JOURKAl  OF  HonTinCLTVRE  ARW  COTTAGE  GARDE  A' ER. 
SepteuiDOf  o,  1898. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Peaches  and  Wectarlnes. — Earliest  Forced  Trees. — The  trees 
forced  several  years  consecmtively  rest  at  the  proper  time  and  start 
again  at  the  usual  period.  It  is  necessary  that  early  forced  trees  be  kept 
perfectly  clean  and  the  foliage  healthy  to  the  last.  No  insect  pest  in 
egg,  larva,  or  pupa  form  can  withstand  water  at  a  temperature  of 
140®.  This  we  advise  for  syringing  the  whole  house  after  the  leaves  are 
all  down,  using  it  carefully.  Then  loosen  the  trees  from  the  trellis,  tie 
the  branches  in  small  bundles  for  facilitating  cleansing  operations,  and 
wash  the  woodworfc  and  ironwork  with  a  brush,  softsoap,  or  preferably 
carbolic  or  petroleum  soap,  and  hot  water,  reaching  every  angle  and 
crevice.  Use  water  only  for  cleaning  the  glass  inside  and  outside. 
Limewash  the  walls,  adding  a  handful  of  flowers  of  sulphur  to  each 
3-gallon  pailful  of  limewash,  and,  if  required,  paint  the  wood  and  iron¬ 
work.  Then  prune  the  trees,  merely  thinning  the  shoots  where  too 
crowded  or  too  weak  for  carrying  fine  fruits.  Shortening  will  only  be 
required  on  long  shoots  for  the  production  of  growth  at  the  right  place 
for  extension.  Wash  the  trees  with  an  approved  insecticide  at  winter- 
dressing  strength.  Tie  the  trees  to  the  trellis,  and  remember  that  care¬ 
fully  trained  evenly  Jjalanced  trees  are  pleasing  to  the  eyes  and  most 
satisfactory  in  other  respects. 
Second  Early  Forced  Trees, — The  introduction  of  the  very  early 
varieties  has  made  a  difference  of  a  month  in  forcing  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  to  have  the  fruit  ripe  by  a  given  time,  and  by  growing  the 
very  early  and  older  forcing  sorts  a  succession  can  be  had  from  the  same 
house  over  a  period  of  about  two  months.  Alexander  or  Early  Louise, 
Hale’s  Early,  and  Royal  George  or  Stirling  Castle  Peaches  ;  Early 
Rivers,  Lord  Napier,  and  Stanwick  Elruge  Nectarines  started  at  the  new 
year  afford  fruit  early  in  May  and  through  June,  this  without  unneces¬ 
sarily  taxing  the  energies  of  the  trees,  or  prejudicing  their  cropping  for 
the  future.  Trees  started  at  that  time  will  shortly  be  casting  their 
leaves,  and  when  the  foliage  is  all  cleared  treat  the  house  and  trees  the 
same  in  every  respect  as  described  for  the  earliest  forced. 
Succession  Houses, — Too  luxuriant  trees  should  be  checked  by  making 
a  trench  one-third  the  distance  from  the  stem  that  the  trees  cover  in 
extent  of  trellis  and  quite  down  to  the  drainage,  so  as  to  detach  the  roots, 
and  this  may  remain  open  a  fortnight,  then  the  soil  may  be  removed 
with  a  fork  down  to  the  roots  and  picked  from  amongst  them,  laying 
the  roots  in  fresh  material.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  trees  do  not 
suffer  from  want  of  water  whilst  the  trench  is  open,  but  none  need  be 
given  unless  the  foliage  becomes  limp.  This  proceeding  should  be 
followed  by  a  good  watering,  and  not  being  performed  until  the  wood 
is  getting  rather  firm,  the  trees  will  not  suffer,  but  the  roots  will  soon 
work  freely  in  the  new  material,  and  the  fruits  invariably  set  and  stone 
well  afterwards.  Root-pruning  and  lifting  must  be  deferred  until  the 
leaves  give  indications  of  falling,  but  these  operations  are  best  performed 
as  soon  as  the  wood  is  sufliciently  matured,  and  whilst  the  leaves  or  some 
of  them  are  upon  the  trees. 
Late  Ilousps. — The  bright  weather  has  suited  the  late  varieties,  and 
where  water  and  nourishment  has  been  supplied  liberally  the  fruit  has 
attained  large  size,  and  is  strikingly  beautiful,  as  well  as  excellent  in 
qual  ty.  The  trees  must  still  have  sufficient  water,  though  a  somewhat 
drier  condition  at  the  roots  is  desirable  when  the  fruit  is  ripening  than 
when  it  is  swelling,  but  if  kept  too  dry  the  fruit  is  mealy.  A  free 
circulation  of  air  is  necessary,  utilising  sun  heat  if  the  fruit  is  backward, 
as  with  ventilation  early  in  the  day  the  temperature  may  run  up  to  86° 
or  90°,  which  is  preferable  to  fire  heat  at  a  later  period.  Keep  the  wood 
thin,  stop  any  growing  shoots  at  about  15  inches,  or  to  such  length  as 
is  likely  to  become  well  matured,  and  pinch  all  laterals  to  one  joint  as 
growth  is  made. 
