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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  14,  1899. 
FORCED  FRUITS  AT  SYON. 
As  intimated  in  my  notea  on  page  449  of  the  23rd  ult.  forced  fruits  at 
Syon  are,  in  a  measure,  as  extensively  grown  as  hardy  fruits.  Early, 
midseason,  and  late  supplies  are  expected  in  succession.  Grapes  are 
required  very  early,  and  for  this  purpose  low  sunk  pits  are  utilised  for 
pot  Vines,  and  others  planted  out.  These  are  this  season  started  in 
advance  of  those  in  pots,  with  the  object  of  getting  larger  bunches  and 
berries  than  the  pot  Vnes  furnish.  This  arrangement  is  made  by  Mr. 
Wythes,  not  from  choice,  but  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  season 
These  Vines  are  prepared  for  forcing  on  similar  lines  to  that  adopted  for 
those  in  pots,  narrow  pits  being  used  for  planting  in,  and  when  forced 
two  seasons,  are  cleared  out  and  replaced  by  new  canes.  The  earliest  pit 
is  started  in  October,  and  others  follow  in  succession  to  carry  on  the 
supply  from  April  onwards.  Several  houses  are  devoted  to  Grapes,  the 
latest  being  very  lofty  iron-roofed  buildings,  old  in  design,  and  difficult  to 
manage,  still  good  bunches  are  annually  produced  in  quantity. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — These  are  extensively  grown,  and 
from  indoor  and  outdoor  trees  a  supply  is  maintained  from  April  until 
October.  Of  necessity  there  is  a  large  number  of  varieties  as  well  as 
trees.  For  early  gathering  none  holds  so  high  a  place  as  Amsden  June 
Peach.  This,  though  the  fruits  are  not  of  large  size,  is  the  most  reliable 
cropper,  and  very  early,  with  quality  superior  to  some  of  the  early  section. 
Cardii  al  and  Early  Rivers  are  the  earliest  Nectarines,  followed  by  Lord 
Napier.  Mr.  Wythes  depends  on  permanent  trees  for  his  early  Peaches. 
Many  of  the  sorts  grown  for  midscason  and  later  use  are  a  repetition  of 
those  on  the  open  walls. 
jV3  Strawberries. — These  are  grown  in  pots  to  the  number  of  5000. 
Of  these  3000  are  Royal  Sovereign,  1000  La  Grosse  Sucrfie,  and  1000 
President.  The  plants  at  the  end  of  September  were  remarkable  for 
their  vigour  of  foliage  and  plump  crowns,  which  are  kept  reduced  to 
single  ones,  so  that  fine  trusses  of  flowers  are  produced  in  spring.  As 
no  Strawberry  house  is  specially  provided,  the  plants  occupy  shelves  in 
other  forcing  houses,  and  are  started  very  early  in  winter  in  large 
successive  batches.  To  deal  with  such  numbers  must  tax  the  space  at 
command  considerably,  extensive  as  it  is. 
s  Melons. — It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  the  supply  of  these  is 
important,  as  fruits  have  to  be  furnished  over  a  long  season.  Sunk  pits 
of  more  than  ordinary  width  are  employed  for  Melons,  and  the  same 
division  is  made  to  furnish  a  succession  by  utilising  back  and  front  shelves 
and  central  pits.  Mr.  Wythes  devotes  a  good  deal  of  attention  to 
inter- crossing  and  raising  new  varieties,  and  with  more  than  ordinary 
success.  Many,  if  not  all,  grown  at  Syon  are  of  his  own  raising.  They 
are  treated  mostly  on  the  cirdon  system,  as  this  is  found  to  furnish  crops 
the  most  regularly.  At  the  end  of  September  there  were  plants  in  several 
stages  of  fruiting,  and,  in  some  cases,  they  appear  as  vigorous  and  free 
rooting  as  in  summer. 
Cucumbers. — Syon  House  Prolific  is  still  found  the  best  for  winter 
fruiting,  and  Mr.  Wythes  grows  his  own  seed.  At  the  time  of  my  visit 
there  were  man}'  dozens  of  ripening  fruits  which  clearly  demonstrated 
freedom  in  bearing.  Other  varieties  are  sown  for  the  summer,  but  Syon 
House  alone  supplies  the  winter  salad.  The  order — a  large  one — is 
Cucumbers  every  day  in  the  year. 
