May  29,  19G2. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
481 
Orchids:  The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
Growth  is  now  very  active  in  all  the  Orchid  houses,  and  the 
aim  of  the  cultivator  must  be  to  see  that  nothing  happens  to 
check  this  in  any  way.  A  proper  growing  atmosphere  is  very 
difficult  to  maintain  under  the  changing  conditions  of  weather 
we  have  been  recently  subjected  to.  During  the  day  cold  storms 
and  bitter  winds  have  alternated  with  bursts  of  bright  sunshine. 
The  blinds  may  be  run  down  and  a  little  air  put  on  during  the 
latter  periods,  but  one  must  be  always  on  the  watch,  for  an 
hour  or  two  later  the  inside  of  the  house  would  be  as  cold  as 
the  outside  unless  the  ventilators  were  again  closed. 
Not  only  is  growth  checked  by  this  lowering  of  the  tempera¬ 
ture,  but  the  tender  young  leads  are  damaged  the  next  time  the 
sun  shines  upon  them.  The  cold  air  apparently  renders  them 
more  easily  scorched  and  less  vigoi'ous  than  they  would  be  had 
they  kept  growing  freely,  also  mure  liable  to  be  attacked  by 
insects.  Some  Orchids  are  very  much  more  likely  to  be  attacked 
than  others.  Galeandras,  for  instance,  no  matter  how  carefully 
cultivated,  will  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  be  visited  by  thrips,  and 
unless  these  are  immediately  destroyed  they  sadly  cripple  the 
young  leads. 
Directly  any  signs  of  these  insects  are  noticed  the  plants  must 
be  carefully  clipped  one  by  one  in  a  deep  vessel  containing 
tobacco'  water  and  soap  in  solution.  Then  sponge  the  leaves 
and  stems  carefully,  avoiding  puncturing  the  former,  as  they  are 
very  sensitive  and  tender.  A  thorough  wash  in  soft  tepid  water 
should  follow,  and  after  the  foliage  is  dry  fumigate  the  house 
lightly.  It  is  far  better  tO'  take  a  little  trouble  when  the  insects 
are  first  noticed  than  to  let  them  increase,  and  render  more 
active  measures  necessary. 
Green  fly  or  aphis  often  appears  on  the  flower  stems  cf 
Oncidiums  and  Odontoglossums,  but  these  can  usually  be  kept 
under  by  passing  a.  damp  sponge  up  each.  Do  not  let  them 
get  the  upper  hand,  especially  with  small  flowering  Oncidiums 
such  as  O.  flexuosum  or  O.  sphacelatum,  for  when  the  flowers  are 
open  it  is  impossible  to  dislodge  them.  These  and  other  insects 
are  always  more  troublesome  in  houses  kept  out  of  order  than 
those  that  are  kept  tidy.  Green  fly  especially  breed  rapidly  on 
weeds  and  grass  in  the  pots,  while  woocllice  and  small  snails  find 
a  harbour  among  odds  and  ends  of  peat,  empty  pots,  and  other 
material  often  left  about  under  the  stages. — H.  R.  R. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES.— Disbudding,  or  the  cutting 
out  of  superfluous  growths,  may  be  continued  so  long  as  there  are 
shoots  remaining  for  which  no  suitable  position  can  be  found 
without  entailing  undue  crowding.  In  the  examination  of  the 
trees  it  may  be  found  that  growths  have  pushed  from  dormant 
buds  at  various  parts.  These  are  not  usually  rec]uired,  especially 
in  the  upper  parts  of  the  trees,  but  a  few  may  with  advantage  be 
retained  in  the  lower  limbs  where  a  hew  branch  is  required  to 
take  the  place  of  a  worn  out  branch.  The  sudden  removal  of 
many  growths  should  be  avoided,  gumming  resulting  from  severe 
checks. 
