May  15,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
439 
P’1 
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K;^foi;.theWEEK..|^ 
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Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
REGULATING  WALL  TREE  GROW^THS.— The  impprtence 
of  keeping  well  in  hand  all  the  oi>erations  connected  with  the 
management  of  wall  trees  is  recognised  as  largely  assisting  in  pro¬ 
moting  the  health,  vigour,  and  general  cleanliness  of  the  trees. 
During  the  early  stage.s  of  growth  the  superabundance  of  shoots 
which  push  on  the  majority  of  trees  may  readily  be  dispensed 
with,  though  this  should  be  done  in  a  gradual  manner  by  dis¬ 
budding  or  rubbing  off  with  the  huger  and  thumb.  This,  how¬ 
ever,  cannot  be  done  when  the  growths  ucce.ssary  to  remove  have 
extended  in  length  and  become  strong.  The  knife  should  then  be 
used,  making  clean  cuts.  Tlie  process  of  disbudding  does  not 
always  clear  away  the  superfluous  shoots  entirely,  and  many  will 
remain  for  eventually  removing.  The  be.st  placed  shoots  to  be 
found  at  the*  base  of  the  fruiting  growths  of  the  present  season 
are  retained  in  the  case  of  Apricots,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines,  one 
to  each  growth  being  usually  found  sufficient  to  lay  in  for  the 
following  season’s  fruiting.  The  leading  growth  of  the  fniiting 
shoot  must  be  retained,  as  this  draA\  s  sap  to  the  fruit,  and  assists 
in  its  swelling  and  perfecting.  Instead  of  rubbing  or  cutting  out 
entirely  the  whole  of  the  well  placed  growths,  a  selection  may  be 
made  of  the  most  suitable,  and  the.se  shortened  to  three  or  four 
good  leaves.  Crowding  must  not  be  permitted.  These  will  form 
artificial  spurs,  which  will  subsequently  fruit.  The  laying  in  of 
shoots,  even  if  they  cannot  be  placed  permanently  in  position, 
enables  them  to-  be  more  easily  dealt  with,  as  being  young  and 
supple,  bending  is  more  readily  carried  out.  Morello  Cherries  are 
penuitted  to  retain  a  larger  number  of  .shoots  for  laying  in,  be¬ 
cause  they  can  be  trained  closer  together,  while  Plums  and  sweet 
Cherries  may  have  the  larger  number  of  current  year’s  growths 
shortened  to  foinn  spui'.s.  Shoots  retained  at  full  length  on  these 
are  more  certain  of  fruiting  the  second  year  than  the  first.  A 
number  of  .superfluous  shoots  may  advantageously  be  removed 
from  Apples  and  Pears  on  walls,  but  it  is  early  yet  to  shorten  back 
the  foreright  shoots  for  forming  spurs. 
THINNING  FRUIT. — The  crops  of  fruit  on  wall  trees  are  not 
as  yet  making  heavy  demands  on  the  trees  ;  nevertheless,  it  is 
desirable  to  commence  early  in  the  removal  of  fruits  unsuitably 
placetl,  or  that  are  much  crowded,  especially  in  the  case  of 
Apricots,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines,  also  Plums  and  Cherries.  If 
a  vigorous  syringing  is  given  to  those  trees  which. have  recently 
set  a  good  crop,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  small  and  unfertilised 
fruit  is  readily  detached,  but  when  advanced  in  size  it  is  necessary 
to  clip  them  off. 
DESTROYING  INSECTS. — The  importance  of  maintaining 
the  trees  in  a  thoroughly  clean  and  healthy  state  cannot  be  too 
often  insisted  upon,  especially  during  the  early  part  of  the  season, 
when  attacks  of  insects  are  productive  of  much  future  evil  by 
throwing  the  trees  into  a  weakened  condition.  Tlie  causes  of 
insects  attacking  wall  trees  may  frequently  be  much  mitigated. 
