January  29,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
95 
Notes  on  Fruit. 
Figs  under  Glass. 
For  variety  at  dessert,  quite  apart  from  their  wholesomeness 
and  healthful  value,  dishes  of  ripe  Figs  are  always  welcomed. 
Eaeliest  Forced  Trees  in  Pots. 
The  trees  of  such  varieties  as  Early  Violet  and  St.  John’s, 
both  very  early,  and  giving  good  results  in  first  crops,  with 
Brown  Turkey  to  follow,  Avhich  is  unquestionably  the  best  one 
Fig  for  forcing,  started  in  November  or  at  the  beginning  of 
December  to  afford  ripe  fruit  at  the  close  of  April  and  in  May, 
are  forming  fresh  roots  abundantly,  therefore  the  bottom  heat 
should  be  kept  steady  at  70deg  to  7odeg,  bringing  the  fermenting 
material  up  to  the  rim  of  the  pots,  and,  instead  of  letting  them 
extend  over  the  rims  into  the  fermenting  material  at  will,  place 
pieces  of  turf,  2in  thick,  round  the  rims  of  the  pots,  and  extend¬ 
ing  over  or  down  the  sides,  which  will  keep  the  roots  near  and 
induce  a  .sturdy  growth,  and  the  roots  can  be  fed  in  the  turf. 
To  encourage  active  feeders  from  the  collar  fill  the  hollows 
formed  by  the  turves  Avith  sAveet  lumpy  manure  or  rough  pieces 
of  turf,  and  sprinkle  these  occasionaliy  Avith  a  little  approved 
fertiliser. 
Keep  a  good,  but  not  excessiA'e,  moisture  in  the  atmosphere 
by  syringing  tAvice  a  day  and  damping  as  required  in  bright 
weather,  taking  advantage  of  every  gleam  of  sunshine  for  raising 
the  temperature  to  80deg  or  85deg,  but  admit  a  little  air  at 
70deg,  increasing  it  with  the  temperature,  closing  at  7odeg,  and 
so  as  to  raise  the  heat  to  80deg,  8.5deg,  or  even  90deg.  Let 
there  be  no  lack  of  water  at  the  roots,  and  with  the  drainage 
good  there  is  little  danger  of  giving  too  much,  many  crops 
being  lost  by  keeping  the  roots  too  dry  or  supplying  Avater  too 
late  and  irregularly.  In  dull  weather  the  temperature  should  be 
kept  at  65deg  by  day  and  GOdeg  at  night,  but  5deg  in  mild  Aveather 
in  both  cases.  Superfluous  groAvths  should  be  rubbed  off,  and 
the  .shoots  stopped  at  about  the  fifth  or  .sixth  leaf ;  but  trees 
making  .sturdy  growth  will  not  need  stopping,  and  the  finest 
Figs  are  borne  on  extensions.  Yet  stopping  is  necessary,  especially 
growth  likely  to  interfere  Avith  an  equal  di.stribution  of  sap  and 
the  admis.sion  of  light  and  air  to  all  parts  of  the  tree  in  equal 
share. 
E.arly  Forced  Planted-out  Trees. 
The  trees  started  early  in  January  and  planted  in  inside 
borders  of  limited  extent  Avill,  the  borders  having  been  re¬ 
peatedly  Avatered  .so  as  to  bring  them  into  a  thoroughly  moist 
condition  of  soil,  be  starting  into  groAvth,  and  may  have  the 
night  temperature  raised  to  5.5deg,  and  GOdeg  to  Godeg  by  day 
from  fire  heat,  Avith  an  adi'ance  from  sun  heat  to  70deg  to 
7odeg,  but  Avith  moderate  A'ontilation.  Syringe  the  trees  in  the 
morning  and  afternoon  of  fine  days,  the  latter  ahvays  sufficiently 
early  to  alloAV  the  trees  to  become  fairly  dry  before  night,  and 
in  dull  Aveather  omit  the  afternoon  syringing.  Weakly  trees  may 
have  a  good  soaking  of  liquid  manure  at  a  temperature  about 
the  mean  of  the  house,  but  it  must  not  be  too  strong.  This 
Avill  induce  the  formation  of  roots,  and  actiA'e  feeders  pushing 
from  the  collar  and  surface  roots,  they  should  be  encouraged 
by  light  mulching  of  lumpy  material  to  spread  outAvards,  and 
then  the  trees  can  be  nouri.shed  to  any  extent  by  top-dressing 
of  fertilisers  or  applications  of  liquid  manure. — Groaver. 
