February  16',  1899. 
.1011  nXAL  OF  IJORTTrULTUilE  AXl)  COTTACIE  (JAIUjEXE'R. 
120 
, -  t, 
dinner  tables  a  pronounced  distinction  between  the  fruit  intended 
to  be  eaten  and  that  only  expected  to  be  admired.  If  I  werfe  asked 
tt)  name  what  I  considered  to  be  the  six  best  I’eaclies  for  growinii:  in 
the  open  air  in  the  south  and  south-western  counties,  I  should  give 
the  following::  Waterloo,  Tdarly  (Jros.se  INlignonne,  Dymond,  Stirling 
Caslle,  Iloyal  (Jeorge,  and  Sea  Eagle.  This  selection  would  give  a 
good  succession  of  fruit  from  July  till  the  end  of  September.  The 
constitution  of  each  variety  is  good,  and  with  high  culture  all  are 
sure  croppers. 
Turning  to  Peaches  grown  under  glass,  it  is  necessary  to  make  a 
selection  suitable  for  early,  midseason,  and  late  houses.  Wo  have 
now  so  many  sterling  varieties  to  select  from  which  possess  loth  vigour, 
high  ([uality,  and  productiveness,  that  there  is  le.ss  excuse  than  ever 
for  "rowing  sorts  which  do  not  combine  all  these  good  qualities.  For 
early  forcing,  I  pin  my  faith  on  Alexander,  Waterloo,  and  Hale’s  Early. 
A  house  ])lantcd  with  these  would,  I  think,  prove  a  gopd  commercial 
investment,  for  fine  Peaches  in  May  always  command  good  prices,  and 
without  subjecting  the  trees  to  very  hard  forcing,  these  varieties 
may  be  easily  ripened  during  that  month.  Stirling  Castle  and  Royal 
<  Jeoige  were  formerly  the  favourites  for  early  work  ;  but  when  growing 
umler  the  same  conditions,  they  are  fully  three  weeks  later  than 
Alt  xander.  Yet  there  are  some  cultivators  who  still  continue  to  plant 
them  in  the  earliest  house;  if  with  the  object  of  providing  a  succession 
tlie  ]>ractico  is  sound;  but  when  the  aim  is  to  secure  abundance  of 
fruit  as  early  as  possible,  there  is  no  justification  for  the  practice. 
For  midseason  houses  we  can  make  a  somewhat  more  numerous  selec¬ 
tion,  as  there  are  many  varieties  so  close  in  point  of  merit  that  it  may  be 
regarded  as  a  matter  of  taste  which  are  chosen.  Stirling  Castle,  Royal 
(Jeorge,  and  Crosse  Mignonne  are  now'  old  favourites  which  are  still 
excellent  for  second  early  houses.  They  grow  well,  fruit  abundantly, 
and  when  well  done,  develop  fruits  of  fine  size  and  attractive  colour. 
Rellegarde,  Violettc  Ilative,  and  Noblesse  form  another  trio  of  sub¬ 
stantial  worth;  but  were  1  compelled  to  select  only  three,  1  should 
name  those  just  given,  placing  Royal  George  as  the  ])ick  of  the  lot. 
Noblesse  is  perhaps  the  most  exquisite  llavoured  Peach  grown, 
but  it  is  not  generally  so  prolific  as  many  other  varieties.  Some  culti¬ 
vators  succeed  with  it  regularly,  many  other  good  ones  do  not.  This 
seems  to  point  to  the  fact  that  certain  peculiar  conditions  are  necessary 
for  its  welfare.  Probably  a  considerable  addition  of  lime  or  fresh  lime 
rubble  mixed  with  the  soil  wdien  forming  a  border  would  be  beneficial. 
Journal  readers  who  have  been  successful  in  securing  good  crops 
auuually  of  this  fine  Peach,  will  perhaps  give  the  outline  of  their 
management,  stating  the  peculiarities  of  the  soil  forming  their  border. 
l\ly  ex|ierience  is  that  Peaches  in  late  houses  give  the  cultivator  the 
best  ojjportunities  of  providing  fruit  of  the  largest  size,  and,  in  good 
seasons,  finest  colour.  Plenty  of  time  can  be  allowed  for  swelling  and 
colouring,  while  the  protection  of  glass  does  away  with  the  draw'backs 
attending  open-air  culture,  and  if  the  liouse  is  provided  with  a  fiow'- 
and-return  pipe,  slight  heat  cau  be  given  at  critical  times  when  the 
weather  is  bad. 
