Jainiary  2, '1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GAllDENEB. 
21 
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Fruit  Forcing. 
CHERRY  HOUSE. — In  order  to  liave  fruit  ripe  with  cer¬ 
tainty  early  in  May  the  house,  if  not  yet  started,  must  be  set 
to  work  without  delay.  Fire  heat  may  be  employed  to  maintain 
a  temperature  of  40deg  at  night,  and  45dog  in  the  day,  advancing 
to  56deg  or  even  G5deg  with  sun  heat,  ventilating  at  SOdeg,  and 
•closing  at  that  point.  Sprinkle  the  trees  occasionally  only  in 
dull  weather,  and  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  when  bright. 
Ventilate  very  freely  in  mild  weather,  and  avoid  hasty  treatment 
in  the  early  stages  of  growth.  Examine  the  trees  carefully,  and 
if  there  is  the  least  trace  of  aphides  fumigate  the  house  re- 
ipeatedly,  or  syringe  the  trees  with  some  approved  insecticide 
for  the  thorough  extirpation  of  the  pests.  Trees  in  pots  must 
not  be  neglected  for  water,  supplying  it  repeatedly,  if  necessary, 
to  thoroughly  moisten  the  balls  through  to  the  drainage. 
CUCUMBERS. — Where  winter  Cucumbers  are  not  grown,  or 
the  supply  from  April  forwards  is  obtained  from  pits  and  frames, 
seed  should  now  be  sown  for  planting  next  month,  either  in 
houses  or  manurej-heated  pits  and  frames.  The  fermenting 
materials  should  now  be  in  course  of  preparation  for  making  up 
the  beds.  If  no  convenience  exists  for  raising  the  plants  a  bed 
of  fermenting  materials  should  be  made  up  forthwith,  the  seed 
to  be  sown  as  soon  as  the  bed  affords  a  suitable  temperature  of 
70deg  to  75deg  top  heat,  and  Sodeg  to  90deg  bottom  heat.  Plants 
from  this  sowing  will  be  available  for  house  planting  to  afford  a 
supply  of  fruit  from  about  the  middle  of  April  onwards.  Telegraph 
and  Rocliford’s  Market  Favourite  are  good  varieties  either  for 
home  use  or  marketing. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES:  EARLIEST  HOUSE.— 
The  trees  started  last  month  are  advanced  for  blossoming.  When 
the  flowers  are  fully  expanded  the  night  temxrerature  may  be 
maintained  at  50deg  to  55deg  in  mild  weather,  40deg  to  45deg 
when  severe,  55deg  by  day  when  the  sky  is  overcast,  65deg  by 
day  from  sun  heat,  and  if  the  air  be  mild  a  few  degrees  more 
may  be  allowed  with  free  ventilation.  Syringing  the  ti’ees  must 
•cease  when  the  blossoms  sho.w  colour,  but  a  genial  atmosphere 
should  be  secured  by  damping  the  floor  and  borders  in  the  morn¬ 
ing  and  early  afternoon  of  bright  days,  having  recourse  to  an 
occasional  sprinkling  of  such  surfaces  only  in  dull  weather. 
Ventilate  freely  when  the  external  conditions  are  favonrable, 
and  when  the  pollen  is  ripe  choose  the  warmest  and  driest  part 
•of  the  day,  ijreferably  before  or  within  an  hour  of  the  sun  passing 
the  meridian,  for  aiding  its  distribution  by  shaking  the  tree  or 
trellis,  or  taking  a  camel’s-hair  brush,  or  feather,  and  gently 
•applying  the  pollen  to  the  stigmas.  If  there  be  a  deficiency  of 
pollen  of  any  variety  it  may  be  taken  from  those  that  afford  it 
pjentifully,  and  applied  to  the  stigmas  of  the  flowers  sjiarsely 
■furnished  with  that  essential  of  fertilisation,  and  securing  of  a 
good  set  of  fruit.  The  inside  border  must  not  be  neglected  for 
water,  but  avoid  making  the  soil  sodden  by  needless  applications, 
especially  of  liquid  manure,  and  afford  sufficient  pi’otection  to 
the  outside  border  for  the  exclusion  of  frost. 
