January  9, 1896- 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
39 
almost  every  new  one  finds  its  way,  while  it  is  yet  very  young,  to  Swan- 
more,  where  it  is  made  to  exhibit  its  good  and  bad  points  in  a  very 
striking  and  emphatic  manner.  The  plants  are  grown  in  small 
clumps — several  feet  being  allowed  between  them — on  good  soil,  and 
frequently  attain  to  a  height  of  upwards  of  S  feet.  Thousands  of 
deliciously  fragrant  flowers  are  produced,  varying  very  much  indeed 
in  colour.  The  blooms  are  used  largely  for  cutting  purposes,  and  of 
course  considerable  quantities  of  seeds  are  saved  for  future  sowings. 
These  and  the  Michaelmas  Daisies  alone  were  well  worth  the  journey. 
Changes  are  constant  in  these  gardens,  and  preparations  were  rapidly 
being  made  for  the  planting  of  a  collection  of  Liliums,  which  it  was 
hoped  and  anticipated  would  prove  of  the  utmost  interest.  For  their 
reception  a  large  border  was  being  made  in  a  position  that  should  be 
admirably  adapted  to  their  culture.  We  must  now  leave  the  flower 
garden  for  the  occupants  of  the  glass  structures,  or  we  shall  be  omitting 
them  altogether. 
A  Glance  into  the  Houses. 
The  ranges  of  glass  are  not  what  may  be  termed  extensive,  and 
quality  has  to  make  up  for  quantity.  This  it  does  with  ease  and  certainty, 
for  everywhere  the  best  of  health  and  condition  is  observable.  The 
plants,  comprising  many  kinds,  are  clean  in  leafage — whether  they  be 
foliage  or  flowering  in  sorts — and  the  growth  generally  is  of  sturdiest 
and  hardiest  nature.  Special  attention  is  given  to^those  of  value  from  a 
decorative  point  of  view,  those  of  little  service  for  this  purpose  taking  a 
secondary  position.  Though  Mr.  Molyneux  has  been  and  is  afflicted  with 
the  Chrysanthemum,  the  fruit,  the  Sweet  Pea,  and  the  Michaelmas  Daisy 
mania,  the  Orchid  mania  does  not  appear  to  have  attacked  him,  or  if  it 
has  the  fever  has  not  yet  reached  its  height.  The  only  Orchids  noticed 
were  some  Calanthes — not  many,  probably  about  thirty-six  in  all,  but 
they  gave  great  promise  of  future  beauty  by  the  magnificent  pseudo- 
bulbs  they  were  carrying.  Doubtless  at  the  present  time  they  will  be  in 
full  beauty  or  perhaps  just  past. 
Though  the  collection  of  Chrysanthemums  was  not  at  the  time  under 
glass,  being  still  in  it3  summer  quarters,  mention  here  is  perhaps  more 
appropriate  than  it  would  have  been  in  an  earlier  portion  of  these  notes. 
Needless  to  say  all  the  plants  were  in  splendid  condition  and  contained 
all  the  desirable  attributes  to  the  formation  of  good  plants  and  the 
production  of  fine  flowers.  From  flowers  seen  during  the  month  of 
November,  it  is  evident  that  in  this  section  of  gardening  the  guiding 
hand  has  not  lost  its  cunning,  nor  the  eye  its  aptitude  for  predicting 
what  is  to  come  by  the  appearance  of  the  stock. 
Then,  too,  there  were  the  Grapes.  The  Vines  are  excellent 
examples  of  good  culture,  which  yearly  produce  and  perfect  highly 
creditable  crops  of  fruit.  The  wood  showed  signs  of  thorough  matura¬ 
tion  ;  the  leaves  were  of  average  size  and  exceptional  substance  ;  the 
berries  were  large,  clean,  and  well  coloured,  forming  bunches  of  uniform 
shape  and  size.  There  were  no  perceptible  signs  of  insect  visitations, 
and  the  whole  of  the  structures,  including  border,  wood,  stone,  and 
brickwork,  were  in  that  clean  condition  that  cannot  be  other  than 
conducive  to  the  benefit  of  the  plant  life  within  them. 
Vegetables  and  Fruits  Out  or  Doors. 
