October  22, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
407 
the  shoots  thinned  where  too  crowded,  cutting  back  at  the  upper  part  of 
the  trellis,  allowing  room  for  the  extension  of  the  new  branches  or 
snccessional  growths.  Trees  that  have  not  the  roots  restricted  will 
require  cutting  back  at  the  upper  part  of  the  trellis,  allowing  room  for 
'the  extension  of  the  lower  branches;  but  luxuriant  trees  may  be  root* 
pruned,  or  the  cutting-out  of  growths  will  only  tend  to  render  the  trees 
more  unfruitful.  The  trees  may  be  washed  with  the  solution  advised 
for  trees  in  pots,  and  be  secured  to  the  trellis  loosely.  Remove  the  loose 
soil,  remains  of  mulchings,  point  the  surface  over  with  a  fork,  and  apply 
a  surface  dressing  of  fresh  loam  not  more  than  2  inches  thick,  and 
sprinkle  on  it  4  ozs.  per  square  yard  of  steamed  bonemeal  three  parts 
and  kainit  two  parts,  mixed,  then  a  mulch  of  partially  decayed  manure, 
lumpy  yet  short.  Give  a  good  watering,  ventilate  freely  at  all  times, 
except  when  frost  prevails,  when  keep  closed,  and  turn  on  heat  to 
exclude  it. 
Succession  Houses. — Where  trees  are  not  ripening  the  wood  well 
'turn  on  the  heat  in  the  morning,  and  admit  air  only  to  induce  a  circu¬ 
lation,  throwing  the  windows  open  at  night,  the  heat  having  been  turned 
oft  at  midday.  This  will  assist  the  maturation  of  the  foliage,  but  any 
unfruitful  trees  must  be  root-pruned,  and  the  roots  restricted  to  moderate- 
sized  borders,  depending  more  upon  active  feeders  near  the  surface, 
encouraged  by  light  mulchings,  than  a  large  extension  of  roots.  These 
operations  must  be  performed  when  the  leaves  give  indications  of 
falling.  Make  the  soil  firm,  employing  one-sixth  of  old  mortar  rubbish 
and  a  similar  proportion  of  road  scrapings.  Figs  always  do  better  with 
the  roots  restricted  to  moderate-sized  borders,  and  are  more  manageable 
and  fruitful  when  the  roots  are  confined  to  limited  space  than  those  with 
an  unlimited  rooting  area.  Prune  the  trees  when  the  leaves  have  fallen, 
cleanse  the  houses,  put  everything  in  order.  Dress  trees  that  have  been 
infested  with  insects  with  an  insecticide.  Scald  the  woodwork  and 
walls  with  hot  water,  keeping  it  from  the  trees,  yet  washing  them  with 
a  warm  soapy  solution  before  applying  the  insecticide.  Keep  the  house 
cool  and  dry,  but  do  not  allow  many  degrees  of  frost  to  enter. 
Zate  House. — Excessively  luxuriant  trees  should  be  attended  to  in 
lifting  and  root-pruning  as  before  advised.  Fig  trees  can  hardly  have 
the  roots  too  much  restricted  for  fruitfulness,  being  also  more  under 
control,  and  can  be  fed  according  to  requirements.  Trees  in  unheated 
houses  should  have  free  ventilation,  and  when  the  leaves  fall  the  trees 
-must  be  unloosed  from  the  trellis,  be  tied  together  inconvenient  bundles, 
and  made  safe  against  frost  with  some  straw  or  fern  over  them,  encasing 
the  bundles  in  mats.  In  heated  houses  this  is  not  necessary,  but  the 
trees  in  these  must  not  be  exposed  to  severe  frost,  or  they  are  liable  to 
be  injured,  therefore  a  little  warmth  will  be  necessary  in  severe  weather. 
Trees  in  cool  houses  should  have  the  roots  protected  by  a  covering  of 
dry  material. 
PLANT  HOUSES. 
The  Stove. — The  temperature  in  this  structure  should  range  from 
'60°  to  6.5°  at  night  according  to  external  conditions.  On  very  mild 
occasions  a  few  degrees  higher  will  do  no  harm,  but  when  the  ther¬ 
mometer  falls  to  freezing  point  outside  the  temperature  must  be  kept  as 
near  the  former  as  possible.  If  a  high  temperature  is  maintained 
•Crotons  and  other  foliage  plants  are  induced  to  grow,  which  disfigures 
them,  for  there  is  not  sufficient  sun  to  colour  their  foliage.  On  all  fine 
occasions  the  syringe  should  be  used  freely  to  keep  the  foliage  clean. 
Thrips  spread  rapidly  in  a  dry  atmosphere,  and  red  spider  will  soon 
establish  itself. 
