92 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  25,  1901. 
•wires.  Ground  should  be  prepared  for  planting  out  rooting  stock 
-shortly.  Deep  trenching  and  free  manuring  ought  to  be  the  rule,  and 
the  sooner  the  soil  can  be  prepared  the  better,  so  that  it  may  become 
somewhat  firm,  ready  for  planting. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Early  Forced  Trees. — Where  trees  are 
grown  in  pots  of  the  very  early  varieties,  such  as  Alexander  or 
Waterloo,  Early  Beatrice,  and  Early  Louise,  with,  to  suoceed  them, 
Hale’s  Early,  Dr.  Hogg,  and  Stirling  Castle  Peaches ;  Cardinal, 
Advance,  Early  Rivers,  and  Lord  Napier  Nectarines,  they  may  be 
plaoed  outdoors  as  soon  as  the  wood  has  become  firm,  assigning  them 
a  sheltered  Bunny  situation,  keeping  daily  syringed  and  supplied  with 
water.  The  trees  will  not  then  be  nearly  so  liable  to  over-maturity  of 
wood  and  buds,  a  common  cause  of  bud  dropping,  and  buds  will  form 
on  the  laterals,  which  usually  set  the  fruit  freely. 
Planted-out  trees  started  at  or  before  the  new  year  have  been 
•cleared  of  fruit,  and  the  wood  on  which  it  was  borne  removed.  This, 
and  the  taking  out  of  any  superfluous  shoots,  admits  air  and  light,  so  that 
the  wood  retained  becomes  brown  and  hard,  and  the  buds  attain  perfect 
formation,  but  this  is  contingent  upon  clean  foliage  and  proper 
supplies  of  nourishment.  The  trees,  therefore,  must  be  syringed,  and, 
if  necessary,  have  an  approved  insecticide  promptly  applied,  supplying 
water,  and  in  the  case  of  weakly  trees  liquid  manure,  to  the  roots,  so  as 
to  keep  the  soil  healthfully  moist.  Mulching  with  light,  rather  lumpy 
manure  about  an  inch  thick  will  keep  the  snrfaoe  moist,  the  roots 
active,  prevent  the  soil  cracking,  and  assist  in  the  retention  of  the 
foliage  in  good  condition.  The  buds  will  be  sufficiently  advanced,  and 
the  wood  matured,  to  allow  the  roof-lights  to  be  removed,  and  this 
should  not  be  further  delayed.  This  secures  a  sort  of  rest,  has  a  most 
beneficial  effect  on  the  trees,  while  the  soil  becomes  well  moistened  by 
the  autumn  rains,  and  the  trees  in  consequence  reinvigoraled. 
Succession  Houses. — The  grand  varieties  Dymond,  Roval  George> 
Grosse  Mignonne,  Noblesse,  Bellegarde,  and  Goshawk  Peaches;  Lord 
Napier,  Stanwick  Elruge,  Dryden,  Humboldt,  and  Pineapple  Nectarines, 
are  now  ripening  on  trees  started  in  February,  and  leave  very  little  to 
be  desired  in  size,  colour,  and  quality.  As  the  fruit  is  cleared  off  the 
trees  out  out  the  wood  that  has  borne  it,  thinning  the  growths  where 
they  are  so  close  that  the  foliage  cannot  have  exposure  to  light  and  air. 
Cleanse  the  growth,  by  means  of  the  syringe  or  engine  with  water,  of 
dust  or  red  spider  or  other  insect  pests,  using  an  insecticide  if  necessary. 
Keep  the  borders  moist,  not  soddened,  affording  liquid  manure  if  the 
trees  are  weak,  have  borne  heavily,  and  the  buds  are  not  forming  and 
plumping  well,  but  keep  it  from  trees  inclined  to  over-luxuriance.  Stop 
all  laterals  to  one  joint,  but  where  the  buds  are  in  an  advanced  condition 
allow  a  little  lateral  extension,  which  prevents  the  premature  ripening 
of  the  foliage,  by  continuing  the  root  action  with,  at  the  same  time, 
growth  on  which  to  expend  it  without  danger  of  starting  the  principal 
buds.  When  the  buds  are  well  formed,  the  fruit  having  been  cleared 
off  the  trees,  remove  the  roof-lights.  If  under  fixed  roofs  ventilate  to 
the  fullest  possible  extent. 
Trees  Swelling  their  Crops. — In  the  houses  started  in  March  the 
fruits  have  stoned  and  are  taking  the  last  swelling.  Draw  the  leaves 
aside  and  raise  the  fruit  by  means  of  laths,  with  its  apex  to  the  light. 