Melons. — Plants  in  pits  and  frames  will  not  need  further  damping, 
and  they  should  only  be  given  enough  water  at  the  roots  to  keep  the 
foliage  from  flagging.  Keep  the  growth  rather  thin,  closely  supp’ ess 
laterals,  but  retain  the  principal  leaves,  and  elevate  the  fruit  well  above 
the  foliage  on  inverted  flower  pots,  each  fruit  being  placed  on  a  piece  of 
slate,  and  so  inclined  that  wafer  will  not  lodge  upon  it  and  cause  the 
fruit  to  decay.  Apply  good  linings  to  the  sides  of  the  frames  so  as  to 
furnish  a  warm  atmosphere,  kept  dry  by  free  ventilation,  which  the 
fruit  requires  to  finish  well. 
The  latest  plants  in  houses  are  now  in  flower.  Fertilise  the  blossoms 
when  fully  expanded,  and  continue  to  do  so  daily  until  sufficient  fruits 
are  set  for  the  crop.  The  atmosphere  should  be  kept  dry,  a  little 
ventilation  being  given  at  night  to  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  on 
the  flowers.  Stop  the  shoots  one  joint  beyond  the  fruit,  and  when  the 
fruit  is  set  keep  the  growths  well  in  hand,  not  allowing  the  laterals  to 
interfere  with  the  principal  leaves,  exposing  all  the  growths  to  as  much 
light  as  possible.  Supply  earth  to  the  sides  of  the  ridge  or  hillock  as 
the  fruit  swells  and  needs  more  nourishment.  Water  carefully,  yet 
encourage  and  sustain  root  action  by  a  proper  amount  of  moisture  in  the 
soil.  Syringing  will  only  be  required  on  fine  afternoons,  but  a  genial 
aondition  of  the  atmosphere  should  be  maintained  by  damping  the 
paths  and  walls  in  the  mornffig  and  afternoon.  Maintain  a  night 
temperature  of  65°  to  70®,  and  70°  and  75°  by  day,  with  10  to  16 
advance  from  sun  heat.  To  ripen  the  fruit  properly  at  this  season  a 
brisk  heat  should  be  maintained  by  day, 
Pines. — Exercise  care  in  the  treatment  of  young  stock  to  prevent 
the  growths  becoming  too  luxuriant — that  is,  soft,  artificial  heat  and 
free  ventilation  being  employed,  admitting  air  at  80°,  above  which 
ventilate  liberally,  especially  on  warm  sunny  days,  always  avoiding 
currents  of  cold  air  and  sudden  depressions  of  temperature,  arid  closing 
the  house  for  the  day  at  80°.  Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  65  ,  and 
70°  to  75°  by  artificial  means  in  the  daytime.  The  bottom  heat  should 
be  kept  steady  at  85°  at  the  .base  of  the  pots,  or  between  80  and  90  . 
Water  only  when  absolutely  necessary,  then  afford  a  thorough  supply  of 
weak  liquid  manure,  warmed  to  the  temperature  of  the  plunging  bed. 
The  plants  will  only  need  syringing  occasionally,  and  it  should  be 
effected  early  in  the  afternoon  of  bright  days,  and  not  excessively. 
Fruiting  plants  require  a  liberal  amount  of  heat  and  moisture,  a  night 
temperature  of  70°  to  75®,  and  the  heat  in  the  daytime  should  range 
from  80°  to  90°,  closing  the  house  at  85°  with  sun  beat,  so  as  to  insure  a 
rise  of  temperature  from  that  source.  Avoid,  however,  a  close  and  very 
moist  atmosphere,  as  that  accelerates  the  growth  of  the  crowns  ;  also  an 
excess  of  nourishment,  or  the  fruit  may  when  cut  be  found  black  in  the 
centre. 
THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
Zonal  Pelargoniums.  —  These  are  now  growing  very  strongly, 
more  so  than  at  any  time  previously  this  season.  If  left  to  themselves 
they  soon  become  crowded  and  weakly,  whereas  if  kept  judiciously 
thinned  out  the  growth  is  both  sturdy  arid  floriferous.  This  also  gives 
a  good  opportunity  for  putting  in  the  requisite  number  of  early  cuttings, 
which  will  be  found  to  pass  through  tne  winter  more  surely  than  late 
struck  plants.  If  well  established  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  including  the 
ever  popular  Henry  Jacoby,  can  be  kept  well  in  boxes  ;  but  the  bronze, 
golden  and  silver  variegated  varieties  ought  not  to  be  trusted  in  them. 
