152 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  17,  1899. 
following  the  same  method  as  advocated  for  border  varieties.  The  frame 
must  be  kept  somewhat  close  and  shaded  until  ihe  layer  has  commenced 
growth,  when  less  shading  and  more  air  must  be  given.  When  rooted 
potting  should  take  place.  Some  of  last  year  s  layers  ought  now  to  be 
repotted  to  7  and  8-inch  pots,  or  even  larger,  and  with  careful  watering 
and  shading  in  bright  weather  these  will  make  handsome  plants  for  next 
season’s  flowering.  Never  water  the  plants  in  winter  unless  thoroughly 
dry. — Foreman  X. 
A  PLEA  FOR  WATS0N1AS. 
The  Iris  family  yields  us  a  large  number  of  handsome  plants,  and  not 
the  least  beautiful  amongst  them  are  the  varied  and  brilliant  Watsonias. 
Irises,  Ixias,  Sparaxis,  and  Gladioli  are  familiar  inmates  of  our  gardens 
and  houses,  but  Watsonias  do  not  at  present  occupy  such  a  prominent 
position.  We  are  familiar  with  these  flowers,  because  like  many  other 
similar  plants,  large  quantities  are  grown  in  some  of  the  warmer 
districts  on  the  Continent,  whence  flowers  are  despatched  to  our  markets 
in  considerable  numbers,  and  are  occasionally  also  seen  at  London 
exhibitions.  The  fact  is,  that  though  Watsonias  will  grow  out  of  doors 
satisfactorily  in  warm  borders  in  the  south  of  England,  they  will  not 
produce  pleasing  results  unless  they  can  be  so  favoured  in  position,  and 
probably  a  few  injudicious  attempts  to  establish  them  in  unsuitable 
places  have  brought  them  into  bad  favour  with  some  cultivators.  In  a 
cool  house,  however,  such  as  a  greenhouse,  conservaxory,  or  even  in  a 
cool  frame,  where  they  can  be  secured  from  frost,  and  not  exposed  to 
heavy  cold  rain,  which  does  them  the  most  injury,  they  will  give 
little  trouble,  and  yield  a  profusion  of  flowers  that  are  most  acceptable 
for  cutting.  In  warm  sheltered  borders  of  well-drained  soil  they  can 
also  be  relied  upon,  and  in  whatever  way  they  are  grown  the  chief 
point  needing  attention  is  the  provision  of  light  sandy  soil,  with  very 
little  manure,  and  thorough  drainage. 
A  great  number  of  varieties  are  now  cultivated,  differing  consider¬ 
ably  in  colour  and  size  of  flower.  The  principal  species  is  Meriana, 
and  from  this  many  forms  have  been  obtained  ;  the  majority,  indeed, 
of  the  best  varieties  grown  have  sprung  from  this  species.  Coccinea 
is  probably  one  of  these  varieties,  as  it  closely  resembles  the  type  in 
the  form  of  the  flowers — a  funnel  shaped  and  slightly  arched  corolla  ; 
but  the  colour,  a  brilliant  scarlet,  is  much  more  effective  than  most  of 
the  others.  Several  other  varieties,  differing  in  shades  of  red  and 
scarlet,  are  also  grown,  and  some  are  obtainable  under  names. 
The  most  beautiful  and  distinct  of  the  other  species  are  humilis, 
fulgida,  rosea-alba,  rosea,  and  iridifolia  O’Brieni  (fig.  33),  All  are 
worthy  of  more  extended  cultivation,  and  should  be  added  to  every 
collection  where  bright  and  charming  flowers  are  prized. 
WORKfo^theWEEK. 
HARDY  FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Watering  Wall  Fruit  Trees. — Maintaining  trees,  whether  bearing  a 
crop  or  not,  moist  at  the  roots,  is  essential  to  their  health,  and  in  a 
large  measure  their  freedom  from  insect  and  other  enemies.  Green 
and  black  fly  often  attack  trees  simply  because  their  stamina  has  been 
reduced  through  dryness  at  the  roots,  and  mildew  is  frequently,  if  not 
always,  duo  to  the  same  cause.  In  properly  moistened  soil  healthy 
growth  will  be  produced.  This  will  require  regulating  by  judicious 
thinning,  stopping  and  training,  and  gjod  crops  will  follow”  When 
the  soil  is  found  to  be  dry  give  copious  waterings,  sufficient  to  reach  the 
lower  roots.  Then  apply  a  mulching  of  manure  to  help  to  retain  the 
moisture  near  the  surface.  When  roots  are  unable  to  find  moisture  in 
the  upper  layers  of  soil  they  descend  into  the  subsoil,  thus  causing  gross 
growths  and  throwing  trees  into  a  state  of  unproductiveness. 
