February  27.  1902.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
195- 
il 
WOKK.f’0fi.THEWEEK..R^ 
'1 
Fruit  Forcing. 
PEACHES  AND  NIOC  I'ARINES— EARLIEST  FORCED 
HOCSE. — The  fruit  has  nearly  completed  the  first  swelling,  and 
has  eptered  on  the  stoning  process.  Where  the  thinning  has 
been  properly  attended  to  there  will  be  about  one  fruit  left  of  the 
larger  Peaches  to  every  square  foot  of  trellis  covered  by  the 
trees.  Nectarines  and  Peaches  not  of  the  first  size  may  be  left 
a  little  closer.  There  is  danger^  however,  of  the  fruit  falling  if 
too  many  are  retained;  but  this  depends  greatly  on  the  v.  ood 
being  well  ripened  and  the  otherwise  healthy  condition  of  the 
trees.  If  there  be  more  fruit  than  specified  above  remove  the 
smaller,  allowing,  however,  a  margin  for  casualties  in  stoning. 
During  the  stoning  process  keep  the  temperature  as  equable  as 
possible,  as  a  sudden  check  by  draughts  of  cold  air  in  the  day¬ 
time  and  too  high  a  temperature  at  night  may  prove  disastrous. 
The  night  temperature  may  range  from  GOdeg  to  65deg,  but  5deg 
less  in  severe  weather;  TOdeg  to  7odeg  by  day  with  an  even  heat, 
and  about  Godeg  from  fire  heat  when  the  atmosphere  is  cold  and 
the  sky  ovei'cast.  Secure  the  shoots  to  the  trellis  as  they 
advance,  keeping  those  retained  to  attract  tlie  sap  to  the  fruit 
stopped  at  the  second  or  third  joint.  Keep  red  spider  in  check 
by  syringing  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  of  fine  days.  If  thrips 
and  brown  aphides  appear  fumigate  carefully  when  the  foliage  is 
dry.  For  destroying  the  pests  named  the  advertised  in.secticides 
are  suitable.  Afford  due  supplies  of  water  to  inside  borders,  or 
if  the  trees  are  at  all  weak,  liquid  manure  in  a  properly  diluted 
and  Avarmed  condition. 
SECOND  EARLY  FORC'ED  HOCSE.— Di.sbud  gradually, 
removing  the  ill-placed  and  nnnece.ssary  shoots,  not  reserving 
too  many  of  best  situated  and  most  desirable,  and  tie  down  the 
groAvths  early,  so  as.  to  give  them  the  rocjuired.  inclination, 
always  allowing  sufficient  room  for  their  SAvelling  in  the  ligatures. 
Thin  the  fruit  by  degrees,  first  removing  those  on  the  under 
^,side  of  the  branches,  or  otherwise  badly  placed;  but  leave  those 
in  the  best  positions  for  receiving  light  and  air  until  they 
indicate  by  free  sAvelling  the  nece.ssity  for  further  reduction, 
then  remove  the  smaller,  and  so  on,  until  only  a  feAv  more  than 
are  required  for  the  crop  are  left.  Syringe  the  trees  on  fine 
mornings,  and  ventilate  t^rly  in  favourable  weather.  The  tem¬ 
perature  may  range  from  mdeg  to  GOdeg  at  night,  GOdeg  to  Godeg 
by  day,  ventilating  at  the  latter  temperature,  and  clo.sing  the 
house  Avhen  the  heat  is  declining,  allowing  an  advance  of  odeg 
to  lOdeg  from  sun  heat.  Supply  water  as  required,  but  avoid 
making  the  soil  very  wet  at  this  early  stage,  for  it  only  induces 
soft  .growths. 
HOCSES  STARTED  IN  FEBRIWRY.— The  trees  started  at 
the  beginning  of  the  month  are  in  flower  or  well  advanced,  and 
as  there  will  in  most  cases  be  more  flowers  than  needed,  all 
those  on  the  under  side  of  the  shoots  may  be  removed  by  drawing 
the  hand  the  reverse  way  of  the  growths,  and  uhere  the  blossoms 
are  closely  set  they  may  be  still  further  reduced,  especially  on 
the  weaker  shoots.  A  night  temperature  of  50deg  to  55deig, 
and  oodeg  by  day  artificially,  is  suitable,  falling  odeg  on  cold 
night.s ;  ventilating  from  oOdeg,  as  a  close  atmosphere  is  fatal  to 
the  blo.s.soms,  freely  at  ofideg,  and  allow  an  advance  to  G5deg 
from  sun  heat.  Fertilise  the  flowers  in  the  early  part  of  fine 
days,  either  by  shaking  the  trellis  or  dusting  the  blossoms  with 
a  camel’s-hair  brush  charged  with  pollen.  It  is  the  better  plan 
to  pay  attention  to  each  individual  flower  when  its  polleii  is  ripe. 
