308 
JOURNAL  OF  EORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  3,  1902. 
strong  and  vigorous  gi'owth  as  results  from  autumn  planting,  but 
if  the  rooting  medium  is  kept  moist  by  a  light  mulch  throughout 
the  summer,  moderate  growth  will  be  made,  especially  if  growth 
is  pruned  well  back.  The  smaller  the  trees  and  bushes  are,  if 
they  have  no  soil  adhering  to  the  roots,  or  cannot  be  lifted  with 
a  ball,  tile  better.  Strawberries  and  fibrous  suckers  of  Baspberries 
will  .succeed  planted  now,  but  no  fruit  must  be  allowed  the  first 
season. — East  Kent. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES :  ANNUAL  SYSTEM  OF  EARLY  FORCING.— 
Although  Vines  in  pots  afford  creditable  early  Grapes,  better 
results  are  obtained  by  planting  the  Vines  out  in  beds  of  3ft  to 
4ft  in  width  and  2ft  in  depth,  so  as  to  admit  of  Gin  of  rubble  and 
■  a  Sin  layer  of  old  mortar  rubbi,sh  over  it,  and  15in  depth  of  soil. 
To  carry  out  the  system  successfully,  light,  well  heated 
structures,  facing  .south.  Cut-back  Vines,  fonvarded  in  another 
structure,  are  the  most  suitable.  They  may  consist  of  Black 
Hamburgh,  Buckland  Sweetwater,  Madresfield  Court,  and 
FosteFs  Seedling.  They  .should  be  planted  in  their  fruiting 
quarters  by  the  early  2>art  of  May,  when  the  Vines  that  have 
fruited  are  cleared  out,  fresh  soil  being  ^^laced  in  the  borders  or 
beds,  planting  the  new  Vines,  for  fruiting  the  following  year, 
27in  to  30in  distance  aj^art.  As  they  will  hav'e  made  considerable 
progress,  and  be  in  12in  pots,  turn  them  out  with  ball  entire, 
firming  the  soil  A^ell  about  them.  Turfy  loam,  with  the  addition 
of  one-sixth  of  old  mortar  rubbish,  a  similar  propiortion  of 
thoroughly  rotted  manure  and  one-twelfth  of  “nut.s”  charcoal  forms 
a  suitable  comiiost.  Extra  food  can  be  given  in  toir-dressing  or 
liquid  form ;  the  soil  being  firm,  and  the  canes  trained  about  1ft 
from  the  glass  will  make  shorter  jointed  wood.  The  laterals 
should  be  pinched  at  every  joint  of  growth,  and  the  cane  stopiDed 
about  12in  beyond  where  it  is  i^roposed  to  .shorten  it  for  fruiting, 
'6ft  to  7ft  Gin  length  of  good  cane  being  amjrle.  Under  good 
management  the  Vines  will  make  stout  canes,  and  being  as 
much  under  control  as  Vines  in  pots,  they  can  be  matured  so  as 
to  be  ready  for  starting  by  late  October  or  early  in  November  to 
ripen  Grajjes  in  March  or  early  in  April.  The  root  action  being 
con.siderably  extended  as  conqjared  with  Vines  in  pots,  the  crops 
are  finer. 
GRAPES  RIPENING. — The  fruit  swells  considerably  after 
commencing  to  colour,  therefore  inside  borders  should  have  a 
thorough  supply  of  water  early  on  a  fine  day,  ventilating  early  to 
allow  excessive  moi.sture  to  escape.  With  a  full  crop  of  Grapes 
the  Lines,  especially  early  forced,  are  severely  taxed,  and  jjerfec- 
tion  in  colour  is  not  always  attained.  Much  towards  effecting  a 
good  finish  may  be  done  by  a  liberal  and  constant  supply  of  warm, 
dry  air,  combined  Avith  a  moderate  Ioav  night  temperature,  .say 
GOdeg  to  Godeg,  mamtaining  70deg  to  75deg  by  day,  and 
u.dyancing  to  SOdeg,  Sodeg,  or  OA^en  90deg,  from  sun  heat.  Red 
spider  generally  makes  its  ap^Aearance  in  early  Auneries.  It  may 
be  kept  from  .siireading  by  carefully  removing  the  first  assailants 
by  lueans  of  a  s^Aonge  moistened  in  .softsoapy  Avater.  This  is  a 
tediou.s,  but  very  effectiAm  means  of  keeiAing  the  pe.st  from 
spreading.  .  M  hen  the  attack  is  general  the  hot-Avater  pipes 
should  be  coated  AAdth  a  mixture  of  sulphur  and  .skim  milk,  after 
heating  theuA  to  170deg  or  more,  the  house  being  closed,  and  the 
pipes  kejAt  hot  for  about  an  hour,  Avhen  alloAv  to  fall  to  the 
ordinai’y  heat.  Do  not  overdo  the  vaporisation,  as  the  sulphur 
fumes,  Avhen  excessive,  are  liable  to  injure  the  .skin  of  the 
Grapes,  especially  those  of  Frontignans  and  Mu.scat  of 
Alexandria. 