One  great  cau.se  is  dryness  at  the  roots  bringing  the  trees  into  a 
weakened  condition  primarily,  thus  rendering  them  an  easy  prey 
to  insect  and  blight  enemies.  The  main  remedy  should  consist  of 
first  thoroughly  moiste7ring  the  soil  below  the  roots,  following  this 
in  the  case  of  weakened  ti-ees  by  the  application  of  .some  nourish¬ 
ing  liquid  manure.  The  next  effort  should  be  to  cleanse  .shoots 
of  the  insects  which  have  congregated.  At  this  comparatively 
early  period  of  the  season  aphides  of  various  colours  are  the  most 
generally  prevalent  on  the  points  of  shoots  of  Plums,  Cherries, 
and  sometimes  Peaches  and  Nectarines.  Various  methods  may 
be  employed  to  destroy  them,  the  most  effectual,  perhaps,  being 
dipping  each  shoot  in  a  solution  of  softsoap  and  tobacco  water 
or  petroleum  emulsiou.  Afterwards  syringe  with  a  weaker  solu¬ 
tion  of  the  latter,  or  any  effective'  insecticide  with  good  cleansing 
properties.  This  vill  also  destroy  or  prevent  an  attack  of  ri'd 
spider,  which  usually  maki's  an  app;  arance  with  dry,  hot  weather. 
STR AWIIERPI i‘18. — Attention  is  reijuired  bv  plantations  in 
feeding,  watering,  and  mulching.  Watering  will  benefit  all  plants 
growing  in  light  soil  should  the  weather  be  dry  and  hot.  When 
the  fruit  has  set,  manure  water  from  the  farmyard,  or  solutions 
of  artificial  manure,  guano,  or  soot,  will  also  be  helpful.  These 
applications  are  much  more  effectual  applied  through  a  liberal 
mulching  of  manure,  the  latter  being  spread  alike  as  sustenance 
for  the  roots,  and  to  provide  a  ch-aii  bed  for  the  fruit  to  rest  on. 
OUTDOOR  VINES. — The  suiierabundant  growths  on  Vines 
should  be  dealt  with  early,  or  as  soon  as  tlu'  bunches  of  fruit  can 
be  easily  perceived,  whereby  the  best  and  most  suitable  growth 
containing  a  stout  bunch  can  be  decided  upon.  On  spur-pruned 
Vines  one  growth,  or  at  most  two,  should  only  be  retained. 
Strong  shoots  may  be  stopped  at  one  joint  beyond  the  bunch. 
allowing  weaker  shoots  to  extend  longer.  Carry  up  a  few  growths 
from  the  base  .should  new  rods  be  required  or  there  is  room  for 
such.  If  well  ripened  to  the  extent  of  4ft  they  will  be  fruitful. 
It  is  best  to  stop  them  at  that  length,  and  let  them  extend  after¬ 
wards  at  will. — East  Kent. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES  :  EARLY  FORCED  HOUSES.— Where  the  Grapes  are 
ripe,  afford  fire  heat  only  to  prevent  the  temperature  falling 
below  GOdeg.  Admit  a  little  air  constantly,  with  a  free  circula¬ 
tion  when  the  weather  is  favourable.  Do  not  allow  the  border  to 
become  di-y,  but  keep  it  moist,  and  mulch  with  short,  sweet  litter, 
both  to  prevent  exce.ss  of  moisture  and  to  keep  the  soil  from 
ci'acking.  A  little  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  wil  I  not  injure  the 
Grapes,  and  is  highly  beneficial  to  the  foliage,  which  must  be  kept 
clean  and  healthy.  Fumigation  may  be  resorted  to  if  thrips 
appear,  repeating  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  For  red  spider 
there  is  no  better  plan  than  the  tedious  process  of  carefully 
sponging  the  leaves  with  soapy  water,  but  the  fumes  of  .sulphur 
are  very  hateful  to  red  spider  and  fungoid  germs  ;  a  little  of  a 
cream  of  sizlplmr  and  skim  milk  brushed  on  the  hot-water  pipes, 
and  these  heated  to  over  170deg  for  about  an  hour  and  the  house 
closed,  having  a  deterring  effect.  When  the  Grapes  are  cleared 
the  Vines  should  be  thoroughly  syringed,  this  being  one  of  the 
best  means  of  freeing  them  from  red  spider  and  thrips,  and 
where  there  is  mealy  bug  using  petroleum  .softsoap  2oz  to  a 
gallon  of  water. 
