40 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  13,  1898. 
early  season.  Strong  anti  rapid,  but  a  soon  exhausted  heat  is  not  required. 
Horse  manure  ferments  very  rapidly,  leaves  less  so,  especially  those  of 
hard  texture  like  Oak  and  Beech  leaves.  These  are  the  best  to  obtain 
and  mix  with  manure  in  equal  parts  for  early  hotbeds  covered  with  or 
placed  in  frames.  The  surface  of  the  bed  then  covered  with  about 
'J  inches  of  soil,  early  crops  of  lladishes,  Lettuce,  Horn  Carrots,  and 
kidney  Potatoes  may  be  secured. 
Some  gardens  possess  a  favourably  situated  border  facing  south,  and 
protected  with  a  wall,  which  not  only  prevents  winds  and  storms  sweeping 
along  to  some  extent,  but  radiates  heat  from  its  face.  Should  the  soil 
also  be  light,  fertile,  and  well  drained,  as  it  usually  is  on  such  aspects, 
the  ground  ought,  on  the  lirst  favourable  opportunity,  to  be  jirepared  for 
sowing  early  crops  of  Peas,  Beans,  Spinach,  T.ettuces,  and  lladishes,  and 
the  planting  of  early  kidney'  or  round  Potatoes. 
Hoeing  betw’een  any  growing  crop,  such  as  Cabbage,  Winter  Spinach, 
or  autumn-sown  Onions,  whenever  the  soil  becomes  dry  enough  on  the 
surface,  will  promote  nitrification  and  consecpiently  encourage  growth. — 
NOTES  ON  FIGS. 
In  establishraei.ts  where  Pigs  are  grown  and  highly  appreciated,  it 
behoves  those  in  charge  of  the  trees  to  give  them  close  attention  from  the 
preseTit  time  and  onwards.  We  have  a  comparatively  large  collection, 
and  have  to  maintain  a  supply  over  as  long  a  period  as  possible,  and  it 
has  occurred  to  me  that  a  few  notes  on  seasonable  points  will  be  accept¬ 
able  to  many  readers. 
Earliest  Forced  Trees  in  Pots. 
The  terminal  buds  having  started,  advantage  should  be  taken  of  the 
mild  weather  that  may  prevail  to  increase  the  temperature  of  the  house, 
as  when  Figs  are  fairly  started  into  growth  they  delight  in  a  good  heat, 
plenty  of  moisture,  and  all  the  light  that  can  possibly  be  given  to  them  ; 
the  glass  therefore  must  be  kept  clean  and  air  admitted,  so  as  to  prevent 
it  being  constantly  covered  with  moisture.  Maintain  a  night  temperature 
of  55°  to  60°,  ventilate  a  little  at  70°,  losing  no  opportunity  of  admitting 
a  little  air  when  the  morning  promises  an  increase  from  gleams  of  sun, 
and  close  sufficiently  early  for  the  temperature  to  rise  to  80°  or  more. 
Syringe  the  trees  and  w'alls  twice  a  day  on  fine  days,  but  when  the 
weather  is  dull  and  wet  omit  the  afternoon  syringing,  and  damp  the  floors 
in  the  evening  instead,  as  the  trees  are  weakened  and  the  foliage  made 
soft  by  keeping  them  wet  during  the  night.  Be  careful  not  to  allow  the 
heat  about  the  jiots  to  exceed  70°  to  75°,  and  if  the  materials  are  heating 
too  violently  turn  them  as  a  means  of  reducing  the  bottom  heat,  but  it 
ought  to  be  kept  steady.  Trees  started  now,  and  with  liottom  heat,  will 
give  fruit  in  May.  The  varieties  we  find  best  for  pots  are  small-fruited  — 
Early  Violet  and  St,  John’s  ;  large-fruited —Pingo  de  IMel  and  Brown 
Turkey. 
Early  House  of  Planted-out  Trees, 
The  best  all-round  Fig  is  Brown  Turkey,  as  it  gives  good  results  both 
in  the  first  and  second  crops,  the  former  ripening  early  in  .Tune,  and  the 
latter  in  August  and  September.  Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  50°, 
55°  by  (lay,  and  60°  to  65"  from  sun  heat.  Trees  that  have  been  started 
about  the  same  time  for  a  number  of  years  push  growths  with  little 
excitement  ;  but  young  ones  that  have  not  been  forced  start  tardily,  and 
are  often  given  more  heat  in  the  early  stages  than  is  good  for  the  crop. 
This  should  be  avoided  by  bringing  the  trees  on  slowly,  seeking  advance¬ 
ment  by  sun  heat  more  than  artificial  in  dull  weather.  Apply  water  to 
the  border  not  colder  than  the  mean  of  the  house,  bringing  the  soil  into  a 
thoroughly  moist  condition.  Syringe  twice  a  day  with  tepid  water,  a  little 
warmer  than  the  house  ;  but  in  dull  weather  damp  the  ])aths,  walls,  &c., 
syringing  always  sufficiently  early  to  allow  the  trees  to  become  dry 
or  nearly  so  before  dusk. 