SUCCESSION  HOITSES. — Stop  and  regulate  laterals  .so  as  o 
secure  an  even  spread  of  foliage  AA’ithout  croAvding,  not  tolerating 
any  interference  by  laterals  Avith  the  access  of  light  and  air  to 
the  principal  leaves.  Where  there  is  not  room  for  extension,  it 
is  unAA’ise  to  alloAA"  them  to  groAA’  considerably,  so  as  to  necessitate 
a  large  reduction  of  foliage  at  one  time,  as  this  results  in  a  check 
to  root  action,  Avhich  may,  and  often  does,  result  in  shanking  at 
a  later  period.  Attend  to  thinning  the  bunches  and  berries, 
under  rather  than  over-cropping  the  Vines.  Make  sure  that 
the  borders  liaA^e  abundance  of  Avater.  Vines  SAvelling  their  crops 
should  have  a  moist  atmosphere,  securing  this  by  damping  the 
paths  tAvo  or  three  times  a  day,  and  sprinkling  the  borders  Avhen 
the  surface  becomes  dry.  If  liquid  manure  be  used  at  the  la.st 
sprinkling  for  the  day,  it  Avill  imjAroA^fi  the  Vines  and  act  as  a 
check  to  red  spider.  Stable  and  coAA'house  drainings,  diluted  Avith 
five  times  the  bidk  of  AAater,  or  an  ounce  of  Peruvian  or  Ichaboe 
guano  to  a  gallon  of  Avater,  is  sufficieAitly  strong  for  damping  Avith, 
not  more  than  a  4-gallon  AA’atering-canful  to  301  square  yards,  as 
an  exce.ss  of  ammonia  vapour  is  injurious  to  the  foliage  of  the 
Vines. 
LATE  VINES. — Disbud  and  tie  down  as  they  require  it. 
Close  the  house  earlj^  in  the  afternoon,  Avith  .sun  heat  and  ample 
atmospheric  moisture  by  frec|uently  damping  the  paths  and  .similar 
surfaces.  Vines  that  AA’ere  started  early  in  March  are  making 
rapid  progre.ss,  and  mu.st  receive  eAmry  encouragement,  but  avoid 
hun-ying  their  groAA'th  by  a  close  atmosphere  aiid  high  tempera¬ 
ture,  esiAecially  at  night,  ventilating  judiciously  early  in  the  day 
so  as  to  secure  aa  cII  formed,  thick,  leathery  leaves. — St.  Albans., 
***  All  correspondence  rekiting  to  editor  al  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street^ 
London,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  AArite  privately 
to  any  of  our  eorresjAondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
CAMELLIA  LEAVES  SPOTTED  (J.  W.).— The  leaves  are 
spotted  in  consequence  of  the  sun’s  rays  striking  powerfully  on 
them.  The  only  remedy  is  to  afford  the  iplants  slight  shade  from 
the  time  they  commence  groAvth  until  it  is  fully  matured,  or 
throughout  the  summer  until  October.  Keeping  the  leaves  con¬ 
stantly  Avet  Avill  also  produce  the  same  result ;  y'ours  have  the 
aiAiiearance  of  AA’ater  having  stood  on  them  and  driijped  from  the 
edges. 
PLACING  CAMELLIAS  AND  AZALEAS  OUT  OF  DOORS 
(Idem). — They  should  be  kept  in  moist  heat  until  they  have  made 
fresh  groAA'th,  and  then  have  more  light  and  air ;  Avhen  Avell 
hardened  off  and  the  buds  set,  they  may  be  placed  outside  in  a 
position  sheltered  fi'om  winds  and  shaded  from  the  sun,  but  not 
by  overhanging  trees.  A  cool  house  Avith  an  east  aspect  is  much 
better  to  keep  the  plants  in  after  the  buds  are  set  than  placing 
them  out  of  doors.  The  Eucharis  amazonica  should  at  once  be 
reiAotted,  and  groAvn  in  brisk  heat  AA’ith  moisture.  Use  a  compost 
of  tAA’o  parts  turfy  loam,  and  one  i^art  leaf  soil,  with  a  half  laart 
of  sandy  peat  and  a  sixth  of  silver  sand,  chopping  up  rather  fine, 
but  not  .sifting ;  and  afford  good  drainage. 
