April  10,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Outdoor  Tomatoes  as  Bush  Plants. 
This  is  a  form  of  growing  Tomatoes  w’hich  is  seldom  advocated 
by  horticultural  writers  at  the  present  time,  but  which  might 
often  be  practised  with  advantage,  as  one  good  bu.sh  plant  with 
several  stems  will  produce  as  much  fruit  as  several 
plants  trained  to  one  stem,  if  well  attended  to  as  regards 
stopping  and  thinning  of  the  shoots ;  plants  with  two  or  more 
stems  growing  as  fast  as  single  stem  plants,  if  allowed  sufficient 
room  to  develop  both  at  tops  and  roots.  We  grew  plants  of  Early 
Ruby  last  year  as  bushes,  some  of  which  ripened  upwards  of  100 
fruit.s,  weighing  quite  201b  per  plant.  A  great  advantage  to  be 
gained  by  growing  them  so,  is  the  saving  of  space  when  the  plants 
are  under  glass,  at  a  time  when  every  inch  is  valuable  in  the 
majority  of  gardens,  as  a  ijlant  which  is  ultimately  tO'  be  grown 
as  a  bush  does  not  require  any  more  space  than  one  that  is 
destined  to  form  a  cordon ;  consequently,  fewer  plants  are 
required,  or  the  plants  may  be  grown  on  in  larger  pots  previous 
to  being  planted  out,  if  saving  of  space  is  no  object.  When 
planted  out,  a  distance  of  3ft  apart  each  way  is  none  too  much,  if 
the  ground  is  in  good  condition.— R.  W.  Dean,  Wainsford, 
Lymington. 
A  Few  Ornamental  Trees. 
The  follovnng  short  list  of  hardy  deciduous  trees  are  some 
which  are  not  very  often  met  with,  but  which  deserve  to  be 
more  frequently  planted  than  they  are,  if  only  for  the  sake  of 
variety,  independent  of  the  beauty  they  posse.ss.  Alianthus 
glandulosus  (Tree  of  Heaven)  is  a  very  quick  growing  tree^ — 
especiallj'  when  young. — and  forms  a  bold,  handsome  specimen. 
There  is  a  verj'  fine  example  of  it  in  the  gardens  at  Apperley 
Court,  Tewkesbury,  the  residence  of  Algernon  Strickland,  Esq., 
which  is  upwards  of  a  century  old.  The  Ailanthus  may  also  be 
grown  under  the  system  of  cutting  down  to  the  ground  every 
year,  when  it  produces  leave, s  oft  to  6ft  long,  which  present  quite 
a  tropical  appearance.  It  is  a  native  of  China. 
Ginkgo  biloba,  also  known  avS  Salisburia  adiantifolia.  Maiden¬ 
hair  Tree,  Avhose  leaves  resemble  the  segments  of  a  frond  of 
Maidenhair  Fern,  presents  an  unique  appearance  amongst  hardy 
deciduous  trees,  a  well  developed  specimen  forming  an  object  of 
great  beauty.  It  is  also  a  native  of  China,  and  grows  to  a 
height  of  60ft  to  80ft. 
('erci.s  siliquastrum,  Judas  Tree,  does  not  attani  such  a 
height  as  the  preceding  ones,  but  has  a  more  spreading  habit, 
20ft  or  30ft  being  its  usual  height.  It  flowers  very  freely  as  the 
trees  advance  in  age,  the  bright  puiqile  flowers  issuing  in  clusters 
direct  from  the  trunk  and  branches  before  the  leaves  ajipear, 
giving  it  a  very  singular  intere, sting  appearance.  Tlie  flowers 
are  considered  to  resemble  drops  of'’blood  protruding  from  the 
bare  stems,  from  which  circum.stance  it  derives  the  name  of 
.ludas  Tree. — R.  W^.  Dean,  IVainsford,  Hants. 
Observers’  Notes. 
Uiuler  this  heading  there  are  many  short  interesting  'notes  ottr 
readers  might  send. 
A  pair  of  robins  are  building  their  nest  in  a  Heliotrope  plant 
in  a  conservatory  at  Barnstaple.  The  birds  make  their  way  to 
and  from  the  outer  world  bv  means  of  an  open  ventilator  in 
the  roof. 
