•lanuary  1,  1903. 
V.) 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Reading  and  District  Gardeners. 
At.  the  last  iiieetiiig  for  the  j’ear  1902  tliere  v.a.s  a  large 
attendance  of  members  pre.sent,  pi-esided  over  by  Mr.  Leonard 
.Sutton.  The  subject  arranged  for  the,  evening  vas  “  A  ('hat  on 
Bouquet  Arrangements,”  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Povell,  of  Pai'k  Place 
(hardens,  Henley-on-Thames.  Tliis  proved  to  be  one  of  the  mo.st 
idea.sant  and  interesting  meetings  held  by  the  association.  Mr. 
Powell,  in  introducing  his  subject,  referred  to  the  various  events 
for  which  bouquets  were  required,  and  then  gave  a  practical 
demonstration  of  the  making  of  a  bridal  showei’_ bouquet,  explain¬ 
ing  which  he  considered  the  right  way  of  wiring  flowers,  i%c. 
Starting  with  the  pad  of  moss,  the  bouquet  was  made,  so  to  speak, 
to  grow  under  the  eyes  of  the  audience  till  the  object  aimed  at 
was  completed.  During  the  work  many  useful  hints  were  given, 
and  several  questions  answered.  The  thoroughness  of  the  work 
wa.s  evidenced  by  the  test  the  flov.ers  went  through  on  being 
pa,ssed  about  amongst  the  members.  The  flowers  and  foliage 
used  were  Myrtle,  Aspa.ragus  .Sprengeri,  Pandanus  (for  bows), 
Liliums,  Arums,  Eucharis,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Chrysanthemums, 
and  Roman  Hyacinths.  A  most  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
accorded  to  Mr.  Powell  for  the’  most  pleasant  evening  spent,  with 
the  wish  that  he  Avould  take  up  ‘‘Sprays  and  Buttonholes”  at 
the  first  ordinary  meeting  in  the  New  Year. 
■  •  - 
A  SELF=ACTINQ  TABLE  FOUNTAIN. 
A  table  fountain,  simple  in  construction  and  action,  and  ad¬ 
mitting  of  any  desirable  degree  of  ornamentation,  is  shown  here¬ 
with.  The  sectional  figure  will  render  a  description  of  it  clear. 
It  consists  of  a  pedestal,  which  may  be  of  cast  metal,  porcelain, 
or  wood  turned  and  ornamented  in  the  lathe,  while  the  basin,  may 
be  of  gla.ss,  metal,  or  other  suitable  material,  with  metal  rim 
adorned,  as  in  the  specimen  illustrated,  with  lioms’  heads,  sup¬ 
porting  chains,  Ac.,  while  small  cups,  n,  are  attached  to  the  inside 
as  receptacles  for  flowers.  Ferns,  Ac.  Just  beneath  the  jet,  too, 
is  a  Tulip-shaped  recei^tacle  for  flowers ;  and  the  handles  of  the 
plugs  c  may  be  orna- 
mental  in  shape  as 
shown,  cr  else  be  con- 
f,  >7  .:  A  A  coaled  beneath  the 
;  :  7’  I  ’  .  7  water. 
In  the  cylindrical 
j-''-  hollow  of  the  pedestal 
a  heavy  plunger  A  fits 
watertight;  through 
the  centre  of  the 
latter  the  rubber  tube 
B  passes,  ending  in  a 
flap-valve  pierced  with 
a  small  hole,  of  suf¬ 
ficient  size,  however, 
to  supply  the  jet  with 
the  requisite  quantity 
of  water.  The  hollow 
of  the  pedestal  is  sepa¬ 
rated  from  the  basin 
by  a  perforated  cap 
supporting  the  jet  and 
containing  the  two 
plugs,  which  are  con¬ 
nected  to  the  plunger 
by  chain.s  or  cords.  To 
set  the  fountain  at 
work  all  that  is  neces¬ 
sary  is  to  fill  the  basin 
with  water,  which  will 
also  run  inbo  the  hol¬ 
low  pedestal,  till  the 
desired  height  is 
reached.  The  plunger 
is  then  pulled  up  by 
means  of  the  plugs  or 
the  handles  c,  the 
water  pa,ssing  through 
the  holei  in  its  centre, 
and  beneath  through 
A  Sklf-actinu  Table  Fountain. 
