386 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
:\riiy  1,  1902. 
CARDEH.  CLEANINGS 
Forced  Vegetables. 
T]ie  reference  to  Ixoras  at  Syon  recalls  tlie  pits  near  by  the 
plant  stoves,  in  which  are  crisp  young  Lettuces  ready  now  for 
u:e,  and  between  them  are  rows  of  French  Beans,  whose  pods 
will  be  ready  when  the  last  of  the  Lettuces  are  being  taken. 
Cauliflowers  in  frames  to  provide  early  heads  are  so  advanced  that 
the  leaves  will  soon  be  “  turning  in  ”  over  the  “  flower.”  Cabbages 
for  spring  use  have  run  much  to  flower  this  year,  which  is  attri¬ 
buted  to  the  sharp  frost  in  January,  after  the  mildness  before 
that  period. 
1  orced  Peaches. 
The  earliest  varieties  are  now  ripening,  and  the  trees  must 
not  be  syringed,  but  the  border  should  not  be  allowed  to  become 
dry.  As  the  fruit  of  the  other  varieties  will  not  be  ripe  for 
some  time  yet,  the  atmosphere  must  be  kept  genial  by  sprinkling 
the  borders  and  paths  as  they  become  dry,  syringing  the  trees  in 
the  morning,  and  again  when  closing  the  house.  The  night 
temperature  may  be  kept  at  Codeg  to  70deg,  but  60deg  to  65deg, 
though  it  wiU  retard  the  ripening,  will  not  tax  the  energies  of 
the  trees  so  much  as  the  higher  temperature.  Leaving  the  ven¬ 
tilators  slightly  open  constantly  at  the  upper  part  of  the  house 
will  be  an  advantage.  In  the  daytime  70deg  to  75deg,  and 
SOdeg  to  85deg  from  sun  heat  will  be  suitable  temperatures. — A. 
Peach  Trees  Swelling  their  Fruit. 
The  fruits  swell  rapidly  in  the  early  stages,  and  up  to  the 
commenoement  of  the  stoning  process.  The  swelliag  of  the 
fruit  is  materially  accelerated  by  the  maintenance  of  a  good  root 
action,  which  is  best  effected  by  a  judicious  and  gradual  regula¬ 
tion  of  the  growths  by  the  process  of  disbudding  and  in  thinning 
the  fruits.  These  operations  should  be  done  carefully.  The 
more  vigorous  the  tree,  the  greater  the  danger  of  the  fruit  being 
cast  in  stoning,  and  the  evil  is  often  aggravated  by  previously 
disbudding  severely,  which  favours  strong  growth  more  than 
steady  progress.  Supply  water  thoroughly  to  inside  borders 
when  necessary,  lay-in  the  shoots  so  as  to  induce  them  to  grow  in 
the  proper  direction,  allowing  room  in  the  ligatures  for  the 
swelling  of  the  growths.  After  the  fruit  has  stoned  it  takes  the 
last  swelling,  when  the  shoots  should  be  well  tied  down,  but  a 
moderate  extension  of  the  growths  will  materially  assist  the  fruit 
in  swelling.  Any  leaves  that  shade  the  fruit  should  be  drawn 
aside  or  shortened,  and  fruits  on  the  under  side  or  back  of  the 
trellis  be  raised  on  pieces  of  laths  placed  across  the  wires. — G. 
The  Gold-laced  Polyanthus. 
Time  was  when  these  exceedingly  handsome  spring  flowers, 
peers  among  the  Prijnulas,  were  more  revered  than  would  appear 
to  be  so  in  these  days  of  ominous  signs.  We  love  the  old  flowers, 
and  would  that  growers  everywhere  might  stand  by  the  gold- 
laced  favourites,  of  which  a  specimen  plant  is  figured  on  page  387 
of  this  week’s  Journal.  Even  at  the  recent  show  of  the  National 
Primula  and  Auricula  Society  held  in  the  Drill  Hall,  only  three 
plants  of  this  aristocratical  section  could  be  seen,  and  miserable, 
puny  pieces  they  were,  stuck  in  pots  that  seemed  uncomfortably 
big  for  them.  What  are  prettier  than  borders  or  lines,  or  beds 
of  mixed  varieties  among  the  Apple  trees,  where  the  bees,  the 
soft  winds,  and  the  sunshine  steal None  of  the  spring  flowers 
are  nicer.  We  trust  that  if  the  exhibitors  at  least  have  lost  their 
regard  for  the  old  gold-laced  Polyanthus,  the  lovers  of  garden 
flowers  (for  their  memories  and  associations,  and  for  themselves) 
w  ill  sow  seeds  soon,  and  will  grow  liberally,  these  beautiful  har¬ 
bingers.  The  characteristics  of  a  good  Polyanthus  are  that  each 
flower  should  have  a  yellow  centre  or  eye;  this  yellow  centre 
should  be  of  the  same  width  as  the  body  colour,  which  should 
either  be  a  rich  dark  crimson  or  a  bright  red.  Round  this 
body  colour  the  margin,  or  lacing,  should  appear  of  a  uniform 
width  surrounding  each  petal,  and  continuing  down  the  centre  of 
each  to  the  yellow  eye.  The  colour  of  this  lacing  should  be 
uniform,  whether  it  is  sulphur,  lemon  yellow,  or  clear  yellow. 
Seeds  may  be  sown  now  in  warm  and  well  prepared  borders. 
Peach  Curl 
Is  caused  by  a  fungus,  Exoascus  deformans,  a  fungus  wEich  is 
much  more  serious  if  rains  or  cold  weather  prevail  at  the  time  the 
trees  are  leafing  out.  The  efficiency  of  sprays  in  checking  the  curl 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  spread  of  thiis  fungus  is  due  to  the 
spores,  and  not  to  a  perennial  mycelium,  as  Avas  at  first  supposed. 
