80 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  22,  1903. 
thorough,  therefore  allow  no  more  shcot.s  to  be  lu’oclucetl  than  is 
necessary  for  filling  the  vacant  space,  or  to  produce  the  wood  of 
next  year. 
HO'rSES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.-  The  trees  started 
at  the  beginning  of  the  month  are  expanding  their  flowers,  and 
before  they  open  it  is  well  to  make  a  scrutiny  of  the  trees,  and 
if  any  aphides  are  seen  fumigate  or  vapourise  to  exterminate  the 
pests.  Great  care  is  nece.'-sary  in  fumigating,  as  the  organs  of  fructi¬ 
fication  are  easily  and  irreparably  damaged.  Where  there  is  an 
excess  of  blo8so]n  buds  draw  the  hand  the  contrary  way  of  the 
growth  along  the  under  side  or  back  of  the  trellis  so  as  to  remove 
all  situated  there,  and  if  that  is  not  enough,  thin  them  well  with 
the  finger,  leaving  the  best  situated^  and  most  promising. 
Syringing  must  cease  when  the  buds  show  colour,  but  damp  the 
house  in  the  morning  and  afternoon,  for  though  damp,  stagnant, 
cold  air  is  not  favourable  to  Nectarine  and  Peach  blossoms,  or  the 
trees  in  the  earlj'  stages,  or  indeed,  any  stage  of  their  growth,  a 
dry  atmosphere  is  pernicious  by  provoking  constant  and  excessive 
evaporation.  See  that  inside  borders  are  thoroughly  moistened 
thi’ough  to  the  drainage,  but  avoid  needless  waterings.  The 
temperature  may  be  advanced  to  45  tO'  oOdeg,  and  50  to  55deg  in 
the  daytime  by  artificial  means,  and  GO  to  G5deg  from  sun  heat  ; 
ventilating  freely  above  55deg,  and  leave  a  little  con.stantly  at  the 
top  of  the  house. 
SEC'GESSION  HOUSKS. — Eini.sh  pruning  the  trees  at  once, 
never  deferring  it  beyond  the  swelling  of  the  buds.  Dress  the 
trees  with  an  insecticide,  after  washing  with  softsoapy  water ; 
4oz  softsoap  to  a  gallon  of  water,  taking  care  not  to’  dislocate 
the  buds,  and  not  u.sing  the  insecticide'  at  “  winter  ”  strength  if 
the  buds  are  advanced  in  swelling.  Secure  the  trees  to  the 
trellis,  allowing  ample  space  in  the  ligatures  for  the  swelling  of 
the  branches,  and  leave  room  between  these  for  laying  in  young 
wood  for  future  bearing.  Fork  the  border  lightly,  not  disturbing 
the  roots,  removing  any  loose  soil,  and  supply  fresh  loam;  but 
not  more  than  an  inch  or  two  in  thickness,  and  top-dress  with  an 
approved  fertiliser. 
THE  HOUSE  TO  AFFORD  RIPE  FRUIT  IN  JULY  must  be 
closed  now,  and  the  trees  started  at  the  beginning  of  February. 
Syringe  the  trees  once  or  twice  a  day  in  bright  weather,  once  a 
day  sufficing  when  dull,  and  in  severe  weather  merely  damp  the 
paths  and  border  when  the  surface  becomes  dry.  Turn  the  heat 
on  in  the  morning  so  as  to  raise  the  temperature  to  50deg,  keep¬ 
ing  at  that  figure  until  the  decline  of  the  sun,  then  allow  the  heat 
to  fall  to  its  right  minimum,  employing  fire  heat  only  to  prevent 
it  falling  below  40deg.  Water  the  inside  border  if  necessary, 
being  guided  by  its  condition,  as  there  is  great  difference  in 
border  requirements,  those  formed  of  retentive  material  not 
needing  water  nearly  so-  often  as  those  composed  of  loose,  porous 
soil. 