Crotons.— Young  plants  that  are  to  be  grown  for  another  year 
should  be  repotted  if  they  need  more  root  room.  It  is  a  mistake  to 
check  them  by  confining  the  roots  in  small  pots.  They  will  if  carefully 
watered  root  freely  into  the  new  soil  if  given  a  temperature  a  few 
degrees  warmer  than  advised  for  the  stove  proper.  Small  shifts  only 
should  be  given  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  the  plants  potted  now 
will  be  in  capital  condition  for  making  vigorous  growth  early  in  the 
season.  Plants  that  are  growing  too  tall  may  be  nicked  and  mossed 
ready  for  growing  another  year.  In  brisk  heat  roots  are  quickly 
formed,  and  when  severed  from  the  parent  they  soon  become  established 
if  plunged  for  a  few  days  in  a  close  case  where  slight  bottom  heat  can 
be  given. 
Dracaenas. — Syringing  may  be  practically  discontinued.  The  bed 
upon  which  they  are  standing  should  be  kept  moist.  Water  these  plants 
carefully ;  if  given  too  much  or  subjected  to  too  low  a  temperature 
the  roots  will  die.  Young  stock  that  it  is  necessary  to  grow  may  be 
potted.  Plants  that  are  damaged  in  rooms  and  are  needed  for  stock 
should  be  kept  in  a  temperature  of  60°,  and  rather  dry  at  their  roots  to 
ripen  and  harden  their  stems  ready  for  cutting  early  in  the  year. 
Gardenias. — Repot  cuttings  that  have  just  been  rooted  singly  and 
establish  them  in  brisk  heat,  afterwards  giving  them  ordinary  stove 
treatment.  The  earliest  plants  that  have  flower  buds  swelling  should 
have  a  temperature  of  65°.  Later  plants  will  do  in  a  night  temperature 
5°  lower,  provided  they  are  watered  with  care.  Strong  stimulants  should 
be  avoided,  also  strong  insecticides,  after  the  flower  buds  once  commence 
forming.  Those  that  have  not  formed  their  flower  buds  may  be 
thoroughly  cleaned  if  mealy  bug  or  scale  infest  them.  Petroleum  and 
water  will  be  found  the  best  solution  for  this  purpose. 
Zxoras. — These  soon  fail  unless  careful  treatment  can  be  given  them. 
Good  plants  often  decrease  in  health  and  vigour  by  the  treatment  they 
receive  during  the  winter  months.  The  syringe  may  still  be  used  if  a 
temperature  at  night  of  65°  can  be  maintained.  If  5°  lower  it  should 
only  be  attempted  on  the  mornings  of  very  fine  days.  The  water  used 
for  this  purpose  should  be  a  few  degrees  higher  than  the  temperature  of 
the  house,  The  same  rule  applies  to  that  used  for  the  roots.  This  must  1 
be  administered  with  care,  as  too  much  will  prove  detrimental,  while  on 
the  other  hand  an  insufficient  supply  will  also  be  injurious.  Keep  the 
plants  free  from  mealy  bug  and  thrips.  Young  stock  intended  to  flower 
in  small  pots  will  be  all  the  better  if  they  can  be  arranged  where  they 
can  enjoy  gentle  bottom  heat,  but  this  must  not  exceed  70°  to  75°. 
Euphorbia  jacqulnlseflora. — The  wood  of  those  that  were  rooted 
late  is  still  soft.  They  must  be  exposed  to  full  light  and  sunshine.  The 
temperature  of  the  structure  in  which  they  are  placed  should  not  exceed 
65°  at  night  or  they  will  continue  to  grow.  The  atmosphere  should  be 
moderately  dry  so  as  to  harden  them  as  much  as  possible.  When  the 
wood  is  soft  and  the  plants  are  placed  into  brisk  heat  the  eyes  often 
start  into  growth  instead  of  forming  flowers.  The  same  remarks  as 
regards  beat  and  temperature  apply  to  Poinsettias  that  are  soft  and  still 
growing.  The  earlier  plants  that  have  stopped  growth  and  commenced 
to  form  their  bracts  should  have  a  temperature  of  65°,  in  which  they  will 
produce  finer  bracts  of  better  colour  than  in  a  lower  temperature.  Weak 
liquid  manure  or  artificial  manure  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  soil  will 
be  beneficial, 
.a.dlantum  cuneatum. — Plants  that  have  been  grown  cool  through¬ 
out  the  summer  and  the  fronds  have  been  gathered  will  soon  start  into 
growth  again  if  placed  into  a  temperature  of  60°  to  65°.  The  growth 
these  plants  push  up  will  be  found  useful  after  the  main  stock  is  over. 
