130 
!''rl.ruary  5,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  IIORTIGULTURF 
the  trees  are  in  flower,  and  be  careful  not  to  give  too  much,  as 
the  fruit  and  foliage  are  very  susceptible  of  injury,  on  which 
account  some  growers  prefer  to  use  an  extract  of  quassia  chips, 
paraffin  emulsion  solution,  or  other  approved  insecticides,  of  which 
those  advertised  are  effective  and  safe,  only  the  directions  are 
strictly  followed.  Keep  the  surface  of  the  border  near  hot- 
water  pipes  properly  moistened,  and  supply  liquid  manure  or 
top-dress  with  an  approved  fertiliser,  and  wash  down  to  the 
roots.  Sprinkle  a  few  sweetened  hor.se  droppings  on  the  border 
occasionally  for  giving  of  ammonia,  both  to  the  roots  and  atmo¬ 
sphere,  which  encourages  the  first  to  come  to  surface,  and  in  the 
latter  is  inimical  to  red  spider,  whilst  benefiting  the  foliage,  or 
sprinkle  occasionally  with  neat  stable  or  cowhouse  drainings  (not 
piggeries),  diluted  with  five  times  the  quantity  of  water  or 
Peruvian  guano,  lib  to  twenty  gallons  of  water,  using  three 
gallons  of  the  dilution  to  thirty  square  yards.  Avoid  heavy 
mulchings,  as  these  induce  sappy  growths — wood  at  the  expense 
of  the  fruit — and  must  not  be  given  at  any  time  to  the  extent 
of  depriving  the  border  of  air  by  becoming  a  close,  soapy  mass, 
yet  a  light  mulching  after  the  fruit  has  stoned  is  advantageous 
in  swelling  off  the  crop.  Maintain  a  dry  temperature  of  55deg. 
.50deg  at  night,  and  advance  to  GOdeg  to  Godeg  by  day,  with  a 
little  ventilation  and  gleams  of  sun,  ventilating  fully  above 
Godeg,  being  careful  to  avoid  cold,  drying  currents,  as  these 
sometimes  give  so  severe  a  check  as  to  cause  the  fruit  to  fall ; 
and  close  early,  so  as  to  raise  the  temperature  to  70deg  to  75deg 
from  sun  heat,  this  advance  above  the  ordinary  day  temperature 
being  very  beneficial. 
TREES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.— The  trees  set  to 
work  at  the  beginning  of  last  month  have  an  abundance  of  strong 
blossom.s  expanded  and  opening,  and  will  need  less  atmospheric 
moisture,  syringing  the  trees  being  discontinued,  yet  damping 
the  floor  and  borders  occasionally  to  secure  a  genial  condition  of 
the  atmosphere.  The  night  temperature  may  fall  to  between 
40deg  and  45deg,  raising  it  early  in  the  morning  to  SOdeg,  at 
which  keep  through  the  day,  ventilating  from  oodeg  and  fully 
between  GOdeg  and  Godeg,  leaving  a  little  ventilation  at  the  top 
of  the  house  constantly.  Examine  the  border  inside,  and,  if 
necessary,  suppl.y  water  or  liquid  manure  from  stable  or  cow¬ 
house,  or  even  sewage  tanks,  properly  diluted.  This  will  become 
converted  into  assimilable  matter  by  the  time  nutriment  is 
required  in  quantity,  and  the  foliage  will  have  a  deep  green 
colour,  glossy  and  healthy,  indicating  that  it  is  making  the  most 
of*the  sunlight,  gathering  elements  from  the  atmosphere  e.ssen- 
tial  for  biiilding  up  the  structures  healthily  at  no  cost.  To 
prevent  injury  to  the  roots  from  cau,sticity  of  the  liquid  manure 
add  4oz  of  gypsum  to  each  gallon  of  strong  liquid,  and  dilute 
with  fi%’e  times  the  bulk  with  water  before  applying. 