SECOND  EARLY  HOUSE.— This  may  be  the  first  in  many 
•establishments,  the  house-  containing  trees  of  Hale’s  Early, 
Stirling  Castle,  Royal  George,  Dymond,  Noblesse,  and  other  mid¬ 
season  Peaches,  with  Early  Rivers,  Lord  Napier,  Stanwick 
Elruge,  and  Humboldt  Nectarines,  and  intended  to  afford  ripe 
fruit  at  the  end  of  May  or  eai'ly  in  June,  should  now  be  started. 
Damp  the  house  and  trees  two  or  three  times  a  day,  but  the 
former  must  be  allowed  to  become  fairly  dry  before  nightfall ; 
and  in  dull  weather  the  syringing  should  be  omitted,  or  had 
recourse  to  occasionally  only.  Turn  the  heat  on  in  the  morning 
so  as  to  secure  oOdeg  through  the  day,  ventilating  at  that  tem- 
Tperature,  and  allowing  it  to  rise  to  6.5deg  with  free  ventilation. 
Sufficient  fire  heat  to  maintain  a  temperatui-e  of  40deg  to  45deg 
will  bring  the  trees  on  quite  fast  enough.  The  inside  borders 
unust  be  brought  into  a  thoroughly  moist  condition  by  -  repeated 
waterings,  but  where  the  roof-lights  have  been  removed  water 
will  not  be  required  until  the  fruit  is  set  and  swelling  freely. 
The  ontside  border  should  be  protected  with  litter;  all  that  is 
wanted  is  a  covering  to  prevent  chill  from  snow  and  the  soil 
being  frozen. 
LATER  HOUSES. — These  should  be  put  in  order  forthwith, 
and  if  any  trees  are  swelling  the  buds  more  rapidly  than  is 
ffesired,  a  covering  of  mats  over  the  lights  will  prevent  the 
temperature  being  raised  by  the  sun  heat  to  a  great  extent,  and 
the  flowering  will  be  retarded  considerably.  Where  the  roof- 
lights  have  been  removed  the  buds  are  as  yet  quite  dormant, 
;and  the  lights  may  remain  off  until  the  time  arrives  for  starting 
the  trees,  or,  in  the  case  of  later  houses,  until  the  buds  comipenoe 
swelling.  Pruning  may  then  be  effected  and  the  lights  replaced, 
which  will  not  be  required  until  the  end  of  February  or  later. 
STRAWBERRIES  IN  POTS. — The  earliest  plants  must  not 
be  pushed  too  rajiidly,  especially  in  severe  weather,  50deg  to 
55deg  at  night  being  sufficient  for  those  that  wore  started  at  the 
beginning  of  last  month,  and  GOdeg  to  65deg  by  day ;  but  it  is 
better  to  err  on  the  safe  side,  therefore  5deg  less  in  the  absence 
of  sun,  the  weather  being  cold,  is  advisable.  Scrutinise  the 
plants  closely,  and  if  any  aphides  are  found  fumigate  the  house, 
so  as  to  destroy  the  pests  before  the  flowers  appear.  Mildew 
sometimes  fastens  on  the  oiiening  buds.  In  that  case  dust  with 
a  powder  formed  of  two  parts  sulxihur  and  one  paiL  air-slaked 
lime.  Place  more  plants  on  shelves  in  Peach  houses,  or  in 
vineries  started  about  this  time.  The  jiots  should  have  the 
drainage  rectified  if  necessary,  the  surface  soil  removed  or  freed 
of,  moss  or  other  matter,  and  be  washed  clean.  A  top-dressing 
may  be  given  of  rich  material,  say  horse-droppings  rubbed 
through  a  iin  sieve,  with  a  third  part  of  turfy  loam  and  a  little 
approved  fertiliser  mixed  with  it.  La  Grosso  Sueree,  Vicomtesse 
Hericart  de  Thury,  Royal  Sovereign,  President,  Noble,  and 
Auguste  Nicaise  are  suitable  varieties  for  introducing  now. — 
St.  Albans. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
THE  SOIL. — The  best  results  in  vegetable  culture  are  only 
attained  by  first-class  cultivation.  Deepening  and  enriching  the 
soil  on  which  crops  are  to  be  grown  may  be  carried  out  now 
better  than  at  any  season,  as  there  is  now  the  greatest  area  of 
ground  vacant.  Trenching  and  loosening  the  subsoil  is  by  far 
the  most  important,  because  it  is  usually  only  at  this  season 
that  the  time  and  labour  necessary  for  cariying  out  the  work 
can  be  commanded.  Manuring,  where  essential,  may  also  be 
done  at  the  same  time.  In  trenching  avoid  burying  the  surface 
soil,  which  is,  upon  the  whole,  in  a  fertile  condition,  and  capable 
of  bearing  crops.  The  surface  is,  however,  immensely  benefited 
by  the  judicious  improvement  of  the  subsoil,  and  the  su^oeriority 
of  trenched  ground  will  be  evident  during  dry  periods  in  summer. 