Figs. — The  early  forced  trees  are  in  pots.  There  are  three  sets  of 
twenty  each  introduced  in  succession,  the  largest  being  reserved  for 
the  later  use.  St.  John’s  and  Pingo  de  Mel  are  those  which  afford 
the  early  gatherings  and  are  free  bearing.  Several  others  do  duty 
in  pots  later,  Nebian,  Negro  Largo,  and  Bourgasotie  Grise  among 
them.  Some  of  the  fruit  houses  are  furnished  with  Figs  on  the  back 
walls,  and  one  of  good  size  is  filled  with  permanent  trees. 
BANANAS. — Three  divisions  of  a  lofty  range  devoted  to  these  have 
been  growing  stately  plants  until  this  season,  but  the  demand  for  other 
fruits  has  caused  a  prospective  reduction  to  two  divisions.  Bananas, 
like  Figs,  are  grown  some  in  pots,  others  planted  out,  and  a  good  deal  of 
attention  has  to  be  given  them  to  obtain  ripe  fruits  over  a  long  season. 
The  cultivation  of  Pines  has  been  discontinued,  as  in  many  other 
gardens,  the  space  once  occupied  by  them  being  devoted  to  other  fruits 
which  are  in  greater  demand.  The  Vanilla,  of  which  so  much  was 
heard,  occupies  the  back  wall  of  one  large  house,  and  has  been  excep¬ 
tionally  fruitful  this  past  season.  This  is  apparently  much  appreciated 
at  Syon,  and  certa  nly  the  fine  plant  is  an  interesting  feature  of  the 
gardens. 
No  one  making  his  first  visit  to  Syon  could  fail  to  be  impressed  with 
the  importance  and  extent  of  the  charge  invested  in  Mr.  Wythes,  and 
every  department  speaks  volumes  for  the  discretion  which  is  brought  to 
bear  in  making  the  best  of  the  resources  of  tne  establishment.  What 
adds  to  the  difficulty  of  doing  so  is  the  glass  departments  being  scat  ered 
over  such  a  large  area.  Much  may  be  seen  in  the  autumn  to  interest 
in  these  extensive  gardens,  but  the  spring  months  should  be  chosen  to 
see  Syon  in  its  best  aspect,  as  forcing,  both  of  fruit,  vegetables,  and 
flowers,  the  two  former  in  particular,  is  very  extensive  and  varied. — W.  S. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Chinese  Primulas. 
As  the  Mums  begin  to  decline,  one  looks  round  and  is  inclined  to 
wonder  what  there  will  be  to  follow  them  and  brighten  the  conservatory 
and  room.  Happy  is  the  gardener  who  has  good  collections  of  such  plants 
as  Primula  sinensis  and  Cyclamens  to  tide  over  the  otherwise  dull  period 
before  the  bulk  of  the  bulbs  come  in. 
It  is  about  the  former — Primula  sinensis — I  more  particularly  intend 
to  write  now.  A  small  collection  to  flower  during  the  late  autumn  and 
early  winter  is  very  useful,  as  the  plants  can  be  used  in  positions  where 
it  would  be  impossible  to  use  large  stock  like  Chrysanthemums,  and  one 
who  has  much  to  do  in  the  way  of  house  decoration  feels  the  want  of  small 
flowering  plants  very  much  at  this  period. 
To  obtain  plants  in  flower  at  this  season,  seeds  should  be  sown  early 
in  March.  My  experience  is  that  such  good  specimens  cannot  be  obtained 
from  these  early  sowings  as  from  the  later  ones,  but,  in  spite  of  this  fact, 
they  are,  as  I  said  before,  most  useful.  Successions!  sowings  can  be  made 
through  March,  April,  May,  and  June.  The  chief  sowing,  if  the  majority 
of  the  plants  are  needed  in  flower  at  or  just  alter  Christmas,  should  be 
made  about  the  middle  of  April. 
The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  pans,  the  soil  consisting  of  the  regulation 
loam,  leaf  soil,  and  plenty  of  sand  ;  they  will  need  only  the  slightest 
covering.  After  soaking,  the  pans  should  be  put  on  a  shelf,  close  to 
the  glass,  in  a  warm  house,  and  a  piece  of  glass  placed  over  each  to  insuro 
uniformity  of  moisture  without  much  watering.  They  must  be  shaded 
from  bright  sunshine,  which  can  be  done  by  placing  sheets  of  newspaper 
over  them.  As  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  largo  enough  to  handle  they 
must  be  pricked  off  into  other  pans  ;  if  this  is  not  done  in  good  time  they 
are  apt  to  damp  off.  A  notched  stick  will  be  found  a  useful  instrument 
for  this  operation,  for  the  tiny  seedlings  can  be  manipulated  much  better 
and  with  less  risk  of  injury  than  with  the  fingers.  The  next  shift  will  be 
into  small  60-pots,  and  when  these  have  become  full  of  roots  a  final  shift 
into  48’s  can  be  made. 