Water  the  inside  border  and  outside  if  inclined  to  dryness,  affording 
liquid  manure,  or  a  dressing  of  fertiliser  washed  in,  and  a  mulch  of 
lumpy  manure.  Avoid  a  close  surface,  for  it  excludes  air,  and  that  it 
be  open  is  essential  for  the  assimilation  of  food  for  taking  up  by  the 
roots,  as  its  elaboration  by  healthy  foliage.  Ventilate  early,  in  fact 
leave  a  little  air  on  all  night,  syringing  by  7  A.M.,  and  through  the  early 
part  of  the  day  ventilate  freely.  When  the  sun  loses  power  in  the 
afternoon  reduce  the  ventilation  and  raise  the  temperature  to  85°  or 
1)0°  about  4  P.M.,  with  a  good  syringing  and  damping  of  the  surfaces, 
but  it  must  be  done  with  judgment,  for  when  water  hangs  for  any 
length  of  time  on  the  fruit  during  the  last  swelling  it  is  apt  to  damage 
the  skin,  causing  it  to  crack,  and  imparting  a  musty  flavour;  therefore 
have  the  fruit  dry  before  night,  and  if  the  day  is  dull  omit  the  morniog 
syringing.  Directly  the  fruit  commences  ripening  cease  syringing, 
but  afford  air  moisture  by  damping  the  paths,  and  especially  the  border 
whenever  it  becomes  dry,  ventilating  rather  freely,  and  admit  a  little 
air  throughout  the  night. 
Late  Houses. — If  it  is  desired  to  accelerate  the  ripening,  ventilate 
rather  freely  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  and  up  to  the  early  part  of 
the  afternoon,  then  keep  the  heat  obtained  by  reducing  the  ventilation 
so  as  to  secure  80°  to  85°,  and  about  4  p.m.  close,  syringe  well,  and  no 
harm  will  come  if  the  temperature  ris- s  to  90:  or  95°,  ventilating  a 
little  at  the  apex  about  six  o’olock,  so  as  to  let  the  pent-up  moisture 
escape  and  the  temperature  gradually  cool  down.  Regulate  and  tie  down 
the  shoots  as  they  advance,  allowing  no  more  than  are  necessary  for  next 
year’s  fruiting,  or  for  furnishing  the  trees.  Let  all  have  space  for 
•development,  keeping  laterals  stopped  to  one  leaf,  and  retain  growths 
to  attract  the  sap  to  the  fruit.  Any  gross  shoots  pushing  laterals  from 
the  leaf  buds  may  be  cut  back  to  where  the  buds  remain  intact,  or,  if 
likely  to  disarrange  the  equilibrium  of  the  trees,  out  them  out  altogether. 
They  only  tend  to  promote  gumming,  imperfect  setting,  and  casting  of 
the  fruit  in  stoning.  Draw  the  leaves  aside  from  the  fruits,  which  raise 
'from  the  under  side  of  the  trellis  and  expose  to  the  sun.  If  the  fruit 
is  required  retarded,  ventilate  freely  day  and  night ;  but  do  not,  as  a 
rule,  have  recourse  to  shading,  though  a  slight  shade  obtained  by 
drawing  herring  nets  over  the  roof-lights  is  beneficial  than  otherwise 
where  the  panes  of  glass  are  large.  Observe  the  conditions  laid  down 
in  the  preceding  paragraph  after  the  fruit  commences  ripening,  also 
as  to  assisting  the  swelling. 
Wall  Cases. — Secure  the  growths  to  the  trellis  as  they  advanoe, 
being  careful  to  allow  spaoe  in  the  trees  for  the  swelling  of  the  shoots  ; 
neglect  of  this  is  a  precursor  of  gumming.  Keep  the  growths  thin  to 
allow  of  the  foliage  having  full  exposure  to  light,  and  for  development. 
Syringe  about  7  a.m.,  the  house  having  a  little  ventilation  constantly, 
increasing  this  with  the  advancing  temperature  to  75° ;  or  if  it  is 
desired  to  accelerate  the  ripening,  maintain  a  temperature  of  8(C  to  853 
during  the  day,  but  always  with  ventilation,  and  close  sufficiently  early 
to  maintain  that  temperature,  but  not  raise  it  above  90°.  Syringe  again 
about  5  p.m.  Red  spider  will  not  make  much  headway  provided  the 
syringing  is  thorough,  and  the  trees  are  well  supplied  with  water  at  the 
roots.  Afford  liquid  manure  to  weak  and  heavily  cropped  trees.  Thin 
finally  directly  the  fruit  is  stoned.  Neglect  of  early  thinning  results  in 
thin-fleshed,  flavourless  fruits,  and  they  sometimes  ripen  prematurely. 
ie  Motlj. 