With  good  plants  and  flowers,  both  out  and  in,  it  was  but  natural 
to  expect  the  same  in  the  vegetable  and  fruit  departments  out  of  doors  ; 
nor  were  we  disappointed,  for  the  quarters  devoted  to  the  culture  of 
vegetables  were  thoroughly  stocked  with  fine  produce.  All  seasonable 
crops  were  there  in  abundance,  and  time  had  evidently  been  well  spent 
in  getting  the  ground  in  proper  condition  before  a  start  had  been  made 
with  the  planting.  Peas  were  particularly  noticeable  by  reason  of  the 
height  to  which  they  grew,  many  of  the  plants  well  exceeding.  8  feet. 
From  these  a  good  crop  had  been  taken  earlier  in  the  season,  and  a  last 
few  pods  were  hanging  at  the  tops  of  the  haulm,  from  what  might  well 
be  termed  a  second  crop.  Herbs  and  saladings  also  find  places  in  various 
portions  of  the  garden,  and  apparently  nothing  that  it  is  desirable  to 
have  is  missing. 
As  it  would  demand  a  long  article  and  a  considerable  amount  of 
apace  to  deal  fully  with  the  fruits  grown  at  Swanmore  these  can  now 
have  only  a  passing  glance  taken  at  them.  Apples,  of  course,  are  chiefly 
cultivated,  and  the  success  that  has  been  attained  to  might  almost  be 
termed  phenomenal.  Good  crops  of  fruit  are  forthcoming  nearly  every 
season,  and  the  trees  continue  in  excellent  health,  and  apparently 
unimpaired  strength.  Some  are  young,  others  old  ;  but  all  are  alike 
creditable  to  their  grower.  Pears  and  all  kinds  of  bush  and  berry  fruits 
are  by  no  means  neglected,  but  were  seen  either  in  fruit  or  past  when 
this  visit  was  paid. 
The  closure  must  now  be  placed  on  this  article  without  more  than  a 
word  of  reference  to  the  fine  ornamental  trees  we  noticed,  and  the  grand 
specimens  of  creepers  seen  on  the  home  of  Mr.  Myers.  Besides  these 
there  were  other  things  of  great  interest,  but  they  must  stay  for  another 
visit  of  some  of  the  many  writers  for  the  Journal  of  Horticulture ,  or — 
Nomad. 
GARDENERS’  CHARITABLE  AND  PROVIDENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 
The  Gardeners’  Boyal  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. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Pines. — Starting  Plants  for  affording  Fruit  during  the  London 
Season. — Whatever  may  be  said  to  the  contrary  there  is  no  fruit  so  fresh 
and  pleasing  in  appearance  as  British  grown  Pines.  Pines  do  not 
always  come  at  the  desired  time,  hence  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to 
bring  together  any  plants  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  them  to  come 
into  fruit  sooner  than  they  otherwise  would,  providing  a  light  house 
or  pit,  where  they  can  have  the  benefit  of  more  heat.  This  being  done, 
and  the  heat  up  in  the  beds,  some  of  the  most  promising  must  be 
selected  from  the  successional  plants,  choosing  those  having  high 
centres,  and  are  quite  stout  at  the  upper  part  of  the  plant  stem.  Let 
these  be  plunged  in  a  bed,  which  should  stand  constantly  at  a  tem¬ 
perature  of  90°  to  95°  at  the  base  of  the  pots.  If  the  plants  are  in  the 
least  dry  water  them  copiously  with  weak  liquid  manure  at  the  same 
temperature  as  the  bed.  Maintain  the  top  heat  at  65°  to  70°  at  night, 
with  5°  more  from  fire  heat  by  day,  and  85°  to  90°  from  sun  heat.  Keep 
the  atmosphere  about  the  plants  in  a  genial  and  invigorating  condition 
by  damping  the  paths  and  walls  as  they  become  dry,  syringing  as  may 
be  necessary.  Neither  the  damping  down  nor  the  watering  should  be 
overdone,  as  too  much  air  moisture  induces  a  plethora  of  leaves,  and  a 
Bodden  soil  destroys  the  roots. 
rigs. — Early  Forced  Trees  in  Pots. — The  trees  started  in  November 
or  early  in  December  having  pushed  terminal  buds  should  be  given  the 
advantage  of  the  mild  weather,  increasing  the  mean  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  afforded. 