the  flap-valve  ;  on  re¬ 
storing  the  plugs  to  their  position  the  plunger  descends,  and  the 
water  is  forced  through  the  pipes  to  the  jet,  where  it  rises  to’  a 
height  varying  with  the  size  of  the  jet  and  the  weight  of  the 
plunger.  It  is  obvious,  also,  that  the  fountain  will  play  for  a 
longer  or  shorter  time  according  to  its  size;  but  it  is  so  easily 
started  again  that  its  action  may  be  con.sidered  as  virtually  con¬ 
tinuous. 
The  water,  of  course,  may  be  coloured  or  perfumed,  though 
such  a  proceeding  might  not  be  relished  by  gold  fish,  m  IucIi  would 
otherwise  live  tolerably  healthily  in  the  glass  basin  of  such  a 
fountain.  A  tap  should  be  fitted  at  the  bottom  of  the  pedestal 
for  drawing  off  the  water  when  desired. 
\ 
^OKK-Foiithe  WEEK..  S 
f/ral 
Fruit  Forcing. 
CUCILMBEBS. —  Plants  for  the  early  supply  of  fruit  where  winter 
Cucumbers  are  hot  grown  should  now  be  prepared,  sowing  the  seeils 
singly  in  :^  in.  pots  half  filled  with  soil,  so  as  to  leave  space  for  top¬ 
dressing  as  required,  plunging  the  pots  in  a  brisk  bottom  heat  near 
the  glass.  Where  bottom  beat  is  not  at  command  in  plenty  of  light 
the  pots  should  be  placed  on  shelves,  covered  with  a  pane  of  glass, 
and  directly  the  seed-leaves  appear  remove  it.  The  temperature 
should  range  from  Godeg  at  night  to  TOdeg  to  75deg  by  day.  The 
thing  is  to  secure  sturdy  plants  and  give  them  plenty  of  light.  Where 
convenience  for  raising  the  plants  for  planting  in  frames  does  not 
exist  seed  should  be  sown  in  pots  placed  on  a  hotbed,  but  we  do  not 
advise  that  to  be  done  until  the  end  of  January  or  beginning  of 
February. 
THE  MILD  ;;WEATHER  at  the  close  of  last  year  has  helped 
winter  fruiters  wonderfully,  a  little  ventilation  in  the  early  part  of 
the  day  when  the  weather  was  mild,  aided  by  evaporation  to  solidify 
the  growth,  and  closing  early  in  the  afternoon  or  shortly  after 
mid-day,  with  damping  the  house  at  that  time,  ensuring  steady, 
progressive  development  in  growth  of  plant  and  fruit.  On  fine 
mornings  the  floor  should  be  damped  and  the  plants  lightly  syringed, 
which  discourages  red  spider  and  thrips,  and  to  some  extent  holds  the 
pest  in  check.  Weak  liquid  manure  may  be  given  to  plants  in  free 
growth,  but  should  the  plants  not  grow,  freely  sprinkle  a  good 
handful  per  square  yard  oa  the  bed  of  a  mixture  in  equal  parts  of 
dissolved  bones  and  soot,  and  water  moderately  with  tepid  water 
only  until  the  growth  becomes  free.  To  encourage  surface  roots  a 
top-dressing  should  be  given  of  turfy  loam,  from  the  size  of  a  nut  to 
an  egg,  adding  a  fourth  of  sweetened  horse  droppings,  having  it 
previously  warmed  to  the  temperature  of  the  house.  Maintain  a 
night  temperature  of  Godeg,  70deg  to  75deg,  by  day,  and  80deg  to 
8.5deg  or  90deg  with  sun  heat. 