*  *  * 
I  am  pleased  to  report  having  heard  the  wryneck  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th  inst.  and  again  this  morning,  the  7th.  For 
oyer  fifty  years  I  have  looked  on  the  voice- of  this  little  migratory’ 
bird  in  the  early  days  of  April  a.s  one  of  the  glad  heralds  of 
spring.— .\lic'e  Baker. 
Curious  Behaviour  of  a  Flight  of  Wagtails. 
I  send  you  an  extract  from  a  letter  received  by  me  the  other 
day  from  a  planter  friend  at  Balur,  Mysore,  which  I  think  will 
be  of  interest  to  some  of  ymur  readers.  The  wagtail,  which  is  a 
migratory  bird,  as  everybody  knoAvs,  comes  down  south  Avith, 
or  just  before,  snipe,  and  a  fl.ight  of  them  must  have  been  passing 
over  Baur  when  the  rain  stopped  them.  .“A  A-eiy  funny  thing 
occurred  here  the  other  night.  I  Avas  reading  in  the  sitting- 
room  at  about  9  p.m.,  and  it  Avas  raining  heavily  outside,  Avhen 
a  water  Avagtail  flew  into  the  room,  and  after  a  little  Avhile  I 
found  there  AA'ere  four  of  them.  I  did  not  take  much  notice  of 
them  until  one  flcAv  on  to  the  lamp  and  ])ut  it  out,  and  then  I 
thought  it  AA  as  high  time  to  go  to  bed.  So  I  Avent  into  my  bed¬ 
room,  and  to  my  surprise  found  it  Avas  full  of  these  birds.  They 
had  come  in  evidently  to  take  shelter  from  the  rain.  They 
seemed  quite  tame,  and  several  of  them  sat  on  mj^  shoulder  and 
on  my  hands.  IloAvever,  I  clitl  not  Avant  them  flying  about  my 
room  all  night,  so  I  caught  them  one  by  one  and  set  them  free 
in  the  draAving-room.  In  the  morning  Iavo  Avere  found  dead, 
evidently  killed  by  the  dogs,  but  the  rest  had  all  gone.” —  j 
(“Indian  Forester,”  October  12,  1901.)  j 
31:9 
Fruit  Forciug. 
YOUNG  VINES. — Last  year’s  planted  canes  Avill  now  be 
breaking  naturally,  and  when  the  growths  are  fairly  on  the  move 
a  little  fire  heat  Avill  prove  beneficial,  especially  on  cold  days. 
When  the  growths  are  about  half  an  inch  long,  gradually  remove 
those  not  required,  leaving  the  shoots  for  bearing  or  forming 
the  side  groAvths  or  spurs  not  closer  than  15in  to  18in  on 
each  side  of  the  cane.  If  the  Vines  are  cropped  let  it  be  light. 
One,  or  at  most  tAvo  bunches,  is  as  much  as  Vines  in  the  first  year 
of  fruiting  should  be  alloAA'ed  to  bear,  but  supernumeraries  may 
carry  as  much  fruit  as  there  is  a  prospect  of  their  bringing  to 
maturity. — St.  Albans. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES:  EARLIEST  FORCED 
HOUSE. — -Discontinue  syringing  Avhen  the  fruit  commences  to 
ripen,  or  it  Avill  cause  the  skin  to  crack  and  impart  an  unpleasant 
flavour.  It  is  very  important  to  have  the  trees  quite  free  from 
insects  by  the  time  the  syringing  ceases,  as  it  must  Avhen  the 
fruit  commences  ripening.  If  there  be  the  least  sign  of  red 
spider,  apply  an  insecticide,  and  folloAv  shortly  afterAvards  Avith  a 
foi’cible  syringing,  repeating  the  process  if  necessary,  so  as  to 
thoroughly  free  the  trees  from  the  pest.  It  is  onij’  the  A’ery 
early  varieties  that  will  be  ripening  ;  the  others  must  be  Avell 
syringed,  and  have  abundant  supplies  of  Avater  and  surface 
mulchings  of  short  manure  or  rich  material. 
