at  the  stone. 
Houses  Sturted  Early  in  January.— 'Sphere  the  trees  have  been  forced 
for  several  years  consecutively  they  will  have  the  fruit  in  the  condition 
described  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  but  where  they  are  forced  for  the 
first  time,  or  have  been  forwarded  gently,  the  earliest  fruits  will  now  be 
ripening.  The  leaves  should  be  turned  aside,  and  the  fruit  raised  on 
laths  placed  across  the  wires  of  the  trellis  and  secured  with  its  apex  to 
the  light.  This,  however,  ought  to  have  been  effected  some  time 
ago,  and  the  fruit  will,  where  it  was  done,  now  have  attained  a  good 
colour.  If  the  weather  prove  dull  and  wet  gentle  fire  heat  will  be 
necessary  to  secure  a  circulation  of  air  constantly,  the  temperature 
being  maintained  at  60°  to  G5°  at  night  and  70°  to  75°  by  day.  Cease 
syringing  as  soon  as  the  fruit  begins  to  ripen  or  soften,  and  take  care 
to  have  the  foliage  free  from  red  spider  before  the  syringing  ceases, 
or  the  pest  will  increase  so  rapidly  whilst  the  fruit  is  ripening  as  to 
seriously  jeopardise  next  year’s  crop.  There  must  not  be  any  deficiency 
of  moisture  in  the  border-,  and,  if  necessary,  give  a  thorough  supply- 
of  water,  mulching  with  about  a  couple  of  inches  of  light,  rather 
lumpy  material,  such  as  Mushroom-bed  refuse  or  partially  decayed 
stable  litter. 
Succession  Houses. — During  the  stoning  process  the  trees  must  not 
be  hurried  or  it  may  be  fatal  to  the  crop,  therefore  allow  time  for  this 
most  important  point.  Allow  a  free  circulation  of  air,  ventilating 
early  in  the  morning,  and  close  in  the  afternoon  with-  an  abundance 
of  atmospheric  moisture,  so  as  to  raise  the  heat  to  80°  or  85°,  and 
ventilate  a  little  afterwards  for  the  night,  the  temperature  being 
allowed  to  fall  to  between  G0°  and  65°.  This  must  only  be  practised 
after  the  stoning  is  completed,  as  a  close  atmosphere  has  a  tendency  to 
promote  growth,  which  is  not  favourable  to  that  process,  therefore  avoid 
undue  excitement  when  the  trees  are  in  that  condition.  When  the 
fruits  have  stoned  remove  all  surplus  fruits,  and  turn  the  others  with 
their  apexes  to  the  light  to  insure  colour  and  even  ripening.  Allow 
a  rather  free  extension  of  the  laterals  as  an  encouragement  of  root 
action,  but  be  careful  not  to  crowd  the  principal  foliage,  and  keep  red 
spider  in  subjection  by  syringing  twice  a  day.  Give  thorough  supplies 
of  water  through  a  suiface  mulching  not  more  than  a  couple  of  inches 
thick,  of  lumpy  material,  and  supply  weakly  trees  with  liquid  manure. 
Vigorous  trees  will  not  need  more  than  a  surface  mu’ching,  as  high 
feeding  will  only  cause  grossness,  and  must  be  studiously  avoided. 
Late  Houses. — Train  and  tie  in  the  shoots  that  are  to  carry  next 
year’s  crop,  allowing  them  to  extend  to  a  length  of  about  15  inches 
or  more  if  there  be  space,  or  stop  them  at  about  that  size  and  pinch 
laterals  to  one  leaf,  being  careful  to  avoid  overcrowding.  Young  shoots 
required  for  extension  or  furnishing  the  trees  should  be  allowed  to 
extend  as  far  as  space  admits,  and  pinch  all  side  shoots  on  last  year’s 
extensions  that  are  not  required  for  next  year’s  fruiting  or  furnishing 
the  trees,  so  as  to  form  spurs  and  secure  an  equal  distribution  of 
the  sap. 
In  thinning  the  fruit  leave  a  few  more  than  will  be  required  for  the 
crop.  A  Peach  to  every  square  foot  of  trellis  covered  by  the  trees  is 
ample  to  sscure  the  finest  specimens  of  the  large  fruited  varieties ;  the 
medium  sized  and  Nectarines  may  be  left  a  little  closer.  Keep  the 
leaves  clean  by  syringing  twice  a  day,  and  always  sufficiently  early  to 
allow  the  trees  to  become  dry  before  night.  If  insects  cannot  be  kept 
under  by  these  means  promptly  apply  an  insecticide.  Mulch  the 
borders  with  a  little  short  manure,  or  if  the  trees  are  young  and 
vigorous  lighter  and  less  rich  material  will  be  more  suitable.  Water 
thoroughly  whenever  necessary,  always  giving  sufficient  at  a  time  to 
reach  the  drainage.  Ventilate  early  and  increase  the  ventilation  with 
the  sun  heat,  closing  early  in  the  afternoon.*^  If  the' fruit  is  wanted 
late,  however,  keep  the  atmosphere  as  ooolias  possible  by  free  venti¬ 
lation  day  and  night. 
Recently  Planted  or  Young  Trees. — In  the  training  of  these 
disbudding  plays  an  important  part.  Leave  the  main  branches  or 
shoots  for  forming  them  15  to  18  inches  asunder,  and  the  bearing  wood  at 
a  similar  distance  on  the  last  and  previous  year’s  wood,  training  the 
extensions  their  full  length,  and  pinching  the  side  shoots  on  last  year’s 
wood  that  are  not  required  for  bearing  or  extension  to  two  or  three 
leaves,  so  as  to  form  spurs,  but  do  not  overcrowd  the  trees  with  foliage. 
