October  24,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
387 
Isle  of  Man  Arboricultural  Society. 
A  specially  called  meeting  of  the  committee  of  the  Isle  of  Man 
Arboricultural  Society  was  held  at  the  Court  House,  Douglas,  a 
little  over  a  week  ago,  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  question 
of  the  appointment  of  a  forester,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  de¬ 
vote  the  whole  of  his  time  to  promoting  the  work  and  objects  of 
the  society,  which  are  officially  stated  as  follows: — “The  en¬ 
couragement  of  tree  planting ;  disseminating  knowledge  in  con¬ 
nection  therewith ;  supplying  suitable  trees  at  reduced  prices  ; 
employing  the  services  of  skilled  workmen,  where  needed,  and 
generally  inducing  thorough  and  continuous  planting  of  trees, 
especially  in  waste  lands,  and  places  not  otherwise  in  cultivation, 
thus  beautifying  and  promoting  the  general  good  of  the  Island.” 
Mr.  T.  W.  Creer  is  secretary  to  the  society. 
CardifF  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  second  meeting  of  session  took  place  on  Tuesday,  October 
15,  at  the  Grand  Hotel,  Mr.  F.  G.  Treseder,  F.R.H.S.,  &c.,  pre¬ 
siding.  Mr.  W.  J.  Savce,  hon.  sec.  Bee-keepers’  Association, 
Newport,  Mon.,  delivered  a  lecture  entitled  “  Bee-keeping,”  illus¬ 
trated  with  broods  in  their  various  stages  of  development,  also 
several  kinds  of  hives  and  other  appliances  kindly  lent  for  the 
occasion  by  Mr.  Birt,  Newport.  The  lecturer  brought  with  him 
an  excellent  swarm  of  bees,  and  special  attention  was  drawn  to 
the  queen  bee.  The  practical  management  of  bees  was  fully 
explained  in  detail,  commencing  from  February  throughout  the 
various  seasons  up  to  the  corresponding  month  the  following  year. 
The  lecture  throughout  was  full  of  valuable  instruction,  and  was 
most  fully  appreciated,  the  more  so  because  a  Bee-keepers’  Asso¬ 
ciation  is  about  to  be  formed  for  Cardiff  and  district,  with  Mr. 
Boyce,  a  local  expert,  as  its  chief  organiser.  A  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  the  lecturer,  which  terminated  the  pro¬ 
ceedings. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Ireland. 
The  last  of  the  society’s  flower  shows  for  the  present  year 
will  be  held  in  the  Royal  Dublin  Society’s  premises,  Ball’s  Bridge, 
on  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  November  6  and  7  next,  viz.,  the 
Chrysanthemum  and  Fruit  Show.  A  unique  feature  to  be  intro¬ 
duced  into  this  year’s  exhibition,  and  one  which  should  arouse  a 
lively  interest  amongst  the  fruit  growers  of  Ireland,  will  be  com¬ 
petitions  for  Apple  packing  in  barrels,  similar  to  those  in  which 
American  Apples  are  imported  to  the  Dublin  markets,  all  par¬ 
ticulars  of  which  can  be  obtained  from  the  secretary,  at  the  office 
of  the  society,  5,  Molesworth  Street.  The  prizes  for  these  com¬ 
petitions  are  offered  by  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  entries  will  be  such  as  to  warrant  the  society  in 
not  only  renewing  their  offer  next  year,  but  largely  augmenting 
it.  The  holding  of  this  exhibition  entails  a  very  heavy  expense 
on  the  society,  more  so  than  any  of  the  other  shows,  and  as  the 
society  has  lost  so  heavily  for  the  past  two  years  on  this  particular 
show,  it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  more  interest  may  be  centred  in 
the  coming  event,  and  that  the  attendance  may  be  fully  up  to 
expectations. 
Bournemouth  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  programme  of  meetings  for  the  half-year  ending  Feb.  4, 
1902,  is  as  follows: — Sept.  3,  1901,  “Cultural  Notes  on  the 
Primula,  Herbaceous  Calceolaria,  and  Sweet  Peas,”  by  three 
members.  Oct.  1,  “  Arrangements  in  Flowers  to  Fffect  Cross-Fer¬ 
tilisation,”  Mr.  W.  E.  Trevethick,  Gaunts  House  Gardens,  Wim- 
borne.  Oct.  15,  “  Choice  Annuals  suitable  for  Pot  Culture,”  Mr. 