Sea  Eagle,  Gladstone,  and  Golden  Eagle  are  three  varieties  which 
1  think  would  be  very  difficult  to  improve  upon  for  late  houses. 
'I'he  first-named  is  a  really  grand  Peach  in  regard  to  size,  colour,  and 
form  ;  in  llavour  it  does  not,  of  course,  equal  Royal  George  or  (Jrosse 
Mignonne;  but  then,  I  know  of  no  late  Peach  much  better  than  Sea 
Eagle  in  this  respect.  Mr.  U.  W.  Ward,  w'hen  at  Longford  Castle, 
list'd  to  exhibit  grand  examples  at  the  Crystal  Palace  Show  in 
September,  and  the  superb  dish  staged  by  Mr.  W.  Iggulden,  at 
Shrew’sbury  Show,  last  year,  was  the  most  handsome  one  at  that  great 
exhibition.  Golden  Eagle  provides  us  with  a  brilliantly  coloured 
variety,  so  distinct  from  all  others  that  it  always  commands  attention ; 
but  it  is  better  to  look  at  than  to  eat,  although  sometimes  described  as 
good  in  llavour.  In  the  matter  of  llavour,  Gladstone  is  very  much 
better  than  its  tempting-looking  companion. 
No  doubt  tastes  differ  in  regard  to  llavour  in  Peaches  as  in  most 
other  things,  and  it  may  be  that  some  lusty  scribe  will  take  me  to 
task  in  this  point,  as  well  as  others  raised  in  these  brie’f  notes.  Well, 
none,  of  us  will  be  the  worse  for  words  that  carry  no  venom  with  them, 
and  in  putting  me  right,  others  may  be  prevented  from  going  wrong. 
—  11.1). 
PELAR(iONIUMS  FOR  AVINTER. 
TitERE  are  few,  if  any,  plants  which  pjossess  so  many  good  qualities 
as  the  “(Jeranium.”  It  is  easy  of  culture,  has  an  endless  variety  of 
colours,  produces  its  flowers  on  long  stems,  and  these  can  be  had  the 
whole  year  round.  It  is  a  simple  matter  to  obtain  a  brilliant  display 
during  the  bright  and  sunny  months  of  the  year,  but  in  the  cold  and 
sunless  months  of  winter  more  care  and  forethought  are  demanded. 
However,  any  trouble  spent  in  {treyaring  the  plants  is  repaid,  as 
well  grown  thoroughly  matured  specimens  produce  an  abundance  of 
benutilul  trusses  and  make  a  eorceous  display,  and  1  question  if  any 
other  plant  gives  such  a  lavish  return.  Now  is  a  good  time  to 
commence  if  it  is  decided  to  grow  a  number  of  these  useful  plants 
for  either  supplying  ilowers  for  cutting  or  plants  for  decoration  in 
he  conservatory  or  greenhouse. 
One  thing  I  wish  to  say  in  starting  so  that  disappointment,  which 
1  once  exiierienced,  may  be  avoided  by  others.  About  seven  years 
aeo  I  took  charge  of  some  gardens  where  a  good  conservatory  was 
attached  to  the  house.  I  resolved  to  grow  Zonal  Pelargoniums  for  the 
purpose  of  having  this  house  as  bright  as  I  possibly  could.  At  the 
end  of  the  season  1  had  some  beautiful  plants  bristling  with  trusses, 
but  when  they  were  placed  in  the  conservatory  in  question  scarcely  a 
truss  developed,  but  one  after  another  they  damped  off  till  they 
became  a  perfect  eyesore.  The  cause  of  this  failure  was  simply  lack 
of  light  and  sunshine.  That  conservatory  is  so  situated  that  lor  three 
months  in  winter  it  never  gets  a  ray  of  sunshine  ;  therefore,  to  those 
who  have  had  no  experience  in  winter  blooming  “  Geraniums  ”  I 
would  say  take  warning  from  my  failure,  and  do  not  attempt  their 
culture  unless  you  have  suitable  accommodation  for  them  during 
winter.  A  house  which  receives  a  maximum  of  light  and  sunshine 
is  the  one  best  adapted  for  the  plants  in  winter,  and  unless  such  is 
available  I  would  not  advise  anyone  to  attempt  to  grow  them. 