During  the  evenings  of  this  month  and  August  the  Magpie  moth 
is  very  commonly  found.  It  is  the  Abraxas  grossulariata  of  some 
entomologists,  and  the  Geometra  grossulariata  of  others.  It  usually 
measures  about  1|  inch  across  the  expanded  fore- wings,  which  are  very 
slightly  yellowish-white,  variously  spotted  with  black,  more  or  less  like 
those  in  our  drawing,  for 
the  marks  are  never  uni¬ 
form  ;  and  there  is  a  band 
of  pale  orange  aorosB  each 
of  the  fore-wings.  The 
hind-wings  are  of  the 
same  colours,  but  without 
any  orange  colouring.  The 
body  is  orange,  spotted 
with  black.  The  female 
deposits  her  eggs  upon  the 
leaf  of  a  Gooseberry  or 
Currant  tree,  and  from 
these  little  looping  cater¬ 
pillars  come  forth  in  September,  and,  surviving  the  winter,  begin 
to  feed  again  upon  the  leaves  as  soon  as  these  open  in  the  spring.  They 
are  full  grown  towards  the  end  of  May,  and  enter  the  chrysalis  state 
between  that  time  and  the  end  of  June.  In  this  state  they  remain  for 
about  three  weeks,  and  then  the  perfect  moth  comes  forth.  The 
caterpillar  is  yellowish  white,  with  an  orange  stripe,  more  or  less 
complete,  on  each  side,  and  with  numerous  black  spots,  largest  on  the 
baok.  The  chrysalis  is  black,  with  orange  circles  round  the  pointed 
end.  The  caterpillar  prefers  the  leaves  of  the  Gooseberry  and  Red 
Currant,  but,  after  stripping  these  to  their  very  stalks,  it  will  feed  upon 
those  of  the  Sloe,  Peaoh,  and  Almond.  Hand-picking,  dusting  with  the 
powder  of  white  Hellebore,  and  burning  the  leaves  early  in  autumn, 
are  the  best  remedies  and  prevention  against  this  marauder. 
The  Magpie  Moth. 
Mrs.  Adolphus  H.  Kent. 
This  lady,  the  wife  of  Mr.  A.  H.  Kent  of  Messrs.  James  Veitoh  and 
Sons,  Ltd.,  died  at  her  home  in  Fulham  a  few  days  ago  after  a  prolonged 
period  of  illness.  She  was  much  younger  than  her  husbind. 
Miss  Eleanor  Ormerod,  LL.D.,  V.M  H.,  &c. 
The  illness  of  Miss  Eleanor  Ormerod,  to  which  we  have  repeatedly 
referred  since  her  retirement  from  her  voluntary  labours  at  the 
beginning  of  this  year,  culminated — and  we  grievously  regret  the  fact — 
in  death  on  Friday,  July  19th.  Miss  Ormerod’s  life-work  is  equalled  in 
value  by  comparatively  few  others ;  her  traok  was  undeviating,  her 
purpose  set,  and  her  exertions  persistent.  Success,  very  full  suooess, 
rewarded  her  endeavours,  and  when  in  time  the  British  farmers  and 
gardeners  learn  to  apply  the  remedies,  or,  better  still,  the  preventives 
of  inseot  scourges,  they  will  perhaps  more  fully  than  now  rejoice  in, 
and  honour  the  name  of  Miss  Ormerod.  She  was  a  great  woman.  She 
has  passed  from  amongst  us  quietly  and  peacefully.  Hers  is  an 
enviable  record  ;  it  can  never  be  obscured.  We  feel  regret  that  this 
industrious  lady  had  not  been  spared  to  a  pleasurable  eventide  of  life, 
resting  contentedly  and  without  care.  Perhaps,  however,  having  plied 
her  strength  so  fully  and  so  long,  she  could  not  have  endured  inactive 
leisure.  A  portrait  and  a  brief  biographical  notice  was  furnished  in  our 
pages  so  recently  as  March  28th,  1901,  at  which  time  the  late  entomo¬ 
logist  was  decorated  with  the  Victoria  Medal  of  Honour  in  Horticulture 
by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