Young  plants  raised  from  spores  and  well  established  in  4-inch  pots  may 
be  placed  into  6-inch.  These  in  a  temperature  of  60°  will  continue  to 
grow,  and  whether  required  for  furnishing  or  cutting  will  be  found 
invaluable. 
Begonias, — Plants  of  the  manicata  section  as  they  are  housed  from 
cold  frames  should  not,  unless  they  are  needed  in  flower,  be  placed  in 
heat.  This  is  a  mistake,  they  will  do  well  for  the  present  in  a  cool  home 
that  can  be  kept  moderately  close  where  the  atmosphere  is  dry.  Other 
winter  kinds  need  an  intermediate  temperature.  They  will  soon  flower 
freely,  and  will  be  found  invaluable  for  cutting.  Any  that  are  not 
needed  for  the  present  may  be  pinched.  The  varieties  of  B.  nitida  are 
useful  in  the  stove  early  in  the  year,  these  if  in  small  pots  may  be  potted, 
also  a  good  number  of  6.  Ingram!  that  are  now  in  thumb  pots.  Late 
struck  cuttings  or  seedlings  of  varieties  of  B.  semperflorens  may  also  be 
potted  if  they  need  more  root  room. 
Bnthurlum  Sctaerzerlanum. — Plants  that  have  completed  their 
growth  may  be  removed  from  the  stove  to  an  intermediate  temperature 
to  rest.  While  in  this  structure  be  careful  not  to  give  too  much  water. 
They  enjoy  a  month  or  six  weeks  in  a  lower  temperature,  and  flower 
more  profusely  in  consequence. 
Antburlum  Budreanum. — One  of  the  most  useful  plants  that  can 
be  grown  for  the  stove  during  the  winter.  Its  large  bright  scarlet 
spathes  are  very  attractive,  and  equally  useful  in  a  cut  state.  The 
plants  for  the  ornamentation  of  the  stove  are  most  effective  in  0  or 
7-inch  pots.  When  a  large  plant  can  be  obtained  there  is  no  difficulty 
in  raising  a  stock. 
IHE  BEE-KEEPERS 
W  ^'fTT^T~  1  i  « 4 .  1  .  1  .  Hi  1  ^  1  J 
SEASONABLE  NOTES. 
The  Weather. 
The  rainfall  registered  during  the  past  six  weeks  has  been 
unprecedented  in  this  district  (South  Yorkshire),  of  which  I  have 
a  daily  record  for  upwards  of  twenty  years.  Heavy  thunder 
showers  prevailed  in  the  last  week  in  August,  and  for  twenty-three 
consecutive  day#  rain  fell,  with  the  result  that  4*  51  inches  were 
registered  during  the  month  of  September. 
There  is  no  improvement  in  the  weather  at  the  present  date, 
16th  inst.,  as  a  steady  downpour  has  continued  for  the  past  forty- 
eight  hours,  nearly  3  inches  of  rain  having  fallen  on  thirteen  days 
of  the  present  month.  The  total  rainfall  registered  during  the 
first  nine  months  of  the  year  is  16  45  inches  which  has  fallen 
on  115  days,  compared  with  1618  inches  which  fell  on  110  days 
during  the  first  nine  months  of  1895.  This  will  probably  come  as 
a  surprise  to  many  bee-keepers  who  do  not  register  the  rainfall,  and 
whose  thoughts  will  go  back  to  the  excessively  dry  weather  experienced 
throughout  the  country  in  the  past  summer. 
Although  bright  weather  is  necessary  to  obtain  a  bountiful 
supply  of  honey,  something  more  is  needed,  for  unless  there  is 
sufficient  moisture  in  the  toil  to  develop  plants,  which  in  due 
course  will  bloom  luxuriantly,  the  sunshine  is  of  little  avail.  This 
was  most  marked  daring  the  past  season,  as  for  several  weeks  warm 
bright  weather  prevailed,  but  the  necessary  moisture  was  not  forth¬ 
coming  when  required,  the  consequence  being  that  instead  of  the 
white  Glover,  of  which  there  was  an  abundance  in  this  neighbour¬ 
hood,  being  a  mass  of  bloom,  the  plants,  owing  to  the  drought, 
gradually  dried  up,  the  rain  coming  too  late  in  the  season  to  be  of 
much  benefit  to  the  bees.  The  present  deluge  of  rain  may,  there¬ 
fore,  prove  a  boon  to  bee-keepers  in  the  coming  season,  as  the 
young  Clover  that  was  sown  during  early  spring  germinated  well, 
and  at  present  is  looking  remarkably  strong^  and  healthy,  and  is 
much  benefited  by  the  rain- 