Succession  Houses. 
Proceed  with  pruning  as  convenient,  thinning  the  wood  where 
crowded,  cutting  back  that  which  has  reached  the  extremity  of  the 
trellis  to  growths  well  disposed  for  supplanting  the  branches  cut  away 
in  bearing.  Thoroughly  cleanse  the  house,  and  limewash  the  walls. 
Wash  the  trees  with  warm  soapy  water,  using  a  brush,  and  the  trees 
having  been  infested  with  scale  or  red  spider  use  a  softsoap  solution, 
4  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of  water,  and  a  wincglassful  of  petroleum.  The  soft- 
soap  must  1)6  dissolved  by  boiling  in  a  quart  of  the  water,  the  petroleum 
added  whilst  boiling  hot,  but  the  vessel  removed  from  the  fire,  switching  well 
to  form  an  emulsion,  and  then  dilute  to  1  gallon,  or  add  the  3  quarts  of 
water  remaining  hot,  and  use  at  130°  to  140°.  It  is  necessary  to  dislodge 
the  scale,  eFecting  that  by  using  a  half-worn  painter  s  sash  tool, 
thoroughly  cleansed  from  paint.  Remove  the  loose  surface  soil  or 
mulching,  and  supply  fresh  lumpy  loam  with  a  sprinkling  of  steamed 
bonemeal,  three  parts ;  sulphate  of  potash,  two  parts  ;  and  ground 
coprolites,  one  part,  mixed,  a  good  handful  per  square  yard,  and  scratch 
in  with  a  fork.  Keep  the  house  as  cool  and  dry  as  possible,  merely 
excluding  frost,  or  not  allowing  the  temperature  to  fall  many  degrees 
below  freezing  point. 
Young  Trees  in  Pots. 
A  here  these  are  wanted  for  early  work  another  season  they 
should  be  placed  in  gentle  heat  during  this  month,  in  order  that  they 
may  make  and  properly  ripen  their  growths  by  September.  They  must 
be  potted  without  delay,  using  good  rather  strong  turfy  loam,  with  a 
fourth  of  old  mortar  rubbish,  and  a  fifth  of  thoroughly  decomposed  cow 
manure,  draining  efficiently,  and  potting  firmly.  Train  them  with 
a  single  stem,  and  allow  the  branches  to  radiate  so  as  to  form  a  good 
bush  or  pyramid.  Insert  cuttings  or  eyes  of  any  varieties  it  may  be 
desirable  to  increase,  and  in  order  to  make  a  good  growth  they  shonld  be 
encouraged  with  bottom  heat,  and  started  not  later  than  the  beginning  of 
February. — Groaver. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HALL. — January  11th. 
The  exhibition  on  the  above  date  was  the  first  of  the  year  1898,  and 
was,  all  things  considered,  a  capital  one.  The  exhibits  were  not  very 
numerous,  but  were  of  conspicuously  good  ([uality,  and  fairly  well 
diversified.  Cyclamens  and  Primulas  made  very  pleasing  displays,  and 
were  somewhat  largely  shown.  Orchids  with  fruit  and  vegetables  were 
not  very  numerous. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard,  J.  Cheal,  A.  F.  Barron,  T.  J.  Saltrnarsh, 
A.  Dean,  W.  Bates,  W.  Farr,  C.  Herrin,  W.  J.  Empson,  G.  Wythes, 
H.  Balderson,  F.  t^.  Lane,  G.  Norman,  J.  Willard,  R.  Fife,  and  J.  H. 
Veitch. 
]\Tr.  W.  J.  Empson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Wingfield,  Ampthill  House, 
Ampthili,  staged  a  collection  of  thirty  dishes  of  Apples,  for  which  a 
silver  Knightian  medal  was  awarded.  The  varieties  were  well  coloured, 
and  all  the  fruits  were  in  an  excellent  state.  Mr.  J.  Bury,  Petersham 
Vineries,  Byfleet,  sent  a  splendid  collection  of  Grapes  as  grown  anci 
packed  for  market.  The  bunches  were  in  cross-handled  baskets,  and 
could  not  take  harm  in  travelling.  A  sdver  Knightian  medal  was 
awarded.  Mr.  J.  Miller,  Ruxley  Lodge,  sent  a  box  of  fine  Mushrooms, 
and  Messrs.  Rivers  &  Son,  Grape  Directeur  Tisserand  and  some  Citrons. 