Cease  syringing  when  the  trees  are  in  floAver,  but  the  floor  and 
border  should  be  sprinkled  morning  and  afternoon. 
HOCSES  TO  AFFORD  RIPE  FRCIT  IN  JCLY  AND 
ACGCST. — These  must  be  .started  at  the  beginning  of  March, 
closing  the  house  now,  and  syringing  the  ti’ees  occasionally  until 
the  buds  shoAv  colour,  Avlien  it  should  be  discontinued.  The 
borders  must  be  brought  into  a  thoroughly  moi.st  state  by 
repeated  Avaterings,  if  necessary  supplying  liquid  manure  to 
Aveak  trees.  If  the  lights  have  been  off  during  the  Avinter  the 
borders  Avill  not  require  AA'atering  until  the  fruit  is  set  and 
advanced  in  swelling.  When  the  buds  are  .sufficiently  prominent 
and  there  is  a  .superabundance  of  promise  for  fruit,  all  tho.se  on 
the  under  side  or  back  of  the  shoots  may  be  removed,  Avhich  Avill 
strengthen  those  that  remain  and  conduce  to  a  good  .set  of  fruit. 
Maintain  a  temperature  of  40deg  to  4.5deg  at  night,  oOdeg  bv 
day  AA’ith  a  little  air,  advancing  to  GSdeg  with  .sun  and  full 
ventilation. 
LATE  HOCSES. — The  AAcather  lately  has  u.sefully  retarded 
the  floAvering,  Avhich  in  houses  Avith  fixed  roofs  is  much  too 
forward.  If  the  liglits  are  off  there  is  no  hurry  in  replacing 
them,  suffice  that  this  be  done  by  the  time  the  buds  shoAv  colour, 
and  by  thus  retarding  the  trees  they  Avill  floAver  about  the  middle, 
of  April,  Avhen  they  have  the  benefit  of  the  sun  heat.  When 
the  troes  come  into  bloom  there  mu.st  not  be  any  attempt  at 
retarding  the  fructifying  process;  but  a  gentle  A\armth  at  that 
time  does  much  toAvards  securing  a  good  set  of  fruit,  and  it  is 
absolutely  neces.sary  in  cold  localities  to  insure  .safety  from  spring 
frosts.  Houses  Avith  fixed  roofs  should  be  ventilated  freely” 
and  AA-ater  .supplied  a.s  neces.sary  to  keep  the  borders  in  a  moist 
state  doAvn  to  the  drainage. 
CNHEATED  HOUSES  OR  WALL  CASES.— Tlie  chief  ccn- 
sideration  in  the.se  is  to  retard  the  floAvering.  Anything  in  the 
Avay  cf  pruning  and  securing  to  the  trellis  should  be  comiileted. 
ventilating  freely  to  retard  the  floAvering  to  as  late  a  period  as' 
po.ssible.  See  that  there  Ls  no  deficiency  of  moisture  in  the  borders, 
.supplying  Avater  as  required  to  bring  them  into  a  thorough h' 
moist  condition.  Apricots  in  Aiall  ca.ses  are  in  blos.som  ;  they 
cannot  have  too  much  air  if  only  the  temperature  is  kept  at 
4odeg  to  50deg  by  day  and  prevented  falling  beloAv  3.5deg  at 
night.  A  close  atmosphere  is  fatal  to  Apricot  blossom, 
also  to  those  of  Cherries  and  Plums.  The  cases  containing  these 
cannot  be  too  freely  ventilated,  .subject  to  the  conditions  given 
for  Apricots.  Pears  are  .similarly  exacting  during  their  floAA'erim'' 
period. — St.  Albans. 
Tlie  Kitchen  Garden. 
PEAS.^ — SoAv  another  good  breadth  of  main  crop  Peas. 
\  arieties  of  medium  height  and  tall  are  suitable,  .soAving  on  Avell 
prepared  ground,  arranging  the  roAvs  so  that  they  are  not  too 
closely  together.  Give  protection  to  all  Peas  when  pushimr 
tiiroiigh  the  ground.  ^ 
CABBAGE. — Frequent  hoeings  betAveen  the  plants  and 
sprinklings  of  artificial  manure  Avill  greatly  help  the  groAvth. 
Soot  is  a  good  manure  for  Cabbage  and  a  light  dre.ssing  of  "nitrate 
of  soda.  Both  are  quick  acting. 