- 1  « - 
Camellias  in  the  Open  Air. 
As  you  and  some  of  your  readers  may  take  an  interest  in 
the  present  movement  of  attempting  the  more  extended  growth 
of  Camellias  in  the  open  air,  and  in  spots  which  Avould  not 
seem  by  nature  to  be  adapted  for  that  purpose,  I  take  the 
liberty  of  sending  you  some  information  as  to  the  progress 
made  here  in  their  culture,  and  I  forward  photographs  taken  in 
October  last  of  a  Camellia  shrub  planted  in  the  spring  of  18BG, 
being  then  18in  high,  and  the  same  through,  but  now  5ft  high 
and  8ft  through.  One  photo  shows  the  plant  with  the  pods  on 
it,  the  other  a  small  section  showing  their  shape,  &c.  [but  which, 
unfortunately,  is  too  dim  for  successful  reproduction. — Ed.]. 
It  stands  in  the  garden  grounds  at  the  summit  of  the  hill,  on  a 
level  AA'ith  the  top  of  the  Round  Tower  of  Windsor  Castle, 
without  any  shelter,  and  exposed  to  the  north  and  east 
winds.  It  is  a  single  red  variety,  and  commenced  seeding  iii' 
189.3,  Avhen  seven  plants  were  raised  from  it,  of  which 
two  proved  to  be  single  Avhite,  one  single  striped,  one  semi¬ 
double  white,  and  three  single  red. 
This  plant,  and  several  others,  have 
seeded  more  or  less  cA'ery  year  since 
that  date.  It  has  yielded  this  year 
upAvards  of  180  pods,  and  the  others- 
some  400,  making  a  total  of  about 
1000  seeds,  as  they  average  nearly 
two  seeds  per  pod,  although  occa¬ 
sionally  a  feAV  contain  three  or  four. 
We  have  gathered  seed  from  nine 
plants  this  year  of  the  following 
varieties — three  single  red,  tAVO  single 
white,  two  double  red,  one  single 
striped,  and  one  semi-double  Avhite. 
There  are  now^  more  than  170  plants, 
varying  from  one  year  old  to  tAventy, 
planted  out  in  all  aspects,  and  they 
make  a  unique  and  magnificent  show 
during  the  spring  and  early  summer, 
commencing  to  blossom  freely  about 
the  middle  of  March. 
Forty-eight  A^arieties  were  exhibited 
at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s 
shoAV  at  the  Westminster  Drill  Hall 
last  April,  for  Avhich  Ave  were  granted 
the  Silver  Banksian  Medal,  having 
previously  gained  one  siUmr  and  one 
bronze  one.  It  Avould  appear  to  be 
an  extraordinary  assertion  to  make 
that  during  the  twenty  years  that  wc 
have  been  carrying  on  this  AA’ork,  avo 
have  never  lost  a  single  plant  from 
frost,  cold,  or  weather;  but  such  is 
the  fact.  I  am  glad  to  add  that  our 
experiments  are  draw'ing  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  many  of  the  large  florists, 
some  of  whom  liaA’e  favoured  us  with 
a  visit,  and  my  head  gardener,  Mi  . 
Robert  BroAvn,  will  be  happy  to  give 
any  information  in  his  power  to  any 
inquiries  from  readers  of  your  Journal 
or  others  avIio  may  be  interested 
in  the  subject.  —  F.  T.  Barry, 
St  Leonard’s  Hill,  Windsor,  December 
17,  1912. 
A  Fruitful  Camellia  Out  of  Doors. 
