March  26.  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
275 
Swallows  Re-appear. 
A  correspondent  from  Wroxall  Abbey,  Waruick,  .states  that 
a  swalloM'  Ava.s  seen  there  on  March  21. 
The  Weather  at  Hamilton. 
Tiic  past  AA'cek  was  very  wet  and  stormy.  Wednesday  was  th? 
only  day  that  rain  did  not  fall.  All  the  other  days  were  either  very 
Avet  or  Avet’  and  Avindy.  Saturday  AA'as  attended  Avith  a  gale  of  con¬ 
siderable  force,  and  the  rain  AAas  at  times  torrential.  Fcav  seeds 
are  yet  soAA’n,  and  that  feAv  Avonld  liaAm  been  imicli  better  had 
they  still  been  in  the  packets. — 1).  ('. 
Weather  In  the  North. 
With  the  exception  of  the  earlier  part  of  the  18th  inst.,  the 
week  ending  the  23rd  has  been  one  of  almost  continuous  rain, 
with  but  feAV  fair  intervals,  and  the.se  of  short  duration.  A  severe 
gale  raged  during  the  morning  of  the  17th,  and  the  night  of  the 
21st  and  the  morning  of  Sunday  Avere  extremely  boisterous.  Fp 
to  the  afternoon  of  Monday  it  had  scarcely  faired  for  thirty-six 
hours. — 13.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
■'The  Natural  History  of  Plants.” 
Part  10  (price  l.s.  Gd.  net)  continues  the  consideration  of  the 
floral  organs  and  the  disper.sion  of  pollen,  fertilisation,  and  distri¬ 
bution  of  plant  sexes.  This  concludes  volume  I.,  and  ends  AA'ith 
an  index.  Those  Avho  have  omitted  the  prior  parts  may  noA\- 
have  them  added,  and  the  Amlume  should  be  of  much  intere.st  and 
serA'ice  to  gardeners.  Messrs.  Blackie  and  Son,  Limited,  are  the 
publishers. 
“  Gardening  Year  Book  and  Garden  Oracle,  1903.” 
This  is  one  of  Mes.srs.  W.  H.  and  L.  Collingridge’s  annual  pub¬ 
lications,  and  for  those  Avho  have  much  horticrdtural  reference 
AA’ork  it  is  doubtle.ss  indi.spensable.  Noaa’  plants,  fioAvers,  fimits, 
vegetables,  and  iiiA'entions  are  enumerated  and  brieflv  described, 
AA’hile  the  A'olume  also  contains  articles  on  the  CAdtural  practice 
of  vegetables,  Dahlias,  climbers,  bulbs,  and  otlier  things.  The 
book  contains  a  large  amount  of  statistical  and  miscellaneous 
infortnation  useful  to  gardeners  and  park  .superintendents.  The 
directory  to  the  public  parks  and  gardens  in  the  Fnited  Kingdom 
is  A'ery  complete.  The  blank  pages  for  the  keeping  of  a  garden 
diary  and  record  of  the  behaviour  of  crops  are  ruled  off  into 
columns,  these  being  devoted  to  the  names  cf  the  kind  of  croir 
or  A'ariety,  aaIkii  .soavu  or  planted,  and  fit  for  use,  and  lastly,  a 
column  for  remarks  of  a  general  nature.  The  AAork  comprises 
319  pages,  and  is  sold  at  the  price  cf  Is. 
The  Thames  Conservancy. 
Tho  Committee  of  the  Berks,  South  Oxen,  and  North  Hants 
Footpaths  and  Open  Space  Society  have  adopted  a  petition  to  be 
presented  to  the  President  of  tho  Board  of  Trade  Avith  reference 
to  the  Bill  intended  to  be  introduced  into  the  present  Parlia¬ 
ment  dealing  Avith  the  non-tidal  portion  of  the  River  Thames. 