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  heat  to 
run  up  to  80°  or  85°.  Syringe  the  trees  and  walls  twice  a  day  on  fine 
days.  The  trees  are  weakened  and  the  foliage  made  soft  by  keeping  them 
wet  during  the  night,  therefore  always  allow  the  trees  to  become  fairly 
dry  before  nightfall,  and  be  in  such  condition  by  day  as  to  favour 
evaporation  to  some  extent,  so  promoting  assimilation  and  solidification 
of  the  growths.  Be  careful  not  to  allow  the  heat  about  the  pots  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,  sudden  fluctuations,  either  at  the  roots  or  in  the  atmosphere, 
often  being  the  cause  of  the  casting  of  the  first  crop  Figs. 
Early  House  of  Planted-ou+  Trees. — This  is  an  excellent  means  of 
securing  the  finest  Figs  late  in  May  or  early  in  June,  and  the  two  best 
varieties  are  Brown  Turkey  and  White  Marseilles.  Planted -out  Fig  trees 
should  have  the  roots  confined  to  a  border  about  one-third  the  width  of 
the  trellis,  and  have  a  calcareous,  loamy  soil,  on  a  substratum  of  lime¬ 
stone  or  sandstone,  to  insure  perfect  drainage.  Maintain  a  night 
temperature  of  50°,  55°  by  day,  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  trees  that  have  not  been  forced 
start  tardily,  and  are  often  given  more  heat  in  the  early  stages  than  is 
good  ior  the  crop.  This  ought  to  be  avoided  by  bringing  the  trees  on 
slowly,  seeking  advancement  by  sun  heat  more  than  from  artificial  in 
dull  weather.  Apply  water  to  the  border  not  less  warm  than  the  mean 
of  the  house,  bringing  the  soil  into  a  thoroughly  moist,  but  notsoddened, 
condition.  Syringe  the  trees  twice  a  day  with  tepid  water,  a  little 
warmer  than  the  house,  but  in  dull  periods  damp  the  floors  and  other 
bare  surfaces  only,  syringing  always  sufficiently  early  to  allow  the  trees 
to  become  dry  or  nearly  so  before  nightfall. 
Succession  Houses. — Proceed  with  pruning  Fig  trees  as  convenient, 
thinning  the  wood  where  crowded,  cutting  back  that  which  has  reached 
the  extremity  of  the  trellis  to  growths  well  disposed  for  supplementing 
the  branches  removed.  Thoroughly  cleanse  the  house,  limewash  the 
walls,  adding  a  handful  of  flowers  of  sulphur  formed  into  a  paste  with 
skim  milk  to  each  pailful  of  the  limewash,  as  a  preventive  of  spot  fungus 
(Glaeosporium  laeticolor).  Wash  the  trees  with  warm  softsoapy  water, 
3  or  4  ozs.  to  a  gallon,  using  a  brush,  and  if  the  trees  have  been  infested 
with  scale  use  a  softsoap  solution,  one  part  softsoap  to  eight  parts  water 
by  weight,  dissolving  the  softsoap  by  boiling  in  an  iron  pot,  and  when 
dissolved  and  boiling  add  a  wineglassful  of  petroleum,  stirring  briskly 
with  a  birch  switch  or  egg-beater,  so  as  to  form  an  emulsion  and  then 
dilute  to  1  gallon  by  adding  boiling  water.  This,  when  sufficiently  cool, 
may  be  applied  with  a  brush.  Remove  the  loose  surface  soil  or  mulching, 
and  supply  fresh  turfy  loam,  with  a  top-dressing  of  bonemeal,  three 
parts  ;  kainit,  two  parts  ;  and  sulphate  of  lime,  one  part,  mixed,  using 
2  lb.  per  square  yard,  and  leaving  on  the  surfaces,  or  preferably  mixing 
with  the  turfy  loam.  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  Fig  Trees  in  Pots. — If  these  are  wanted  for  early  forcing 
another  season  the  plants  should  be  placed  in  gentle  heat  during  this 