ANTS  IN  STOVE  AND  CONSERVATORY  (J.  W.  F.).— As 
you  AA’ant  something  the  ants  aaGU  eat  and  then  die,  the  folloAving 
preparation  may  ansAver  your  puiTDose,  but  it  mu.st  be  used  with 
the  utmo.st  caution,  a.s  it  is  a  laoi.son  mo.st  fatal  to  animal  life. 
Place  loz  of  ordinary  or  AAhite  arsenic  in  an  old  iron  pot  Avitli  a 
quart  of  AA'ater,  and  then  boil  until  reduced  to  a  pint  or  a.  little 
more  of  liquid,  to  aaIucIi  add  Ub  of  coarse  sugar,  and  mix  Avell. 
This  mixture  can  either  be  drojAped  about  the  runs  and  around 
the  nests  or  placed  in  saucers  in  the  haunts  of  the  ants. 
PEACH  TREES  CASTING  THEIR  FRUIT  (J.  M.  W.).— The 
fruits  are,  as  you  .say,  affected  at  the  kernel,  this  being  dis¬ 
coloured,  alino.st  black.  The  dropping  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines 
in  the  first  SAAelling  and  by  or  before  they  have  attained  to  the 
size  of  marble.s,  u.suall,y  arises  from  the  combined  effects  of 
immature  aaoocI,  imiierfect  formation,  or  fertilisation  of  the 
oAmles,  and  a  deficiency  of  starAmd  matter  in  the  adjacent  Avood. 
Taa  o  of  the  Peaches  Avere  perfect,  and  also  the  Nectarine.  Some¬ 
times  the  defect  results  from  overcroijping  in  the  previous  sea.son, 
but  commonly  from  the  trees  making  soft,  long-jointed  Avood, 
and  from  the  soil  not  being  of  a  sufficiently  firm  nature  .so  as  to 
induce  .sturdy,  thoroughly  .solidified  groAAths.  In  ca.ses  the  fruit 
is  cast  a.s  a  result  of  a  sudden  check,  such  as  that  of  an  overdose 
of  tobacco  smoke  or  A'apour,  and  in  not  a  feAv  instances  from 
alloAA'ing  the  temperature  to  rise  considerably  in  the  morning  and 
then  admit  air  in  such  quantity  as  to  cause  a  .sudden  depression, 
chilling  and  drying  the  atmosphere.  The  tree  lifted  from  a  late 
house,  and  being  the  same  in  casting  its  fruit,  faAmurs  the  deduc¬ 
tion  of  the  fruit  drojiping  from  immaturity  of  the  Avood  and 
consequent  imjAerfect  formation  and  fertilisation. 
INSECTS  DESTROYING  VINES  (Subscriber).— Tlie  insect  is 
a  Aveevil,  Curculio  picipes,  AAhich  is  very  injurious  in  a  vinery. 
Spread  a  sheet  beneath  the  Vine  at  night,  and  shake  the  Vine  rod 
sharply,  Aidien  the  Aveevils  aaIII  fall  on  to  the  sheet  and  may  be 
destroyed.  This  repeated  a  feAv  times  will  thin  their  numbers. 
We  presume  the  Vines  Avere  stripped  of  their  loose  bark,  and 
afterwards  dressed  in  the  usual  manner,  the  walls  being 
thoroughly  whitewashed.  Any  holes  or  crevices  in  the  AA'all  should 
be  stopped  Avith  cement.  We  cannot  lay  too  much  stress  on  your 
taking  the  weevils ;  every  one  you  destroy  will  help  to  prevent 
egg-laying.  The  tobacco  juice  of  the  manufacturer  diluted  with 
six  times  its  bulk  of  Avater  is  useful,  applying  it  through  a  rosed 
AA’atering  pot ;  also  the  folloAA'ing  ;  — Aoz  quassia  chips,  boiled  ten 
minutes  in  a  gallon  of  soft  AAater,  dissolving  in  it  4oz  .softsoap. 
Wet  the  surface  of  the  AA’hole  house  AA’ith  this  two  or  three  times 
AA’ith  this,  especially  near  the  AA’alls,  just  after  dusk,  and  the 
folloAving  day  AV’ater  the  whole  house  AA'ith  tepid  water.  Neither 
of  the  agents  mentioned  must  be  applied  to  the  foliage  of  the 
Vines,  but  over  any  jilants  that  Avill  not  be  injured  by  the  soft 
soap  it  may  be  syringed.  We  have  also  found  useful  sprinkling 
the  floor  of  the  house  and  border  Avith  guano,  and 
then  AA-ith  AA’ater;  if  the  floors,  Ac.,  are  Avet,  sprinkling  Avith  Avater 
afterAvards  is  unnecessar^^  If  the  Vines  are  in  tender  leaf  a  little 
air  should  be  left  on,  as  the  ammonia  evolved  Avill  scorch  the 
I  leaves.  Water  Avell  in  the  course  of  tAA’o  or  three  days. 