SUCCESSIONAL  VINERIES.— As  little  fire  heat  as  is  consis¬ 
tent  with  the  steady  progress  of  the  Vines  and  their  crops  should 
be  employed,  for  with  sun  heat  and  an  abundance  of  atmo.spheric 
moisture  more  real  benefit  is  gained  in  a  week  than  in  a  month 
of  dull  weather  with  the  aid  of  fires.  The  Vines  being  in  full 
growth,  the  temperature  may  be  allowed  to  rise  to  GOdeg  or 
95deg,  closing  the  house  at  85deg,  employing  fire  heat  only  to 
maintain  a  day  temperature  of  70deg  to  75deg.  and  to  prevent 
its  falling  below  65deg  at  night ;  yet  U(.ieg  less  will  do  nO'  harm, 
but  good,  when  the  weather  is  cold.  The.se  remarks  apply  only 
to  Vines  in  full  growth  and  swelling  their  crops,  as  those  that 
have  the  Grapes  approaching  ripening  should  have  a  rather  free 
circulation  of  air,  those  advanced  in  ripening  being  kept  cooler 
and  drier.  Air  should  be  admitted  very  early  in  the  morning, 
as  the  sun’s  rays  acting  powerfully  on  the  condensed  moi.sture 
formed  during  the  night  usually  causes  .scorching  unless  air  has 
been  previously  admitted.  Watering  the  borders  mu.st  be 
attended  to  as  required,  not  having  .stated  times,  but  being 
guided  by  the  soil’s  condition.  More  failures  are  the  result  of 
under  rather  than  over-watering  Vines,  the  borders  being  pro¬ 
perly  constructed  and  the  drainage  complete.  Water  may  be 
required  twice  a  week  in  the  case  of  Vines  restricted  to  narrow 
and  shallow  borders,  and  once  a  week  for  those  that  have  a  good 
run  of  border  from  the  time  the  berries  are  thinned  until  the 
Grapes  are  changing  colour,  but  retentive  soils  may  only  require 
water  at  fortnightly  or  three  weeks  intervals.  This  difference 
must  be  had  regard  to,  for  there  is  no  question  about  a  sodden 
soil  being  injurious  to  Grapes,  and  often  a  prolific  source  of  shank¬ 
ing,  Some  loams  are  naturally  very  loose,  sandy,  or  gravelly ; 
while  others  have  opening  material  added,  as  lime  rubbi.sh,  oyster 
shells,  and  charcoal,  which  make  them  sieve-like.  The  conse¬ 
quence  is  the  greater  need  of  water,  besiues  the  danger  attending 
the  finish  of  Grapes  grown  oiz  such  soils  through  insufficient  sup¬ 
plies  of  water  leading  to  thin  foliage  and  attacks  of  red  spider, 
which  does  not  a.ssimilate  and  store  nearly  as  much  essential 
matter  as  the  stout  leaves  on  Vines  in  a  firm,  substantial  soil  of 
a  rather  retentive  nature.  Such  soil  will  require  water  less  fre¬ 
quently,  but  in  no  case  mu.st  there  be  lack  of  moisture  at  the 
roots  throughout  the  swelling  periods.  Liquid  nourishment  is 
also  more  frequently  required  by  loose  and  light  soils  than  by 
compacr  and  retentive  ones.  All  will  need  top-dressings  of  .some 
approved  fertiliser,  three  times  being  advisable  (1)  When 
■starting  the  Vines:  (2)  v  hen  the  Grapes  attain  to  thinn'ng  size: 
and  (3)  when  the  berries  have  completed  stoning,  supplying  4oz 
per  scpiare  yard  at  each  dressing  and  working  in  lightly.  If  more 
stimulation  is  needed,  supply  the  manure  oftener;  this  is  better 
than  increasing  the  quantity  each  time  and  at  long  intervals. 
LATE  HOUSES. — In  most  ca.ses  the  woi’k  now  on  hand  is  con¬ 
siderable  in  thinning  the  berries,  and  it  will  continue  for  some 
weeks,  as  in  manj^  instances  the  Vines  are  only  in  flower.  In  the 
latter  ca.se  maizitain  a  minimum  temperature  of  Godeg  to  70deg. 
70deg  to  75deg  for  Muscats,  shaking  the  Vim's  twice  a  day  to 
di.stribute  the  pollen,  v  Inch  will  be  suffie’ent  for  all  but  the 
shy  setters,  and  these  ought  to  be  artificially  fertilised,  going 
over  the  bunches  carefully  with  a  camel’.s-hair  brush  and  suirply- 
ing  pollen  where  it.  is  deficient  from  those  that  afford  it  freely. 
All  the  large  berried  and  free-setting  varieties,  .such  as  Gro-^ 
Colman  and  Gros  Guillaume,  should  be  thinned  while  they  are  in 
flower:  and  with  those  that  are  liable  to  have  closely-set  berries 
it  is  advi.sable  to  thin  before  the  flowers  expand,  as  a  practical  eye 
can  tell  which  flower  will  .set  by  its  vigour,  and  the  removal  of 
the  weaker  sometimes  sti’engthens  those  left  wonderfully.  Wh'le 
the  Vines  are  in  flower  moderate  moi.sture,  with  a  rather  free 