LATE  HOUSES. — A  splendid  display  of  blossom  and  a  grand 
smell  of  nectar  characterises  the  trees  in  this  department.  There 
ought  not  to  be  anything  neglected  that  is  likely  to  insure  the 
perfect  fertilisation  of  the  floAvers,  as  Avithout  it  fruit  cannot 
attain  perfection.  Many  of  the  late  Peaches  haA’e  large  blossoms, 
and  these  often  have  the  anthers  deficient  of  pollen.  Attend, 
therefore,  to  fertilising  the  floAvers,  not  trusting  to  bees,  which, 
however,  effect  the  process  very  effectually,  but  they  seem  to  be 
so  hindered  by  the  glass  that  they  fight  shy  of  fruit  houses.  It 
is  lAot  the  difficulty  of  getting  in,  but  of  egress  from  the  structure 
that  bothers  the  bees,  for  Avhen  loaded  they  are  troubled  about 
nothing  but  carrying  the  nectar  and  pollen  to  their  homes,  and 
many  succumb  to  the  frantic  endeavour  made  to  take  a  direct 
flight.  Secure  a  temperature  of  50deg  by  day,  and  ventilate 
freely,  alloAving  an  adA’ance  to  65deg  from  sun  heat.  LeaA’e  a 
little  air  on  constantly.  Where  there  is  a  superabundance  of 
blossom,  remove  all  on  the  under  side  or  back  of  the  shoots,  and, 
though  this  is  best  done  before  the  flowers  expand,  it  Avill 
materially  aid  the  setting  and  SAvelhng  of  the  young  fruit. — 
St.  Albans. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
BROCCOLI. — Seed  should  be  sown  freely  noAv  of  some  of  the 
best  main  crop  varieties,  which  Avill  come  into  u.se  in  Avinter  and 
early  spring.  Among  the  best  varieties  may  be  included  Veitch’s 
Self-Protecting,  SnoAv’s  Winter  White,  Leamington,  and  Late 
Queen.  These  Avill  cover  a  long  season,  commencing  in  autumn 
and  ending  in  May  or  June,  hence  it  may  be  desirable  to  include 
a  foAv  other  varieties  Avhich  might  come  in  intermediately’.  It  is 
Avorth  Avhile  trying  a  fcAv  for  this  purpose,  as  a  continued  supply 
of  good  heads  of  this  A’egetable  cannot  fail  to  be  appreciated, 
especially  if  they  ai-e  procurable  at  a  time  when  other  vegetables 
are  scarce.  Sutton’s  Pearl,  Vanguard,  and  ’Winter  Mammoth 
are  to  be  recommended.  The  Avhite  and  purple  sprouting 
broccoli  prove  A’ery  useful,  and  should  be  groAA  n  in  quantity  to 
meet  a  fair  demand  in  the  early  part  of  sijring.  The  seeds  are 
best  soAvn  in  drills,  and  ought  to  be  protect'd  from  birds  by 
netting.  By  taking  the  latter  precaution  the  seed  need  not  be 
soAvn  so  thickly,  as  it  is  highly  desirable  not  to  croAvd  the  seed¬ 
lings,  though  if  soAvn  rather  more  thickly  than  is  needed  the 
pricking  out  Avill  render  them  strong  by  increasing  the  root  action 
and  affording  ample  room  for  the  development  of  the  plants  in 
the  early  stages.  Drills  for  the  seed  may  be  a  foot  apart,  and 
half  an  inch  deep. 
CAULIFLOWERS. — This  is  also  a  good  season  to  soav  Wal- 
cheren  and  Autumn  Giant  CaulifloAver.  Plants  from  this  soAving 
will  succeed  those  Avhich  have  been  raised  in  a  little  heat,  and 
are  noAv  ready  for  planting  out  finally  in  Avell  manured  soil.  If. 
hoAvever,  they  are  not  yet  strong  enough,  give  them  a  position 
in  a  cold  frame,  and  as  they  groAV  gradually  harden  to  outdoors. 
Plant  15in  or  18in  apart  in  roAvs  2ft  asunder. 
PLANTING  PEAS. — Peas  Avhich  haA’6  been  raised  in  boxes. 
tui'A’es,  or  pots,  having  undergone  a  good  course  of  hardening 
treatment,  ought  noAV  to  be  planted  out  finally.  They  must  be 
planted  in  soil  that  has  been  liberally  treated  in  the  matter  of 