THINNING  FRUIT. — Apricots  as  well  as  Peaches  and  Nec¬ 
tarines  must  have  the  fruits  thinned  to  a  reasonable  number.  It 
is  best  to  judge  the  capability  of  the  trees  as  regards  the  vigour 
of  growth,  for  a  weak  tree  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  carry  as 
many  fruits  as  a  strong  one,  regarding  also  the  individual  branches 
in  the  same  light.  A  larger  crop  of  fruit  in  the  case  of  strong 
growers  whll  tend  to  equalise  growth  and  prevent  sappy  wood 
production.  In  no  case  allow  more  than  one  fruit  on  a  shoot, 
and  if  they  can  be  disposed  a  foot  apart  an  ample  crop  will  be 
secured.  This  applies  to  trees  of  medium  strength.  All  the 
fruits  should  be  in  the  front  of  the  branches. 
SYRINGING. — In  the  late  afternoon  of  warm  drying  days  the 
trees  may  be  refreshed  by  a  generous  application  of  clear  water 
from  tbe  garden  engine.  It  will  serve  to  maintain  the  foliage 
clean,  assist  the  growth  of  wood  and  fruit,  and  prevent  insects 
establishing  themselves. 
WATERING. — Syringing  the  foliage  may  apparently  moisten 
the  soil,  but  it  does  not  do  so  to  a  depth  sufficient  for  the  needs 
of  the  roots.  Old  established  trees,  although  well  furnished  with 
fibrous  roots  near  the  surface,  have  yet  strong  holding  roots  lower 
down.  A  liberal  application  of  water  should  be  given  to  reach 
these  and  provide  ample  moisture  for  the  whole  mass  of  roots. 
Trees  on  walls  frequently  have  their  roots  in  dry  and  poor  posi¬ 
tions,  rendered  so  probably  by  the  near  presence  of  other  trees 
and  shrubs  whose  roots  absorb  the  moisture. 
FEEDING. — W’hen  the  soil  has  been  brought  to  a  good  moist 
state  with  clear  water,  and  there  are  plenty  of  roots,  further 
assistance  may  be  rendered  by  liberal  feeding.  Weak  liquid 
manure  can  be  applied  with  good  effect,  or  top-dressings  of  general 
fertili.sers  watered  in  will  act  quickly.  The  period  covering  the 
last  swelling  of  the  fruit  is  the  best  time  to  afford  the  necessary 
help. 
STRAW^BERRIES. — The  whole  of  the  plants  which  are  promis¬ 
ing  to  fruit  must  have  a  mulching  laid  down  between  the  rows. 
The  material  for  the  most  forward  or  early  varieties  should  be 
clean  and  light  in  character,  while  the  late  varieties,  having  more 
time  before  the  fruit  ripens,  may  have  a  mulching  of  richer 
manure.  Recently  planted  Strawberries,  or  those  placed  out  this 
spring,  may  have  the  blooms  refnoved,  it  being  more  desirable  to 
encourage  growth  than  allow  fruiting  the  first  season.  Hoe  to 
destroy  weeds  and  cut  off  runners. 
RED  AND  WHITE  CURRANTS.— Newly  planted  bushe.s 
making  free  growth  will  need  some  regulating  and  thinning  out 
of  the  crowded  parts.  Shoots  crowding  the  centres  must  be 
freely  thinned  out,  and  the  side  shoots  on  the  main  branches 
shortened  back  to  a  few  leaves,  which  will  further  relieve  the 
crowding  of  the  centres.  Young  bushes,  even  the  first  year,  fre¬ 
quently  produce  a  quantity  of  fruit.  This  should  be,  reduced  in 
quantity  early,  especially  should  the  bushes  not  be  disposed  to 
make  enough  wood.  Allow  the  leading  growths  to  extend. 
Sucker  growths  from  the  base  are  usually  best  removed  at  their 
point  of  origin.  Trees  with  clear  stems  should  not  produce  them, 
nor  will  they  if  buds  below  the  ground  line  were  rubbed  out  at 
the  time  of  inserting  the  cuttings.  Old  bushes  may  have  a  good 
mulching  of  manui'e. 