LATE  HOUSES. — When  the  trees  are  kept  under  fixed  roofs 
the  buds  commence  swelling  at  an  early  period  of  the  year,  but 
where  the  roof  lights  are  removed  they  do  not  come  on  much, 
if  any,  sooner  than  those  against  walls  in  swelling.  Ventilate 
freely  in  bright  weather  so  as  to  retard  the  buds  as  much  as 
possible,  not  omitting  to  vater  inside  borders  if  they  show  the 
least  indications  of  dryness,  as  this  is  one  of  the  causes  of  buds 
dropping.  Houses  and  wallcases  from  which  the  lights  have  been 
removed  should  not  have  them  replaced  until  the  time  for  start¬ 
ing  the  trees,  or  the  buds  are  so  far  advanced  as  not  to  be  safely 
longer  exposed. — Sx.  Albans. 
- - — - - 
Meteorological  Observations  at  CMswicL 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain.  i 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest  j 
Temperature  i 
on  Grass. 
1903. 
January. 
At  9  A.M, 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
ai 
<0 
bo 
S 
43 
CO 
o 
o 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Ins. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Sunday  ...11 
N.F. 
35  0 
33  6 
36-0 
320 
— 
417 
44-3 
46T 
21  4 
Monday  ...12 
N.E. 
31-8 
30-7 
36  0 
30-6 
_ 
39'1 
43  7 
46T 
24  4 
Tuesday  ...15 
N.I5. 
29-0 
28-2 
32-5 
26-7 
_ 
37  7 
42-8 
46-0 
18  7 
•Wed’sday  14 
E.N.E. 
29-5 
28-3 
32-2 
29-5 
_ 
367 
41-9 
45-9 
22-1 
Thursday  15 
N.E. 
27-9 
27-2 
33'2 
27-0 
— 
361 
41-2 
457 
]5'8 
Friday  ...16 
E.S.E. 
27-2 
25-5 
32  0 
25-8 
— 
357 
40-8 
45-3 
16T 
Saturday  17 
E.S.E. 
29'1 
28-6 
37  0 
26-6 
0-36 
351 
40-3 
45-0 
19T 
Total. 
Means  ... 
29-9 
28-9 
34-1 
28-3 
036 
37-4 
42T 
45  7 
197 
A  dry  week,  with  very  cold  north-cast  winds  and  rain  on  the 
evening  of  the  17th  inst. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  This  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  oar  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  exiiense. 
NATIONAL  FRUIT  GROWLERS’  FEDERATION  (X.).^Mr. 
A.  T.  Alatthews  is  secretary,  and  his  address  is  28,  Eaton  Rise, 
Ealing,  London,  W. 
PRAGTIGAL  BOTANY  BOOK  (J.  B.  F.).~  Procure  ‘-Prac¬ 
tical  Botany  for  Beginners,”  by  Bown  and  G Wynne- Vaughan, 
3.S.  Gd.,  from  Alacmillan  and  Co.,  London.  It  is  a  most  useful 
guide  for  workers  in  microscopic  botany,  and  practical  work  of, 
tlie  science  generally. 
LILY  OF  THE  VALLEY:  AIAKING  A  NEW  BED 
(Learner). — September  and  October  are  the  two  best  months  of 
tho  year  in  which  to  dig  up  old  beds  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  and 
remake  or  plant  them.  Growth  is  then  becoming  quiescent, 
and  the  crowns  and  roots  are  not  liable  to  suffer. 
DEPTH  OF  WATER  FOR  THE  GROWTH  OF  WATER 
LILIES  (Learner). — The  rootstocks  should  be  Gin  to  9in  be¬ 
neath  the  water.  The  stocks  are  best  planted  in  April  in  about 
a  foot  of  soil,  beneath  the  water.  The  best,  plan  is  to  first  plant 
your  rootstocks  in  baskets,  and  place  these  into  the  water, 
and  rhey  may  be  fastened  to  the  bottom  of  the  pond,  or  lake, 
if  that  is  necessary. 
CACTES  GROWING  (E.  F.).~There  have  been  no  extended 
articles  on  this  section  of  plant  culture,  other  than  that  on 
Epiirhyllum  cultui’e  which  you  refer  to,  for  two  or  three  years. 