H.  Slark,  Crag  Head  Gardens.  Nov.  5,  “Some  Hardy  Fruits 
suitable  for  Bournemouth  Soil,”  Mr.  H.  Lockyer,  Kempsey  Gar¬ 
dens  (exhibition  of  vegetables,  6  varieties;  prizes,  4s.  6d.,  3s.  6d., 
2s.  6d.).  Nov.  19,  “  Simple  Experiments  with  Vegetables,  Soils, 
and  Manures,”  A.  Key,  Esq.,  M.A.,  Southampton.  Dec.  3, 
“  Gardening  Literature  and  Practice  early  in  the  last  Century,” 
Mr.  J.  B.  Stevenson,  Chine  Garden  Cottage.  Dec.  17,  Essay  com¬ 
petition,  subject,  “The  Tomato,”  prizes,  6s.  6d.,  5s.  6d.,  4s.  6d. 
(not  open  to  prizewinners  in  previous  competitions).  Jan.  7, 
1902,  Annual  supper  (date  subject  to  alteration).  Jan.  21,  “  The 
Advantages  of  Mutual  Improvement  Societies,”  Mr.  C.  Riddle, 
Borough  Librarian.  Feb.  4,  Annual  meeting.  Members  are 
invited  to  bring  specimen  plants,  &c.,  to  the  meetings. 
The  Hessla  and  District. 
At  the  fortnightly  meeting  of  the  above  society,  held  Tuesday 
evening,  October  15,  presided  over  by  J.  Stow,  Esq.,  a  vice-pre¬ 
sident  of  the  society,  Mr.  Jennings,  head  gardener,  Aston  Hall, 
North  Ferriby,  read  a  most  valuable  and  instructive  paper  on 
“Orchard  House  Fruit  Trees  in  Pots.”  The  essayist  being 
formerly  in  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Rivers  and  Son,  the  well-known 
fruit  growers,  dealt  with  the  subject  in  a  very  practical  manner, 
He  recommended  Wallflowers  and  Hyacinths  grown  in  pots,  and 
placed  about  the  house,  which  attracted  bees,  and  materially 
assisted  the  setting  of  fruit,  aphis  and  green  fly  being  the  worst 
enemies  to  contend  with,  which  was  easily  destroyed  by  fumigat¬ 
ing.  Syringing  should  be  done  when  the  trees  are  growing  to 
keep  them  clean.  Mr.  Jennings  also  advised  thinning  the  fruit 
of  such  as  Apples,  Pears,  and  Plums;  Cherries  were  advised  not 
to  be  thinned.  He  also  recommended  Thomson’s  manure  as  being 
safe  and  effectual  to  apply,  also  soot  water  applied  occasionally  : 
also  the  trees  should  have  a  good  top-dressing  at  thertime  of 
swelling  their  fruit.  He  further  mentioned  pinching  the  trees, 
and  if  done  in  a  proper  manner  an  equal  balanced  tree  was  pro¬ 
cured.  The  time  of  repotting  should  be  from  the  second  week 
in  October  up  to  Christmas.  The  operation  should  be  done 
firmly.  Several  members  took  part  in  the  discussion  which 
followed,  Mr.  Jennings  suitably  responding.  The  usual  votes  of 
thanks  to  the  chairman  and  essayist  terminated  a  very  profitable 
and  enjoyable  evening. 
- •  — —  « - 
^  WORK/o^WEEK,.  ^ 
mH 
lOOTPh! 
Slfe  ’irt' 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES — EARLIEST  IN  POTS. — To  have  Grapes  ripe  in 
April,  the  Vines  must  be  started  early  in  November.  Success  is 
most  certain  where  there  is  convenience  for  affording  bottom 
heat,  the  canes  being  sufficiently  strong,  thoroughly  ripened,  and 
duly  rested.  The  materials  for  affording  bottom  heat  should  be 
in  due  course  of  preparation.  Two  parts  Oak  or  Beech  leaves, 
and  one  part  stable  litter,  are  most  suitable,  though  heat  to  begin 
with  must  not  exceed  65  degrees  about  the  pots,  augmenting  it 
by  bringing  up  the  fermenting  materials  to  the  level  of  the  pots 
by  degrees,  so  as  to  raise  the  temperature  there  to  70  or  75 
degrees  when  the  Vines  are  in  leaf.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  stand  the 
pots  on  pillars  of  loose  bricks.  Let  the  Vines  be  suspended  over 
the  fermenting  materials  in  a  horizontal  position,  to  induce  the 
buds  to  break  evenly.  Sprinkle  the  canes  three  times  a  day,  and 
damp  every  part  of  the  house  at  the  same  time  in  bright  weather. 