All  the  latter,  as  well  as  late  cuttings  of  the  ordinary  varieties,  winter 
best  in  pots,  the  pots  also  being  very  convenient  for  storing  on  dry 
shelves  and  stagings.  Six-inch  pots,  each  holding  about  seven  cuttings, 
answer  well  at  this  comparatively  early  date  ;  but  late  cuttings  keep 
better  in  4-inch  or  slightly  smaller  pots,  about  five  being  placed  in  each. 
Any  light  sandy  soil  will  do  for  the  cutting  pots,  and  if  the  cuttings  are 
at  all  sappy  trim  them  and  let  them  flag  for  several  hours  in  the  full 
sunshine  prior  to  inserting  them.  In  any  case  keep  them  somewhat  d^ 
till  they  have  callused,  too  much  moisture  causing  them  to  damp  off. 
Jf,  therefore,  the  weather  is  dull  and  wet  do  not  set  the  cuttings  in  an 
open  sunny  place,  but  give  them  the  benefit  of  a  glass  covering,  plenty 
of  light  and  air  being  constantly  admitted.  The  Ivy-leaved  section,  which 
not  only  bed  out  well  but  are  particularly  good  for  vases  and  hanging 
baskets,  do  not  always  strike  so  readily  as  is  desirable,  but  if  given  the 
benefit  of  a  moderately  dry  heat  they  will  strike  more  freely  ;  so  also 
will  most  of  the  scented-leaved  varieties.  The  majority  of  them  will 
strike  the  most  readily  in  the  spring,  but  it  there  are  no  large  old  stock 
plants  in  pots  cuttings  must  be  rooted  now,  as  old  plants  do  not  lift  well 
from  open  borders. 
Verbenas,— These  are  by  no  means  played  out,  and  they  are  yet 
among  the  best  of  summer  bedding  plants.  They  have  grown  strongly 
and  flowered  beautifully  in  spite  of  the  presumably  unfavourable 
character  of  the  weather  yet  experienced.  Seedlings  in  mixture  are 
very  attractive,  but  the  best  named  varieties,  in  separate  colours,  only 
are  tolerated  where  the  flower  beds  are  grouped  and  planted  after  a  set 
plan.  The  great  difficulty  with  Verbenas  is  in  getting  good  soft 
cuttings  in  the  spring,  these  only  being  available  from  healthy  autumn 
struck  stock  plants.  Now  is  the  time  to  put  iii  the  cuttings.  Select 
soft  flowerless .  shoots,  trim  them  at  the  third  joint,  and  dibble  them 
thinly  either  in  pans  or  5-inch  pots,  well  drained  and  filled  with  a 
mixture  of  fine  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand.  Place  them  in  a  frame  on  a 
nearly  exhausted  hotbed,  and  keep  them  close,  moist,  and  shaded  till 
rooted.  Winter  them  on  shelves  in  a  cool  greenhouse. 
Ageratums  and  Heliotropes.— Old  plants  of  these  do  not  lift 
readily.  The  former,  it  is  true,  can  be  most  easily  raised  from  seed,  the 
strains  also  being  good  ;  but  not  so  Heliotropes.  If  a  few  or  many  of 
the  latter  have  been  kept  in  pots  to  flower  during  the  summer  or 
autumn  they  will  be  found  excellent  for  producing  abundance  of 
cuttings  next  spring.  Failing  these,  strike  cuttings  ot  young  shoots  as 
advised  in  the  case  of  Verbenas.  Cuttings  of  Ageratums  are  frequently 
hard  to  obtain  ;  but  if  procurable,  strike  them  in  gentle  heat. 
Zreslnea,  Coleuses,  and  Alternanttieras. — The  two  former 
seldom  lift  well,  and  besides  the  plants  are  frequently  too  clumsy  for 
the  purpose.  Store  plants  in  pots  are  ornamental  enough,  and  produce 
abundance  of  cuttings  in  the  spring  ;  but  if  none  of  these  exist,  lose  no 
time  in  rooting  a  number  of  tops,  as  frosts  may  cripple  them  earlier 
than  anticipated.  About  six  cuttings  in  each  well-drained  5-inch  pot 
are  ample,  and  they  ought  to  be  kept  close,  shaded,  and  warm  till  well 
rooted.  Should  they  give  early  signs  of  damping,  enough  air  should  be 
given  every  morning  to  dry  ihe  glass  of  the  frame.  Alternantheras 
move  fairly  well  from  the  open  ground,  bat  not  if  they  have  been 
frosted.  Few  care  to  disturb  the  beds  before  they  are  obliged  to  do,  and 
it  is  advisable,  therefore,  to  strike  a  considerable  number  of  cuttings 
now.  Three-inch,  or  slightly  larger  pots,  are  the  best  size,  five  or  sis 
cuttings  being  placed  in  each,  Treat  as  advised  in  the  case  of  Iresines, 