TREES  TO  AFFORD  FRUIT  IN  JULY  AND  AUGUST.— 
The  house  containing  midseason  varieties  must  now  be  started 
to  give  fruit  at  the  time  specified,  syringing  the  trees  until  the 
blossoms  commence  opening,  as  they  are  now  doing  without  any 
artificial  excitement,  and  where  the  blossom  buds  are  thick 
remove  those  on  the  under  side  or  at  the  back  of  the  trelli.ses. 
Before  the  flowers  expand  it  is  a  good  practice  to  fumigate  the 
house  on  a  calm  evening,  when  the  trees  are  dry,  to  destroy 
any  aphides  that  may  exist,  and  so  keep  the  trees  free  from 
these  pests  until  the  fruits  are  set.  Inside  borders  mast  not  lack 
moisture;  therefore,  if  there  is  any  doubt  on  this  point,  give 
a  thorough  supply  of  water,  or  liquid  manure  if  the  trees  are 
enfeebled  by  repeated  forcing  or  need  succour. 
LATE  HOUSES. — The  blossoms,  or,  at  least,  the  buds,  in 
these,  with  the  roof  lights  fixed,  are  movdng  and  in  a  promising 
condition.  Where  the  roof  lights  have  been  removed  the  buds 
are  still  dormant,  and  tlie  lights  need  not  be  replaced  until  it 
is  wanted  to  start  the  trees,  or  the  blossoms  are  advanced  in 
swelling,  and  it  is  not  safe  to  longer  expose  them.  Trees  under 
fixed  roofs  must  have  the  borders,  where  inside,  kept  moist,  and 
the  house  be  freely  ventilated,  so  as  to  keep  the  trees  in  a  back¬ 
ward  and  good  condition  for  giving  full  crops  of  fruit.  Pruning, 
cleaning  the  hou.se,  and  dressing  the  trees  should  be  proceeded 
with  and  brought  to  a  close  as  soon  as  practicable. — St.  Albans. 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain. 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and  beautiful  of  all  our  winter 
flowering  Begonias,  and  a  start  may  now  be  made  for  another 
year’s  display.  Cuttings  inserted  in  a  fine  compost  of  fibre, 
peat,  leaf  moukL  and  sand,  in  small  pots,  and  plunged  in  a 
temperature  of  Godeg  to  70deg  will  succeed.  Water  the  cuttings 
well  after  insertion.  Another  plan  for  raising  young  stock,  and 
•  Tbe  editor  invites  young  gardeners  wlio  are  readeis  to  contribute  to  tlie 
Oomain,  and  he  will  at  all  times  endeavour  to  ensure  the  juiblication  of  their 
letter.H, 
A  XD  CO  TTA  OF  GA  RDEXER, 
one  that  is  often  recommended  by  some  of  our  experienced  men, 
is  the  laying  cf  the  leaves  on  moist  cocoa-nut  fibre,  or  in  pans 
of  the  same,  in  a  similar  temperature  to  that  needed  for  the 
cuttings.  We  devote  a  house  to  this  plant  at  Bodorgan,  and 
they  have  been  a  great  success  this  year ;  plants  in  oin  pots  are 
some  3ft  through,  one  mass  of  bloom.  They  have  been 
greatly  admired  by  all  who  have  seen  them.  During  the  grow¬ 
ing  period  they  had  careful  attention  as  to  watering  and  feeding, 
and  when  in  flower  the  house  needs  to  be  kept  warm  and  dry. — • 
Foreman.  Bodorgan  Gardens,  Anglesey,  N.  Wales. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
Loudon,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
QUERY.-  A  correspondent  asks:  ‘‘Can  you  give  me  a  recipe 
for  making  fertilising  moss,  or  a  substance  like  Jadoo?”  Can 
any  reader  oblige  ? 
A  SUCCESSION  OF  CUT  FLOWERS  FOR  MARKET  (F.  B.). 
— Your  question  will  receive  adequate  attention  in  our  next 
issue. 