CAULIFLOWERS. — Young  plants  from  a  spring  .soAving  are 
noAv  established,  and  should  receive  cold  frame  treatment. 
Fully  expose  during  fine  Aveather. 
POTATOES  IN  FRAMES. — Potatoes  in  frames  planted  at 
the  end  of  January  are  now  groAA'ing  freely,  and,  if  high  enough, 
may  have  soil  placed  round  them.  Protection  from  fro.st  should 
be  afforded  by  covering  the  glass  at  night. 
LETTUCE. — In  rich,  light  soil  .soav  Lettuce  for  a  .second  early 
crop  in  shalloAv  drills  formed  a  foot  a.siinder.  'The  leading 
Cabbage  varieties  are  Tom  Thumb  or  Tennis  Ball,  Avhich  has 
small,  firm,  and  .succulent  heads;  Commodore  Nutt,  of  small, 
compact  habit,  earlv  dark  green  colour;  All  the  Year  Round  is  a 
useful  sort.  Of  the.  Cos  varieties,  Paris  Green,  Bath  Cos, 
Eingsholm,  StandAvell,  and  Marvel  are  reliable  varieties.  Ivery’s 
Nonsuch  is  a  large  groAving  variety,  Avhich  blanches  Avell. 
SOWING  CJ^LERY  SEED. — For  securing  early  plants  to 
place  out  in  trenches  in  May  seed  of  a  good  variety  ought  now 
to  be  soAvn.  Wright’s  GroAu>  White  is  good  for  early  crops,  or 
Webb’s  Solid  White.  Any  of  the  folloAving  red  A^arieties  Avill  be 
found  good :  Leicester  Red,  Major  Clarke’s  Red,  Snlliam  Prize, 
and  Wright’s  Grove  Red.  ShalloAv  but  Avide  pans  or  boxes  may 
be  used  for  soAving  the  .seed,  filling  these  Avith  light  compo.st, 
and  make  level,  fine,  and  firm.  Water  Avith  a  fine  ro.se,  and  Avhen 
drained  soav  the  seed  thinly.  A  mere  covering  of  light  fine  .soil 
Avill  .suffice.  Cover  Avith  a  sheet  of  glass,  and  .shade  Avith  paper 
until  the  .seeds  germinate.  Until  the  seedlings  form  rough 
leaves  a  AAarm  po.sition  is  nece.s.sary.  After  that  a  cool,  light, 
and  airy  position  is  essential  until  the  plants  are  ready  to  prick 
out  in  frames  or  boxes. 
TOMATOES. — Tomatoes  in  the  various  stages  of  groAAth 
command  daily  attention,  and  especially  .so  in  dry,  .sunny 
Aveather  in  a  AA’arm  structure,  Avhere  the  sunshine  and  artificial 
heat  combined  cans#  rapid  evaporation.  Strong  plants  noAA’ly 
placed  in  fruiting  pots  or  planted  out  in  a  border  Avill  re<iuire 
careful  attention  at  the  roots  until  aa’cII  established,  and  the 
main  object  must  be  not  to  overAA’ater.  Give  abundance  of  light, 
and  keep  the  plants  strictly  to  one  .stem  by  rubbing  out  the 
side  shoots.  In  potting  Tomatoes  into  the  larger  pots  or  final 
fruiting  ix>ts,  it  is  very  important  to  make  the  soil  firm  about 
the  roots;  also  limit  the  quantity,  affording  only  enough  for  the 
present  needs.  It  is  most  beneficial  to  Tomatoes  to  receive 
frequent  top-dressings  of  rich  soil  at  inteiwal.s  after  fruiting 
commences.  Strong  seedlings  may  be  potted  singly,  and  plants 
in  small  pots  Avhich  are  filling  Avith  roots  mu.st  receive  a  shift 
into  a  laro’er  size.  From  seed  soaa’ii  iioaa'  in  gentle  bottom  heat 
.strong  plants  Avill  result.  groAvn  on  in  plenty  of  light  and  AAarmth 
AA  ith  abundant  air. 
THYME  BEDS. — Where  beds  of  common  and  Lemon  Thyme 
are  situated  in  a  comparatively  dry  border,  and  the  beds  reqiiirq 
reneAving,  this  may  be  done  iioav.  Lift  the  old  plants,  and  divide 
the  healthy  parts  into  pieces  Avith  roots  attached  to  each.  Plant 
about  Gin  apart  in  ground  Avell  dug.  placing  Ioav  doAvn  to  the  leafy 
parts. — Lymington,  Hants. 
