518 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  28, 1898. 
LANKESTERIA  BARTERI. 
In  supposing  Lankesteria  Barteri  to  be  stove  evergreen  shrub 
“R.  P.  J.”  is  perfectly  correct,  and  the  accompanying  illustration 
(fig.  78)  will  convey  to  our  correspondent  the  general  character  of  the 
flower  and  leaf  growth.  The  profusely  borne  flowers  are  primrose 
yellow  in  colour,  have  an  orange  hued  eye,  and  are  very  attractive.  The 
plant  is  a  native  of  West  Tropical  Africa,  and  requires  strong  heat  with 
a  moist  atmosphere.  The  compost  should  consist  of  loam  and  leaf  soil 
in  equal  parts,  with  a  little  sand.  The_  plant  is  of  bold  habit,  with  large 
opposite,  oblong,  lanceolate,  dark  green  leaves,  and  the  rich  yellow  and 
orange-scented  flowers  are  produced  in  large  terminal  or  axillary  spikes. 
Cuttings  of  the  young  shoots  inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  the  spring  in  heat 
root  very  readily. 
GARDENERS’  CHARITABLE  AND  PROVIDENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 
The  Gakdeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. — Secretary, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  50,  Parliament  Street,  London,  W.C. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — 
Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Secretary,  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron, 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens,  Chiswick,  London,  W. 
WOKK.foi(theWEEK.. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Peacbes  and  Nectarines.— Where  it  is  required  to  have  fruit 
ripe  in  April  or  e.irly  May  the  earliest  house  should  be  started  at  the 
beginning  of  Dec'^mber;  The  house  may  be  kept  close,  but  admitting 
air  freely  above  50°,  employing  fire  heat  only  to  prevent  the  tempera¬ 
ture  falling  be'ow  35°.  The  more  slowly  the  trees  are  excited  the 
stronger  will  be  the  blossom,  and  the  better  chance  of  a  good  set,  about 
which  there  need  be  no  anxiety,  if  only  the  wood  is  well  ripened  and  the 
trees  are  duly  supplied  with  water  at  the  roots.  A  thorough  supply  of 
water  should  be  given  to  inside  borders,  and  if  the  trees  are  weakly 
afford  liquid  manure,  not  too  strong,  which,  and  the  soil  not  being  made 
too  wet,  will  tend  to  a  more  vigorous  break.  Sprinkle  the  trees  in  the 
afternoon  of  fine  days,  but  in  dull  weather  morning  syringing  and 
sprinkling  in  the  afternoon  will  be  sufificieut,  it  not  being  desirable  to- 
keep  the  trees  constantly  dripping  with  moisture.  The  outside  border 
must  be  well  protected  with  litter  or  dry  fern,  as  it  is  important  that  the 
soil  does  not  become  frozen  and  remain  so  for  a  lengthened  period. 
Succession  Houses. — Except  in  the  latest  house  all  the  leaves  are  off, 
and  from  these  they  must  not  be  forcibly  removed  until  they  part 
readily  from  the  trees.  The  trellis  may  be  shaken  or  the  trees  brushed 
over  lightly  with  a  broom  ;  but  there  must  not  be  any  attempt 
at  forcibly  removing  them  with  the  hand  or  other  means.  When  the 
leaves  are  all  down  unfasten  the  trees  from  the  trellis,  prune  and 
thoroughly  cleanse  them  and  the  house,  and  if  need  be  paint  the  wood¬ 
work  and  trellis.  Tie  the  trees  to  the  trellis  ;  not  too  tightly,  as 
abrasions  of  the  bark  are  prolific  of  gumming.  Remove  the  surface 
soil  and  supply  fresh.  Give  a  good  watering  to  the  inside  border^ 
thereby  having  all  in  readiness  for  a  start  when  required.  If  the  lights 
are  not  removed  admit  air  to  the  fullest  possible  e.vtent,  so  as  to  keep 
the  trees  cool  ;  but  it  is  better  to  remove  the  roof  lights. 