Select  sturdy  cuttings  of  such  variettes  as  are  at  hand,  because  in 
iny  exjjerience  one  variety  is  as  good  as  another  for  the  purpose,  and 
place  them  singly  in  thumb  pots  in  light  sandy  soil.  Give  a  thorough 
watering,  and  stand  the  pots  on  a  shelf  in  a  vinery  lately  started, 
shading  from  bright  sunshine  till  they  are  rooted,  after  which  they 
should  be  fully  exposed  to  all  light  and  air  possible.  As  soon  as  the 
roots  begin  to  run  round  the  sides  of  the  pot  transfer  to  a  larger  size, 
keeping  them  close  and  warm  for  a  few  days  till  root  action  recom¬ 
mences,  when  they  may  be  gradually  exposed  till  they  oi  ce  more  will 
bear  exposure  to  lull  sunlight  with  abundance  of  air.  At  this  stage 
the}’  may  after  cai’eful  hardening  be  placed  in  cold  frames,  allowing 
))lenty  of  room  for  development.  In  the  event  of  cold  frosty 
nights  setting  in  provision  should  be  made  for  protecting  them  with 
mats  or  other  materials. 
Careful  and  constant  attention  to  watering  and  airing  will  be 
all  that  is  requisite  until  they  require  another  shift,  this  time  into 
6-inch  pots,  w’hich  I  consider  the  most  suitable  size  for  flowering.  As 
the  plants  will  necessarily  remain  in  these  pots  for  a  considerable 
period,  a  little  extra  care  must  bo  taken  in  their  preparation.  See 
that  they  are  scrupulously  clean  both  inside  and  outside,  and  the 
drainage  so  placed  that  there  will  be  no  danger  of  choking,  and  thus 
souring  the  soil,  which  is  inimical  to  the  well  being  of  the  plants.  For 
this  potting  I  prefer  a  retentive  loam  with  a  fourth  part  leaf  mould, 
and  sufficient  rough  sand  to  keep  the  compost  porous  ;  to  this  should 
be  added  a  sprinkling  of  bonemeal  and  some  approved  chemical 
manure. 
Turn  the  plants  carefully  out  of  their  pots,  avoiding  injury  to  the 
tender  roots,  as  much  damage  is  often  done  by  careless  workmanship 
at  this  period.  The  plants,  by  having  their  roots  broken,  receive  a 
severe  check  which  it  takes  some  time  to  overcome.  Firm  potting  is 
ot  great  importance,  thus  causing  the  plants  to  make  short-jointed 
sturdy  growths  which  will  eventually  produce  excellent  trusses. 
Replace,  after  potting,  in  the  frames,  keen  close  for  a  week  or  so, 
and  then  gradually  expose  until  they  can  be  placed  outside  in  full 
sunshine  upon  a  bed  of  ashes,  allowing  sufficient  space  between  each 
plant  for  light  and  air.  Pinch  the  points  out  of  any  shoots  that  have 
an  inclination  to  take  a  lead  of  the  rest,  and  thus  keep  the  plant  w’ell 
balanced.  Nip  off  all  trusses  as  they  appear  till  the  month  of 
Septeraber.  From  the  time  they  are  placed  outside  the  daily  routine 
wmrk  of  w’atering  should  have  unremitting  attention,  as  to  allow  them 
to  become  too  dry  means  death  to  many  useful  rootlets,  resulting 
in  a  severe  check  from  which  it  takes  the  plants  a  long  time  to 
recuperate. 
When  the  pots  become  well  filled  with  roots  liquid  manure  should 
be  given,  commencing  with  weak  doses,  and  gradually  increase  the 
strength,  but  be  careful  not  to  use  it  tco  strong:  it  is  better  by  far  to 
err  on  the  side  of  weakness.  Give  it  weak  and  give  it  often  is  sound 
advice.  Should  the  plants  show  an  inclination  to  grow  too  densely 
they  must  be  tied  out  a  little,  so  as  to  give  more  room  for  the  shoots 
and  foliage  to  develop. 
Towards  the  end  of  September  they  should  bo  placed  under  cover. 