Where  trenching  is  not  possible,  deep  or  double  digging  and 
ridging  are  good  methods  of  ameliorating  and  pulverising  stub¬ 
born  particles,  especially  if  the  ground  is  left  rough  to  admit 
frost. 
PEA  AND  BEAN  STICKS. — Where  these  are  to  be  had  for 
cutting  and  preparing,  advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  first 
opportunity  to  secure  them.  Quantities  of  both  may  be  prepared 
from  prunings  of  shrubs  and  trees,  and  the  best  should  be  so 
utilised.  Brushwood,  and  the  undergrowth  in  woods  comprising 
Beech,  Birch,  and  Hazel,  will  furnish  excellent  material  for 
Pea  sticks.  Short,  as  well  as  long,  sprayey  pieces  ought  to  be 
secured.  Even  if  enough  for  the  demands  of  the  garden  cannot 
be  obtained  it  will  supplement  the  stock  from  other  sources. 
Trim  all  ready  for  use,  sharpening  the  ends  to  a  point  for  insert¬ 
ing  in  the  ground.  Look  over  the  stock  of  last  season’s  sticks 
and  discard  all  that  are  too  rotten  for  further  use.  Stakes  for 
other  uses  may  well  be  obtained  and  prepared  now.  Pea  sticks 
will  be  rendered  more  shapely  for  use  if,  when  prepared,  they 
are  placed  together  and  weighed  down  wfith  logs  of  wood. 
TOMATOES.— With  a  good  heat  of  GSdeg  to  70deg  at  com¬ 
mand,  Tomatoes  may  be  raised  from  seed  to  produce  an  early 
spring  crop.  Sow  the  seed  thinly  in  light  soil  in  Sin  pote.  When 
the  seed  germinates  give  abundance  of  light  to  maintain  the 
plants  sturdy,  and  pot  on  as  required.  Winter  Beauty,  Duke  of 
York,  and  Earliest  of  All  are  suitable  varieties  for  present  sowing. 
Seedlings  from  autumn  sowing  must  be  potted  in  small  pots  and 
kept  progressing  in  abundance  of  light  and  a  brisk  temiaerature. 
RHUBARB. — The  forcing  of  Rhubarb  becomes  less  difficult 
as  the  days  begin  to  lengthen,  but  for  the  present  a,  good  tempera¬ 
ture  is  required.  Surround  the  clumps  of  roots  with  a  little  soil, 
and  afford  a  good  soaking  so  that  the  crowns  can  be  kept  moist. 
Keep  in  semi-darkness,  or  cover  with  pots  or  boxes. 
SEAKALE. — Continue  to  place  strong  roots  having  bold 
crowns  in  pots  or  boxes  of  soil,  or  plant  in  a  bed  of  soil  in  a  dark 
corner  of  the  forcing  house.  Regulate  the  supply  so  as  to  form 
an  unbroken  succession  according  to  the  demand. 
SALADS. — Lettuce  and  Endive  in  framea  must  be  kept  freely 
ventilated  in  suitable  weather,  also  removing  decayed  and  yellow 
leaves.  Place  Chicory  and  Dandelion  roots  in  boxes  of  soil  to  force 
in  a  dark,  warm  place;  while  Mustard  and  Cress  should  be  sown 
frequently  on  the  surface  of  the  soil  in  boxes  placed  in  a  warm 
structure. — Lymington,  Hants. 
—  - 
Ad  Obs’jver’s  Kotes. 
Fri.  3 
Sat.  4 
Sun.  5 
Mon.  6 
Tu.  7 
Wed.  8 
Thrs.  9 
January  3-9.  Plants  dedicateu  to  each  day. 
Rosemary  flowers. 
Wren  sings. 
Garrya  flowers. 
Lilac  sliows  gi’ow’th. 
Plough  Monday. 
Redbreast  commences  singing. 
Honeysuckle  leaves  opening. 
Hazel. 
Stinking  Bear’s-foot. 
Rigid  Screw  Moss. 
Portugal  Laurel. 
Yellow  Tremella. 
Common  Laurel. 
Furze  or  Gorse. 