Lifting — Planting  Fresh  Trees. — Any  trees  that  do  not  bear  satis¬ 
factorily  should  be  lifted,  have  their  long  bare  roots  shortened,  and  those 
retained  laid  in  fresh  material  nearer  the  surface.  Where  the  soil  is  light 
it  should  be  well  firmed  about  the  roots  ;  but  this  will  not  compensate  for 
more  substantial  material  and  steady  supplies  of  nutriment.  Liftingshould 
always  be  attended  to  as  soon  as  the  leaves  give  indications  of  falling, 
and  with  a  moderately  moist  condition  of  the  soil  the  roots  will 
push  fresh  fibres  and  be  able  to  cater  for  blossom  and  young  fruit, 
whereby  a  good  set  is  assured,  lifted  trees  stoning  the  fruit  well. 
Trees  for  planting  in  houses  are  best  trained  to  walls  three  or  four 
years,  lifted  annually,  or  prepared  for  removal  by  digging  round 
them  a  year  previously.  Such  trees  move  with  abundance  of 
fibres,  and  being  carefully  lifted  they  force  well  the  first  season  ; 
but  they  must  not  be  brought  on  too  quickly  and  have  the  fruit 
well  thinned,  overcropping  seriously  affecting  the  growths  and 
after  crop.  Such  trees  are  preferable  to  planting  young  ones, 
which  in  rich  borders  are  apt  to  grow  too  freely  and  fall  a 
prey  to  gumming ;  as  they  require  time  to  become  furnished 
with  bearing  wood,  not  fruiting  much  in  the  first  two  or  three 
years ;  hence  the  advantage  of  planting  trees  in  an  already 
bearing  state. 
Melons. — Fruits  on  the  latest  plants  are  beginning  to  net,  and  will 
be  ripe  during  December.  To  swell  them  off  they  require  a  rather  moist 
genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere,  damping  the  house  in  the  morning 
and  early  afternoon,  admitting  a  little  air  early  in  the  forenoon 
to  insure  the  dispersion  of  moisture  and  induce  evaporation  from  the 
foliage.  Maintain  the  night  temperature  at  60°  to  65°,  70°  to  75°  by 
day  artificially,  advancing  as  much  as  can  be  had  after  the  sun  passes 
the  meridian.  The  plants  should  have  liquid  manure  about  once  a  week. 
Plants  that  set  the  fruit  in  September  are  now  ripening.  The  house 
should  have  air  constantly  and  a  temperature  of  70°  to  75°,  with  as 
much  more  as  can  be  accorded  by  day,  husbanding  the  sun  heat,  but 
not  closing  the  house,  withholding  water  from  the  atmosphere  and  roots. 
Fruit,  though  not  of  high  flavour,  proves  acceptable  from  variety  at 
Christmas,  or  even  later. 
Cucumbers.— Continued  firing  dries  the  atmosphere  more  than  is 
good  for  the  foliage,  and  the  fruits  become  stunted  and  swell  irregularly 
under  such  conditions,  while,  when  the  pipes  are  close  to  the  roots,  the 
soil  is  dried  too  much  for  healthy  growth.  Be  careful  in  ventilating, 
providing  it,  however,  whenever  a  favourable  opportunity  offers,  but 
exclude  air  when  the  external  atmosphere  is  sharp  and  cold.  In  bright 
but  cold  weather  turn  off  the  top  heat  when  the  sun  is  powerful  and 
likely  to  raise  the  temperature  above  80°  in  such  weather,  damping  the 
house  morning  and  afternoon,  and  closing  early.  Care  must  be  taken 
in  damping,  so  as  not  to  wet  the  embryo  fruits,  as  they  will  damp  off  if 
water  remains  on  them,  or  hangs  from  their  points  for  any  length  of 
time.  Water  will  be  required  at  the  roots  about  twice  a  week.  Main¬ 
tain  a  temperature  of  60°  to  65°  at  night,  and  70°  to  75°  by  day. 
Winter  fruiters,  or  plants  from  August  or  September  sowings,  having 
grown  to  the  extent  of  the  trellis,  will  have  produced  some  and  have 
abundance  of  fruits  showing  or  swelling.  It  is  not,  however,  a  good 
FIG.  78.— LAKKESTERIA  BARTERI. 