After  the  seed-pan  stage  they  should  be  kept  in  a  cold  frame  or  coo 
greenhouse  close  to  the  glass,  and  where  plenty  of  air  is  obtainable,  for  it 
is  important  to  keep  them  as  hardy  and  sturdy  as  possible.  The 
plants  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  starved,  as  they  never  quite  recover 
from  the  check.  Another  most  important  point  is  thorough  drainage,  for 
Primulas  require  a  large  amount  of  water  during  the  summer  ;  therefore 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  drainage  be  good.  On  the  other  hand 
they  need  careful  watering  during  winter,  for  if  kept  excessively  wet  they 
will  certainly  damp. 
Primulas  do  not  require  a  great  amount  of  shade  during  summer.  In 
my  opinion,  growers  are  apt  to  err  on  the  side  of  too  much.  The  soil  for 
the  final  potting  should  consist  of  two  parts  of  loam,  one  part  of  leaf  soil, 
half  a  part  of  thoroughly  decayed  manure,  and  a  good  sprinkling  of 
coarse  sand.  A  few  crushed  bones  incorporated  with  the  compost  will  be 
beneficial.  Care  is  needed  in  potting  Primulas  not  to  get  the  crowns  of 
the  plants  too  high.  If  this  is  done  they  fall  about,  and  are  apt  to  twist 
off.  On  the  other  hand  the  crowns  must  not  be  buried,  but  should  be 
just  level  with  the  surface  of  the  soil  Care  is  needed  in  handling  the 
plants,  as  the  leaves  are  easily  broken,  and  the  loss  of  foliage  is  a  disfigure¬ 
ment  as  well  as  a  check.  Primulas  should  be  kept  during  winter  in  a 
temperature  of  from  50°  to  55°  with  a  rather  dry  atmosphere.  All  avail¬ 
able  ventilation  should  be  given  during  favourable  weather. —  S  X. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Cherry  House.  —  The  trees  having  been  pruned  and  dressed  the 
house  can  now  be  clo  ed  for  producing  Cherries  at  the  close  of  April  or 
early  in  May.  The  treatment  should  be  such  as  will  not  excite  growth 
prematurely,  therefore  only  allow  a  slow  progression.  A  temperature  of 
40°  to  45°  at  night  and  50°  by  day  will  need  to  be  maintained  by  artificial 
means.  When  the  external  conditions  are  favourable,  a  few  degrees 
higher  may  safely  be  permitted,  but  anything  calculated  to  bring  the 
trees  on  too  quickly  must  be  carefully  guarded  against,  as  undue 
excitement  at  the  commencement  is  likely  to  prove  injurious  to  the 
crop.  Ventilate  at  50°,  just  a  little  at  the  apex  of  the  house  to  iusure  a 
change  of  atmosphere,  freely  at  55°,  allowing  an  advance  to  65°,  and 
closing  at  55°.  Maintain  a  moderate  amount  of  atmospheric  moisture  by 
syringing  occasionally,  but  in  all  cases  allow  the  trees  to  become  dry 
before  night.  It  is  highly  important  that  the  borders  be  thoroughly 
moist,  as  when  the  trees  are  excited  into  growth  fresh  roots  will  speedily 
follow,  and  to  encourage  them  moisture,  but  not  soddenness,  is  absolutely 
essential.  Keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  aphides,  and  fumigate  upon  the 
appearance  of  the  first  insect. 
Vines. — Earliest  Bouse. — After  the  buds  break  the  temperature  will  need 
to  be  increased  to  60°  at  night  in  mild  weather  and  55°  in  severe,  gradually 
increasing  it  so  as  to  have  it  at  60°  at  night  when  the  Vines  are  in  leaf,  and  70° 
to  75°  by  day  with  moderate  ventilation.  If  there  are  evaporation  troughs 
in  the  house  keep  them  regularly  charged  with  liquid  manure.  Where 
these  do  not  exist,  and  there  is  no  fermenting  material,  guano,  1  lb. 
to  20  gallons  of  water,  or  the  urinary  draining  of  stables  and  cow 
houses,  diluted  with  six  times  the  bulk  of  water,  may  be  sprinkled  on  the 
floor  and  surfaces  of  borders  in  the  late  afternoon,  two  or  three  times  a 
week.  Vines  in  pots  will  require  more  nourishment  as  the  growth 
advances,  supplying  liquid  manure  at  the  temperature  of  the  house. 
Sprinkle  the  house  two  or  three  times  a  day  in  clear  weather,  avoiding 