In  order  to  induce  regularity  of  starting,  a  somewhat  higher  tem¬ 
perature  is  necessary  at  this  season,  50  to  55  degrees  at  night, 
and  60  to  65  degrees  by  day,  is  not  too  high  to  begin  with  in 
November. 
EARLY  FORCED  PLANTED  OUT  VINES.— The  house,  to 
afford  fruit  at  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May,  should  be  started 
not  later  than  the  middle  of  November.  The  outside  border 
must  have  a  covering  of  leaves,  with  some  litter  or  fern  sloping 
from  the  house  outwards,  and  thus  throw  off  some  rain,  as  well  as 
exclude  frost.  No  roots  can  work  in  frozen  soil.  Fermenting 
material  is  not  indispensable  for  placing  on  outside  borders,  but 
the  warmth  is  a  great  aid  in  keeping  the  roots  active  and  near 
the  surface.  Outside  borders,  however,  are  great  mistakes  for 
Vines  that  are  forced  early  year  after  year. 
VINES  FOR  STARTING  IN  DECEMBER,  -This  is  the  latest 
date  to  have  the  early  varieties  ripe  in  May,  and  Muscats  early 
in  June.  Prune  the  Vines  directly  the  leaves  have  fallen,  as  it 
contributes  to  early  and  complete  rest.  In  pruning,  two  buds  are 
mostly  sufficient  to  leave  for  affording  compact  bunches  of  Grapes. 
Longer  pruning  may  be  practised  when  the  Vines  are  wanted  to 
give  fewer  and  larger  bunches  of  Grapes,  for  it  does  not  answer 
to  allow  as  many  large  bunches  on  a  Vine  as  of  medium  sized. 
Large  bunches  are,  as  a  rule,  loose,  irregular  in  size  of  berry,  and 
do  not  finish  satisfactorily.  Medium  sized  bunches  are  more 
regular  in  form  and  size  of  berry,  and  finish  well.  If  the  eyes  at 
the  base  of  the  shoots  are  not  plump,  three  buds  may  be  left, 
but  this  requires  frequent  renewal  of  the  spurs.  Strip  the  rods 
of  all  loose  bai’k,  and  wash  them  with  a  solution  of  softsoap,  2oz 
to  a  gallon  of  water.  Where  there  has  been  scale,  mealy  bug,  red 
spider,  or  thrips,  use  a  solution  of  caustic  soda  and  pearlash,  2oz 
each  to  gallon  of  hot  w’ater,  applying  with  a  brush  at  a  tem¬ 
perature  of  130  to  135  degrees.  It  kills  both  hibernating  pests 
and  eggs.  Thoroughly  cleanse  the  woodwork,  and  limewash  the 
walls.  Remove  the  surface  soil  down  to  the  roots,  and  supply 
fresh  lumpy  loam,  with  a  garden  potful  of  bonemeal  to  each 
barrowload.  A  somewhat  dry  condition  of  the  roots  is  desirable, 
yet  the  border  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  parched  and 
cracked,  affording  water  if  necessary,  but  not  saturating  the  soil 
to  the  extent  of  making  it  sodden.  Keep  the  house  cool,  admit¬ 
ting  air  freely,  except  when  frost  prevails.  If  the  house  is  occu¬ 
pied  with  plants,  emplov  fire  heat  only  to  exclude  frost. 
VINES  RIPENING' THE  WOOD.— Wh  ere  the  Vines  are  not 
yet  ripe  in  the  wood,  the  foliage  being  quite  green  and  the  wood 
nut  brown,  closely  pinch  the  laterals,  and  bring  them  down  by 
degrees  to  the  principal  buds,  which  will  have  a  tendency  to  pro¬ 
mote  rest  by  admitting  more  light,  and  restricting  the  root  action, 
especially  if  air  is  admitted  freely  at  night,  the  house  being  kept 
rather  warm,  but  not  close  by  day,  as  that  would  have  a  tendency 
to  induce  growth.  When  growth  in  the  laterals  has  been 
checked,  the  shoots  may  be  shortened  to  a  few  leaves  above  the 
pruning  buds.  This  will  assist  the  basal  buds  to  plump  and  the 
wood  to  ripen,  a  genial  warmth  being  kept  in  the  pipes,  and  air 
freely  admitted. — St.  Albans. 