Regulating  Growths. — Young  trees  will  need  considerable  attention 
in  duly  training-in  the  new  growth  as  made.  When  growing  vigorously 
lay-in  as  much  wood  as  possible  without  crowding.  The  wall  will  be 
furnished  sooner,  and  the  free  extension  tends  to  subdue  the  vigour.  In 
trained  trees,  such  as  cordons  horizontally  trained,  bushes  and  pyramids 
in  the  open,  the  leader  of  each  main  branch  may  extend  unchecked  so 
long  as  the  growth  is  made  in  full  light.  Nail  in  as  straight  as  possible 
in  the  direction  the  branch  is  trained.  In  extension  training,  which  is 
best  for  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Morello  Cherries,  an  opportunity  is 
afforded  of  selecting  the  best  shoots.  At  the  same  lime  cut  out  super¬ 
fluous  growths,  whether  they  are  of  a  weak  character  or  of  a  sappy  nature, 
as  some  shoots  are  which  start  direct  from  main  branches.  It  may  not 
be  possible  to  do  without  all  shoots  of  the  latter  description,  especially  in 
young  trees,  but  do  not  choose  the  most  luxuriant  tor  retention,  and 
afford  them  sufficient  space  for  ripening. 
Protecting  Ripe  Fruit.— Morello  Cherries,  Currants,  Gooseberries, 
and  Plums  when  ripe  or  approaching  that  stage  are  very  tempting  to 
blackbirds  and  others.  The  best  possible  way  of  nrotecting  the  fruit  from 
their  depredations  is  to  hang  fish  nets  in  front  of  or  over  the  trees, 
making  the  nets  secure  so  that  the  birds  cannot  work  their  way  under¬ 
neath  them.  Nets  do  not  exclude  light  and  air.  The  latter  is  especially 
necessary  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  moisture  about  the  fruit,  and  its 
liability  to  damp. 
Wasps  are  troublesome  when  they  have  nests  in  the  vicinity.^  IThey 
may  be  destroyed  by  pouring  tar  down  the  holes  when  these  can  be  found. 
Another  method  is  to  stupefy  them  with  cyanide  of  potassium  or  sulphur 
fumes,  but  the  nests  must  be  dug  out  and  destroyed.  When  the  nests 
cannot  be  found  secure  some  wide  necked  bottles,  and  half  filling  them 
with  beer  or  sugar  and  water,  and  hang  these  about  the  trees  for  attracting 
wasps  and  flies.  Very  choice  samples  of  Peaches,  Nectarines,  or  Pears 
should  be  enclosed  in  muslin  bags. 
Gathering  Ripe  Fruit. — Apricots,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines  ought  'to 
Fig.  33. — Watsonia  iridifolia  O’Brieni. 
be  gathered  before  the  fruit  falls,  but  in  the  event  of  it  doing  so  nets 
may  be  hung  so  as  to  catch  the  fruit.  Gather  early  Plums  as  they 
ripen,  and  before  woodlice  or  birds  attack  them.  Early  Pears,  such  as 
Jargonelle,  Beurr6  Gifford,  and  Citron  des  Carmes  must  be  gathered 
before  they  are  fully  ripe. 
Currants.— After  the  fruit  of  Red  and  White  Currants  has  been 
gathered  from  bashes  or  wall  trees,  some  benefit  will  be  derived  by  them 
if  a  thorough  cleansing  is  adopted.  First  remove  superfluous  wood, 
thinning  out  crowded  branches  and  shortening  side  shoots  where  this 
has  not  been  done.  Playing  upon  the  trees  with  the  garden  engine 
cleanses  them  effectually,  and  at  the  same  time  moistens  the  roots. 
Black  Currant  bushes  simply  require  the  old  bearing  wood  cut  out ;  any 
young  shoots  of  sufficient  length  and  vigour  may  be  retained,  but  the 
nearer  the  base  of  the  bushes  the  better.  Keep  the  trees  shapely  by 
annual  thinning  of  the  growths,  not  shortening  any  young  wood. 
Strawberries. —  Young  Plantations.— These  planted  in  early  spring  will 
be  well  established  and  producing  runners  freely,  which  must  be  constantly 
cut  off,  and  the  ground  kept  clean  by  hoeing. 
Forming  Few  Beds. — The  present  month  is  the  most  suitable  time  for 
planting  fresh  beds  in  order  to  secure  a  good  crop  of  fruit  next  season. 