A  Magnificent  Magnolia. 
In  a  sheltered  part  of  the  grounds  at  Syon  House,  Brentford, 
there  has  lately  been  in  flower  a  magnificent  Magnolia  tree,  of 
the  species  stellata,(syn.  Halleana).  Standing  fully  20ft  high,  it 
is  also  dense  and  splendidly  furnished.  Hundreds,  perhaps 
thousands,  of  the  beautiful  pearly  white  and  star-shaped  blooms 
have  been  developed  during  the  past  feiv  weeks,  but  the  withered 
remains  are  all  that  now  remain. 
Fritillaria  askabadensis. 
On  page  293,  April  3,  we  figured  this  fine  neiv  species,  about 
which  Miss  Willmott  kindly  sends  us  the  following  particulars: 
“  Fritillaria  askabadensis  is  a  new  species  belonging  to  the 
Petalium  group.  It  was  found  by  Messrs.  Van  Tubergen’s  col¬ 
lector  near  the  toAvn  of  Askhabad,  groAving  in  calcareous  soil  at 
an  elevation  of  1,000  metres.  It  Avas  exhibited  by  me  at  the  Drill 
Hall  on  March  11  and  again  on  March  25,  Avhen  it  was  given  an 
Award  of  Merit. — E.  Willmott,  Warley.” 
Oranges  in  Variety. 
Medical  men  say  that  an  acid  Orange  eaten  daily  before  break- 
.  fast  from  December  to  April  tends  to  produce  a  condition  of 
almost  perfect  health.  It  is  Avell  knoAvn  that  singers  consume 
large  quantities  of  Oranges,  the  juice  of  this  fruit  being  con¬ 
sidered  especially  good  for  the  Amice.  Fresh  fniits  are  alAAmys 
Avholesome  and  appetising  as  a  food  or  in  beverages,  and  fruit  in 
some  form  should  be  eaten  daily  for  the  health’s  sake.  Oranges 
may  be  serAmd  in  many  dainty  Avays,  and  one  may  rejoice  over 
the  fact  that  the  supply  is  plentiful  and  price  reasonable. 
Daffodils  at  Rood  Ashton. 
For  some  time  past  the  shrubbery  borders  here  have  been 
extremely  gay  Avith  a  Avealth  of  Daffodil  blossoms,  mostly  of  the 
double  Tellamonius  Plenus.  These  have  been  planted  some 
seven  or  eight  years,  and  so  quickly  do  they  increase  that  at  the 
present  time  some  two  dozen  or  more  flowers  can  be  counted 
to  a  clump  Avhich  had  their  origin  so  short  a  time  since  in  a 
single  bulb.  The  greater  proportion  of  the  floAvers  are  of  unusual 
size  and  depth  of  colour,  points  that  add  to  their  splendour 
collectively  as  Avell  as  individually.  They  are  present  in 
thousands,  and  are  freely  drawui  upon  for  decorative  purposes  in 
the  house  and  church — uses  to  Avhich  they  are  so  Avell  adapted. 
These,  together  with  Polyanthuses,  Tulips,  and  Aubrietias,  com¬ 
bine  to  make  the  grounds  diversified  and  spring-like,  and,  need¬ 
less  to  say,  find  many  admirers.— W. 
A  Dozen  Choice  Caladlums. 
Words  fail  one  when  attempts  are  made  to  describe  the 
exquisite  tenderness  and  subtlety  of  colouring  among  Caladiums. 
They  are  precious  plants,  and  will  ahvays  be  sought  for  and 
largely  grown.  The  following  dozen  varieties  are  the  cream  of 
Messrs.  Laing  and  Sons’  large  and  representative  collection  at 
Forest  Hill.  The  descriptions  are  tlieirs  also: — Alexander  III., 
large  bright  red,  with  green  inargin.  Barao  de  Mamore,  delicate 
AV'hite  ground,  beautifully  reticulated  Avith  green,  the  centre  and 
ribs  marked  wdth  dark  veh^ety  crimson,  narrow  green 
border;  a.m.  Duke  of  York,  dark  crimson,  with  bright  rose- 
carmine  leaves  and  darker  midrib  and  veins;  the  colour  is  most 
effectrte;  a.m.  Excellent,  green  ground,  spotted  red  and  white, 
fine;  f.c.c.  Her  Majesty,  the  broad  margin  and  the  principal 
A-eins  Avith  a  band  on  each  side  of  them  bright  apple-green,  the 
intei-spaces  silvery  white,  Avith  some  carmine  stains.  John  Laing, 
extremely  brilliant  ro,sy  red,  bordered  creamy  wdiite;  most  effec¬ 
tive;  F.c.c.  Flammant  Rose,  brilliant  rose  surface  and  veins, 
margined  bright  green,  large  leaf.  Gaspard  Ci-ayer,  red  centre, 
Avith  a  broad  green  margin,  fine;  f.c.c.  Poupre  Royale  (Royal 
Purple),  deep  reddish  purple,  bordered  by  a  golden  green  margin  ; 
very  fine.  Mrs.  Luther,  briglit  rose-carmine,  almost  self- 
coloured,  very  dwarf  and  dense.  Rose  Laing,  a  most  charming 
and  attractive  A’ariety,  pure  Avhite  ground,  veins  and  ribs  a 
delicate  blush;  very  distinct;  a.m.  Souv.  de  la  Baronne  Albert 
de  Rothschild,  dwarf,  Avhite,  flushed  with  transparent  rose  in 
centre. 