These  stubby  shoots  often  give  good  results  whilst  the  trees  are  young, 
setting  and  stoning  the  fruit  better  than  is  the  case  on  strong  young 
wood.  Pinch  laterals  at  the  first  joint,  and  successional  growths  as 
made.  Avoid  exciting  too  vigorous  growth  by  the  use  of  stimulants, 
employing  nitrogenous  manures  sparingly,  and  an  excessive  supply  of 
water  at  the  roots,  but  employ  phosphatic  manure  with  a  firm  soil,  so 
as  to  secure  a  free  fibrous  root  formation,  and  sturdy,  short-jointed, 
thoroughly  solidified  wood. 
I 
HE  BEE-KEEPER. 
.  1 r«'i  -  I « 1 «  riTTi 
el  m 
Extracted  Honey. 
In  many  districts  run,  or  extracted  honey,  is  in  greater  demand 
than  honey  in  the  comb.  Where  this  is  the  case  bee-keepers  should 
lose  no  time  in  making  arrangements  for  obtaining  a  surplus.  One 
fact  should  always  he  kept  in  mind  —  namely,  the  stock  having 
the  greatest  number  of  worker  bees  will  store  the  heaviest 
weight  of  honey.  For  this  reason  it  is  an  advantage  to  encourage  the 
bees  to  commence  breeding  early  in  the  spring,  and  should  the  weather 
be  cold  give  them  the  necessary  attention  as  advised  in  previous 
notes.  The  present  season  has  been  most  trying  to  the  bees,  and 
many  colonies  are  still  weak.  It  is,  however,  surprising  how  those 
stocks  have  improved  in  strength  which  received  timely  attention. 
No  one  can  deny  the  fact  that  in  an  apiary  where  several  stocks  of 
bees  are  kept  there  will  always  be  found  some  that  are  weaker  than 
others.  If  we  work  solely  for  a  surplus,  and  attempt  to  obtain  supers 
in  whatever  form  they  may  be  used,  from  each  individual  stock  it  will 
be  found  that  the  weaker  colonies  will  only  have  reached  the  desired 
strength  when  the  honey  flow  is  over.  There  will  thus  he  a  waste  of 
energy  on  the  part  of  the  bees  in  the  weak  stocks,  and  there  being  no 
system  of  rearing  young  queens  they  wotild  gradually  become  weaker 
from  this  cause  alone.  Shallow  frames  are  excellent  for  obtaining  a  good 
sample  of  run  honey,  but,  as  in  the  case  of  placing  a  crate  of  sections 
on  a  hive,  care  must  be  taken  th  it  the  stock  is  well  crowded  with  bees. 
If  they  are  not  of  the  desired  strength,  and  honey  is  coming  in  freely, 
a  frame  or  more  of  hatching  brood  with  the  adhering  bees  may  be 
taken  from  another  colony  to  strengthen  it.  If  this  is  done  during  the 
middle  of  a  warm  day  no  harm  will  accrue,  as  the  other  bees  will  take 
readily  to  them. 
Using  Full  Sized  Combs. 
We  have  invariably  obtained  the  greatest  weight  of  honey  when 
full  sized  combs  have  been  used.  ProVably  the  system  on  which  they 
are  worked  has  something  to  do  with  it.  By  using  the  standard 
frame  for  extracting  purposes  we  are  enabled  to  build  up  immense 
colonies,  which  will  take  advantage  of  a  few  hours  of  bright  sunshine 
to  store  a  surplus.  Were  these  bees  distributed  between  two  or  three 
stocks  a  much  less  quantity  would  be  stored.  The  plan  we  adopt  is  to 
select  a  given  number  of  stocks  from  which  it  is  intended  to  obtain  a 
surplus.  These  are  all  headed  by  a  young  fertile  queen  reared  the 
previous  year.  We  then  examine  each  stock,  and  select  three  or 
four  frames  of  the  most  forward  brood,  care  being  taken  not  to  remove 
the  queen.  The  vacancy  is  filled  up  with  frames  of  fully  drawn  out 
worker  comb  or  foundation.  Thii  will  be  the  means  of  keeping  the 
queen  fully  employed.  A  piece  of  queen-excluder  zinc  is  then  placed 
over  the  top  of  the  frames,  which  will  confine  the  queen  to  the  brood 
chamber. 
A  separate  box  should  then  be  put  on  the  top  of  the  hive  to  form 
the  super.  If  made  of  the  right  dimensions  it  will  hold  nine  frames, 
which  are  placed  wider  apart  than  when  used  in  the  brood  nest.  This 
super  is  filled  with  the  combs  taken  from  the  brood  chamber,  and  the 
frames  and  adhering  bees  procured  from  the  weaker  stocks.  These 
should  be  placed  alternately.  The  bees  need  not  be  sprinkled  with 
syrup  or  flour,  as  at  this  season  no  fighting  will  take  place,  aud  only 
the  old  bees  will  return  to  their  original  stock.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
fill  the  super  with  combs  containing  brood,  as  we  always  use  a  large 
proportion  of  clean  combs,  reserved  from  tbe  previous  season.  These 
must  always  be  placed  on  the  outside  of  those  containing  brood.  This 
operation  should  be  carried  out  at  least  a  fortnight  before  the  honey 
flow  is  expected. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