Of  course,  there  are  passing  notes  in  our  pages  under  such 
headings  as  ••Garden  Gleanings”  or  ‘-Notes  and  Notice.s”;  but 
these  are  not  probably  sufficient  for  your  present  desire.  Wc' 
hope  to  bestow  more  attention  on  these  very  interesting  plants. 
PROPORTIONS  OF  KAINIT  AND  BASIC  SLAG  FOR 
TOAIATOES.— CHEMICAL  MANURE  FOR  POTATOES.— 
AIANURE  FOR  VIOLETS.  (W.  B.).— 1.  Kainit,  three  parts: 
basic  slag,  eight  parts.  This  preparation  should  be  used  some 
time  in  advance  of  planting,  thoroughly  incorporating  with  the 
soil,  especially  when  used  as  a  preventive  of  rootknot  or  other 
eelworm,  ancl  of  sleeping  disease.  The  mixture  may  be  cjii- 
ployed  in  the  proportion  of  one  part  to  twenty-eight  iiarts  of 
compost  by  weight.  2.  A  good  manure  for  Potatoes  is  com- 
po'sed  of  five  parts  rape  dust,  throe  parts  superphosphate  of 
lime,  and  two'  parts  mui'iate  of  potash,  aj)plying  five  cwt  of  the 
mixture  per  acre  if  with  a  moderate  amount,  say  ten  tens  of 
well  rotted  stable  or  farmyard  manure,  or  ten  cwt  per  acre  if  no 
animal  manure  applied.  Another,  superphosphate  and  bone- 
meal  in  equal  parts,  three  cwt;  sulphate  of  ammonia,  one  cwt  ; 
best  quality  kainit,  two  cwt:  mixed  per  acre.  3.  For  Violet.?, 
nitrate  of  soda,  two  parts';  dried  blood,  two  parts;  fish  meal, 
two  parts;  superphosphate,  eight  parts;  muriate  of  potash, 
two  parts;  wood  ashes  (unleached),  four  parts,  mixed.  Apply 
five  cwt  of  the  mixture  per  acre,  3|lb  per  rod,  just  before 
placing  out  the  plants. 
AIALMA_ISON  C'ARNATIONS  DISEASED  (O.  W.).— The 
pieces  are  infested  by  what  is  known  by  the  names  of  black 
mould,  because  the  parts  ultimately  turn  b’ack,  though  iiale 
at  first,  and  fairy-i’ing  disease,  through  the  small  black  cluster? 
of  fruit  of  the  fungus  being  often  arranged  in  irregular  circles. 
The  technical  name  of  the  fungus  is  Heterosporiuin  echinulatum. 
It  is  very  destructive  to  Carnations  when  the  plants  are  exposed 
to  a  chill,  or  when  a  moist,  warm  period  is  followed  by  a 
sudden  lowering  of  temperature.  Spraying  with  potassium 
sulphide  (liver  of  sulphur),  loz  to  2J-gals  of  water,  checks  the 
disease.  Dissolve  the  potassium  sulphide  in  a  cpiart  of  hot 
water,  then  make  up  to  2jgals  with  cold  water.  It  should 
be  applied  by  means  of  a  spray  diffu.ser,  just  coating  all  parts 
of  the  plant  with  the  fine,st  possible  film  of  the  solution.  Your 
case  is  a  bad  one,  and  to  reihove  all  the  diseased  leaves  would 
too  much  elemude  and  disfigure  the  plants.  This,  however,  is 
advisable,  all  diseased  leaves  being  picked  off  and  burned.  By 
consistently  attending  to  this  iioint  the  disease  does  not  spread, 
and  the  danger  of  sclerotia  forming  and  the  reappearance  of  the 
disease  is  much  diminished.  The  foliage  of  the  plants  .should 
be  kept  as  free  from  moisture  as  possible ;  or,  if  the  surface  is 
dry,  floating  tspores  alighting  on  the  leaves  do  not  germinate. 
Secure  good  ventilation,  and  avoid  watering  the  foliage. 