Prize's  for  Flavour, — The  first  prize  for  a  dish  of  Pears  went  to 
Josephine  de  Malines,  staged  by  Mr.  C.  Ross  of  Welford  Park.  The 
first  for  Apples  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Tallack  for  Margil,  and  the  second 
to  Claygate  Pearmain  from  Col.  Brymer. 
Floral  Committee.— Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  Laing,  H.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  C.  T.  Druery,  J.  H.  Fitt, 
.1.  F.  McLeod,  J.  Hudson,  .1.  T.  Bennett  Poe,  J.  Walker,  J.  D.  Pawle, 
C.  E.  Pearson,  C.  E.  Shea,  G.  Gordon,  E.  Beckett,  C.  Blick,  H.  Turner, 
G.  Paul,  and  J.  Fraser. 
Cyclamens  and  Primulas  made  a  very  rich  display  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
and  were  contributed  by  several  different  firms  who  make  a  speciality  of 
this  most  useful  of  winter  flowers.  Messrs.  H.  Low  &;  Co.,  Upper 
Clapton,  sent  a  number  of  Cyclamens  of  the  grandiflorum  section.  The 
plants  were  in  6-inch  pots,  and  were  producing  flowers  of  good  size  and 
varied  colours.  From  the  same  firm  also  came  plants  of  Carnation 
Winter  Scarlet,  of  which  the  flowers  were  very  bright  in  colour,  and  of 
good  form  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  J.  R.  Box,  Croydon,  exhibited 
a  handsome  stand  of  Primula  sinensis,  comprised  of  plants  that  had  been 
splendidly  grown.  Amongst  the  varieties  noticed  were  Princess  Mary, 
Surprise,  Wickham  Beauty,  Firefly,  Queen,  Rosamund,  Wickham  White, 
White  Perfection,  Emperor,  Cannell’s  Pink,  Marquis  of  Lome,  Margaret, 
and  Mrs.  Pereira  (silver  Flora  medal). 
The  whole  of  one  side  of  a  long  table  was  occupied  by  plants  of  the 
celebrated  Swanley  strain  of  Chinese  Primulas.  The  plants  were  small 
but  very  healthy,  and  the  flowers  they  were  carrying  particularly 
rich  in  colour.  Many  of  the  several  varieties  staged  represented  forms 
raised  by  Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  and  a  few  of  the  most  con¬ 
spicuous  were  Eynsford  Red,  Cannell's  Pink,  Distinction,  Emperor 
Improved,  Eynsford  White,  Swanley  Blue,  White  Perfection,  Kentish 
Purple,  Victory,  My  Favourite,  and  Pink  Queen  of  the  singles,  with 
Feronia,  Karl  Beaconsfield,  Annie  Hillier,  King  of  Purples,  Mrs.  R. 
Crabbe,  and  Marchioness  of  Exeter  of  the  doubles  (silver  Flora  medal). 
The  large  exhibit  of  Cyclamens  from  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading, 
was  one  of  the  most  charming  in  the  show.  Every  one  of  the  plants 
staged  bore  the  impress  of  fine  quality  and  the  best  of  cultivation.  It 
would  have  been  a  matter  of  impossibility  to  find  a  really  bad  plant,  and 
no  better  criterion  of  the  excellence  of  the  Reading  strains  than  this 
collection.  The  plants,  all  in  small  pots,  were  carrying  beautifully 
marbled  foliage,  and  flowers  of  singular  purity  of  colours  in  the  utmost 
profusion.  There  were  pure  white,  rose,  salmon  pink,  purple,  crimson, 
and  several  other  colours,  representing  such  varieties  as  Salmon  Queen 
(silver  Flora  medal). 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  staged  baskets  of  Hamamelis 
arborea,  H.japonica  Zuccariniana,  and  Garrya  elliptica,witha  box  of  flowers 
of  hybrid  Rhododendrons  of  charming  colours.  The  only  exhibit  of 
miscellaneous  flowering  and  foliage  plants  was  contributed  by  Messrs. 
J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill.  There  were  Crotons,  Palms,  Dracaenas, 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  Cyclamens,  Nepenthes,  Poinsettias,  and 
others  (silver  Flora  medal).  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries, 
Tottenham,  sent  pans  of  Narcissus  monophyllus,  composed  of  well- 
flowered  plants. 
Orchid  Committee. — Present ;  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  de  B.  Crawshay,  H.  Baliantine,  W.  H.  Young, 
H.  Little,  H.  J.  Chapman,  T.  Statter,  T.  W.  Bond,  E.  Hill,  J.  Douglas, 
and  S.  Courtauld. 
Orchids  were  very  sparsely  shown  ;  in  fact,  there  were  only  two 
exhibits  of  any  size,  and  even  these  were  not  very  large.  Messrs.  F. 
Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  showed  a  number  of  plants,  conspicuous 
amongst  which  were  Laelia  anceps  Sanderiana,  L.  a.  Hilli,  L.  a.  Dawsoni, 