MELONS. — To  have  ripe  fruit  in  April  or  early  in  May  the  seed 
must  now  be  sown.  Sow  the  seeds  singly  in  3-in.  pots,  leaving  room 
for  top-dressing,  the  pots  being  about  three-quarters  filled  wdth  good, 
rich,  moderately  light  soil,  packed  down  rather  firmly,  covering  each 
pot  with  a  pane  of  glass,  and  when  the  plants  break  through  the 
soil  remove  it.  The  pots  are  best  placed  on  shelves  about  a  foot  from 
the  glass,  in  a  house  with  a  temperature  of  Godeg  to  7odeg  by 
artificial  means,  it  being  important  that  the  plants  develop  sturdy 
seed  leaves  just  clear  of  the  soil,  as  there  is  nothing  like  a  stout  base 
for  securing  good  results.  Where  the  plants  are  grown  in  frames  the 
end  of  this  or  beginning  of  next  month  is  quite  early  enough  to 
make  a  beginning,  for  wdiich  instructions  will  be  given  in  due  course. 
VINES;  EARLIEST  FORCED  IN  POTS.— As  the  foliage  is 
developing  great  care  in  ventilating  must  be  exercised,  avoiding 
chills,  such  as  those  resulting  from  cold  currents  of  air,  admitting  it 
chiefly  by  the  top  ventilators,  and  only  moderately  when  the  air  is 
cold  aiid  sharp.  With  foliage  root  action  will  be  excited,  encouraging 
it  by  supplies  of  tepid  liquid  manure.  Disbud  as  soon  as  the  shows 
for  fruit  are  manifest,  and  stop  the  shoots  at  the  joint  beyond  the 
show  of  fruit,  pinching  off  the  point  of  growth  w’hen  the  leaf  at  the 
joint  is  about  the  size  of  pennypieces.  Pinch  the  laterals  at  the 
first  joint.  Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  G-5deg  until  the  flowers 
open,  and  then  keep  the  house  at  70deg  to  7odeg  by  artificial  means 
with  a  rather  drier  condition  of  the  atmosphere. 
EARLY  FORCED  PLANTED-OUT  VINES.— Encourage  root 
action  by  top-dressings  of  superphosphate  and  blood  manure  in  about 
equal  proportions  by  weight,  adding  a  fourth  of  sulphate  of  potash 
to  the  mixture,  and  supplying  about  4oz  per  square  yard, 
watering  in  moderately.  If  fermenting  materials  have  been 
introduced  into  the  house,  they  should  not  be  allowed  to 
decline  in  warmth,  but  be  added  to  from  time  to  time,  affording  due 
protection  to  the  outside  border.  Do  not  be  in  a  hurry  in  disbudding, 
but  let  the  growths  proceed  until  it  can  be  seen  which  give  the  most 
promising  show  for  fruit,  and  then  disbud  gradually.  Tie  down  the 
shoots  before  they  touch  the  glass.  If  weakly,  stop  them  at  three  or 
four  joints  beyond  the  bunch  ;  if  strong,  they  may  be  pinched  at  one 
joint  beyond  the  fruit,  and  then  pinch  the  laterals  to  one  joint  as 
regards  the  weak  shoots,  and  leave  two  or  three  on  strong  growths 
after  the  flush  of  sap  has  been  concentrated  on  bunch,  extending  the 
growth  so  as  to  secure  a  supply  of  well-developed  foliage  all  over  the 
house.  Remove  surplus  bunches  as  soon  as  choice  can  be  made  of 
the  best,  reserving  the  most  compact  and  avoiding  overcropping. 
Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  GOdeg  to  Godeg,  70deg  to  75deg  by 
day,  and  a  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere  by  damping  the  paths 
and  walls  two  or  three  times  a  day. 
HOUSES  TO  AFFORD  RIPE  GRAPES  IN  JUNE. -The 
Vines  for  this  purpose  must  be  started  at  once,  for  though  they  may 
be  forced  so  as  to  afford  fruit  in  May,  they  are  best  brought  forward 