BOOK  WANTED  (T.  H.). — The  book  you  inquire  for  is 
entitled  ‘‘  Fruits,  Nuts,  and  Vegetables,  their  U.ses  as  Food  and 
Medicine,”  and  is  sold  by  Albert  Broadbent,  the  author,  at 
19,  Oxford  Street,  Manchester,  price  6d.  net. 
BOOK  ON  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING  (T.  G.,  Devon).— 
The  authoritative  work  on  this  subject  is  at  present  Mr.  H. 
Milner’s  publication.  We  have  not  the  work  by  us,  and  do  not 
know  who  are  the  pidilishers.  The  price  is  probably  IGs.  We 
know  of  a  smaller  work  on  the  subject,  by  Waugh,  price  2s.  8d., 
obtainable  from  Morgan  and  Co.,  8,  St.  Mary-at-Hill. 
ALICANTE  GRAPE  VINE  WITH  BLACKISH  MARKS  ON 
YOUNG  WOOD  (J.  A.  M.,  Witley). — The  dark  brown  or  blackish 
marks  on  the  current  year’s  wood  are  due  to  some  injury  to  the 
bark  in  the  early  stages  of  growth ;  but  we  hardly  refer  it  to  a 
burn,  as  it  affects  both  the  under  as  well  as  upper  side  of  the 
shoot,  and  it  does  not  affect  the  bark  down  to  the  wood,  but 
only  the  outer  cuticular  cells,  there  being  an  under  bark  at  the 
particular  part,  and  this  quite  sound  and  healthy  next  the  wood. 
It  probably  arises  from  some  peculiar  constitutional  secretion  of 
the  Vine,  perhaps  some  acid,  though  why  it  should  affect  the 
outer  and  not  the  inner  bark  is  more  than  we  can  account  for. 
Similar  stains  occur  on  Raspberry  canes,  but  for  these  marks  no 
satisfactory  explanation  has  been  given ;  the  stains  certainly  do 
not  prejudice  the  wood,  therefore  are  not  of  material  conse¬ 
quence. 
TULIPS  FLOWERING  CLOSE  TO  THE  SOIL.— PLAN  OF 
MAZE  (A.  R.). — The  reason  of  Tulips  in  pots  coming  into  flower 
close  to  the  .soil  is  the  early  forcing  treatment  being  exhaustive 
of  the  stored  matter  of  the  bulbs,  and  the  top  heat  not  being  so 
high  as  to  draw  them  up.  The  cause,  therefore,  is  the  early 
forcing,  and  the  shortness  of  the  flower  stems  in  consequence. 
If  subjected  to  more  heat  it  is  likel.y  the  flowers  would  be  very 
indifferent,  if  not  altogether  “  blind,”  not  opening  properly. 
Hence  the  grower  shows  good  practice.  The  only  procedure 
likely  to  lengthen  the  stems  is  an  increase  of  temperature  after 
the  flower  buds  are  partly  developed  or  when  appeared  above 
the  soil.  Better  still,  allow  the  bulbs  more  time,  not  forcing 
them  so  early.  Quite  right ;  the  maze  on  page  G1  is  not  a  maze, 
as  there  is  no  possibility  of  going  wrong,  for  by  following  on 
from  the  entrance  you  cannot  help  arriving  at  the  centre.  It 
is  one  of  tho.se  labyrinths  intended  to  make  those  who  would 
reach  the  centre  traverse  the  whole  of  the  paths,  the  entrance 
apparently  leading  directly  to  it,  but  when  near  there  lead  away 
from,  then  again  to,  and  after  all  bound  to  make  circuit  of  the 
whole  paths  to  reach  the  centre,  and  so  on  in  returning  to  the. 
entrance.  In  that  sense  it  is  an  intellectual  maze,  and  to  make 
it  a  puzzle  the  dark  lines  require  to  be  paths  liounded  by  hedges, 
open  at  the  ends,  and  stopped  at  the  crossings,  so  that  it  is 
jdifficult  to  reach  t}ie  centre  except  by  the  course  shown  in  the 
“plan. 