BLACK  CURRANTS. — The  chief  requirements  of  these  at  the 
present  time  consist  of  adequate  moisture  for  the  roots.  In  the 
event  of  very  dry  weather  afford  water  and  liquid  manure,  follow¬ 
ing  by  a  good  mulching  of  manure  which  will  retain  the  moisture. 
BLACKBERRIES  AND  LOGANBERRIES.— As  the  habit  of 
growth  is  practically  the  same,  similar  treatment  in  regard  to 
mulching  over  the  roots  with  a  liberal  layer  of  manure  at  the 
present  time  should  be  adopted.  As  the  shoots  extend  rapidly  it 
is  necessary  to  frequently  tie  and  dispose  them  in  position.  They 
may  be  trained  horizontally  to  a  fence  or  round  stakes  fixed 
triangularly. — East  Kent. 
- »  I - 
'  Trade  Notes. 
Heathman  &  Co., 
The  antimonial  garden  hose  and  ladder  makers,  inform  us  they 
have  opened  a  South  Kensington  depot  at  351,  Fulham  Road,  at 
which  a  stock  of  their  manufactures  will  be  kept. 
A  Creeper  Clip. 
The  Creeper  Clip  Co.,  Redditch,  some  time  ago  sent  one  of 
their  patent  clips  for  inspection.  This  is  formed  simply  of  a 
narrow  strip  of  metal  flattened  and  pierced  with  suitable  holes 
for  tacks,  which  are  driven  into  the  brick  or  other  walls,  and  fix 
the  clip.  The.  end  of  the  light  and  flattened  piece  of  metal  is 
shaped  like  a  shepherd’s  crook,  and  through  the  “  crook  ”  the 
shoots  requiring  support  or  fastening  are  intended  to  be  pa.ssed. 
The  invention  makes  for  neatness. 
An  Undentable  Syringe. 
It  is  generally  conceded  that  dentable  syringes  are  a  source 
of  great  annoyance  and  expense  to  the  users  of  them.  Once 
badly  indented,  the  syringe  can  never  again  work  ea.sily,  smoothly 
or  well.  But  a  new  undentable  syringe  has  been  patented  by  a 
sundries  company  at  Sutton  Coldfield,  and  is  called  the  Four 
Oaks  Undentable  Syringe,  guaranteed,  1902  pattern.  This 
syringe  has  the  barrel  or  cylinder  protected  by  an  outside  corru- 
gatecf  covering  which  will  bear  many  blows  or  knocks  without 
hindering  the^working  of  the  article.  They  are  guaranteed  for 
three  years. 
,  F.  Braby  &  Co.,  Ltd. 
The  illustrated  catalogue  of  this  firm  (Petershill  Road,  Glas¬ 
gow)  shows  them  to  be  coirstructional  engineers,  roofing  con¬ 
tractors,  wire  and  zinc  workers,  and,  indeed,  manufacturers  of 
all  manner  of  articles  in  everyday  use  about  garderis  and  landed 
estates,  as  well  as  in  the  domestic  pi'ecincts.  Various  forms  of 
glazing  on  iron  astricles  without  putty  are  shown,  and  figures  of 
wire  fencing,  lattice-work,  open  sheds,  with  corrugated  roofs,  and 
constructed  entirely  of  wrought  iron,  are  numerously  portrayed. 
Water  tanks,  cisterns,  and  steel  barrows  likewise  engage  atten¬ 
tion,  and  each  of  these  are  things  that  the  gardener  must  keep 
an  eye  upon,  and  must  at  times  renew.  Here,  then,  are  patterns 
for  him.  The  firm  draws  special  attention  to  the  “Rustless” 
proces,s,  described  in  their  “  Glasgow  ”  catalogue,  by  wbich  pro¬ 
cess  a  skin  of  magnetic  oxide  is  formed  on  the  surface  of  iron  or 
steel,  which  completely  prevents  oxidisation.  This  is  named 
the  “  Bower-Barff  ”  Rustless  Process. 