The  committee  state  in  the  petition  that  they  are  convinced  of 
the  urgent  need  for  legi.slation  to  stop  the  rapid  deterioration 
that  is  taking  place.  They  urge  that,  AA'hile  the  counties  shoidd 
continue  to'  haAm  representation  on  the  CcnserA'ancy  Board,  the 
urban  populations  upon  its  banks — both  incorporated  boroughs 
and  urban  district.s — Avhose  intcre.sts  are  Avholly  and  directly  con¬ 
cerned  therein,  and  from  Avhos?  populations  the  income  of  the 
ConserA’anc}'  is  chiefly  deri\md,  should  likeAvise  be  fully  repre¬ 
sented.  The  river  valley  has,  Avith  the  gradual  break-up  of  the 
large  landed  estates  that  is  .still  going  on,  become  the  scene  of 
operations  of  the  land  speculator,  and  it  is  only  by  the  co-opera¬ 
tion  of  a  central  body,  having  compulsory  powers  of  acquisition 
of  land  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  Avitli  the  A'arions  Iccal  governing 
bodies,  that  the  lAressing  needs  cf  the  Thames  in  this  and  other 
directions  can  be  adequately  dealt  AAith.  There  is  a  growing 
need,  they  submit,  foi’  the  in.stitution  of  a  system  of  riA'ersido 
parks  and  open  spaces  and  camping-grounds,  and  for  more  cen- 
A’enient  access  to  the  riA’cr  ;  and  it  is  also  desirable  that  it  shoidd 
be  laid  upen  the  ConserA’ancy  to  preseiwe  in  every  AA’ay  the  beauty 
and  amenities  of  the  river,  and  that  poAver  should  be  given  to  it 
specially  to  acquire  land  for  this  pAirpcse,  in  the  same  AAay  that 
the  vicAv  from  Richmond  Hill  has  been  preserved  on  the  loAAer 
Thames.  Provision  should  be  made  for  the  cc-eperation  of  the 
ConserA-ancy  and  the  various  local  governing  bodies  in  the  acquisi¬ 
tion  and  up-keep  of  such  land,  the  ConserA-ancy  iVA-enue  being 
temporarily  augmented,  if  need  be.  from  national  sources  to 
enable  it  to  contribute  its  quota. 
Fruit  Notes, 
Cape  Fruit  in  London. 
The  ITiion-C'a.stle  Royal  Mail  .steamer  Kinfauns  Castle,  Avhicb 
arrived  on  Saturday  the  14th,  brought  some  3,300  hexes  of  Cape 
fruit,  all  of  Avhich  arriA-ed  in  excellent  condition.  The  con¬ 
signment  consisted  principally  of  Kelsey  Japanese  Plums,  Necta¬ 
rines,  and  Crapes,  the  latter  being  the  first  consignment  of  C'ape 
gro'.A  n  Grapes  to  be  receiAmd  this  season.  That  the  Cape  fruit  is 
Avelcomed  by  dealers  in  this  counti-y,  is  proved  by  the  opinions 
expressed  at  the  dinner  at  the  Horticultural  C'lub.  The  consign¬ 
ment  of  StaiiAA'ick  Nectarines,  shipped  by  the  Cape  Orchard  Com¬ 
pany,  realised  excellent  prices,  the  previous  good  prices  for  other 
A'arieties  being  also  maintained.  The  London  agents  are  doing 
all  in  their  poAver  to  introduce  the  produce  of  South  African 
groAA’ers  to  the  London  consumei-s,  and  have-  a  fine  shoAv  of  fruit 
in  the  aa  indoAv  of  tho  Fmigration  Office  of  the  Cape  Agent- 
General,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster.  This  is  as  it  should  be. 
for  the  fruit  has  only  to  be  knoAvn  to  be  appreciated  at  its  full 
value. 
Pines. 
•  Recently  potted  suckers  indicate  the  rooting  by  starting  into 
groAvth,  and  the  young  roots  are  very  tender,  hence  liable  to 
injury  from  the  effects  of  too  much  bottom  heat.  If  the  heat  at 
the  base  of  tho  pots  is  more  than  S.bdeg  raise  them,  placing  some 
loose  tan  under  and  around  them,  but  this  Avithout  chilling  the 
roots.  Afford  AA'ater  as  required,  yet  only  Avhen  needed.  As  it 
is  neces.sary  that  Pine  plants  be  groAAii  AA'ithout  check,  get  the 
requisite  fibrous  loam  ready,  having  it  in  good  sized  lumps,  and 
under  cover,  to  become  Avarmed  and  dried.  In  potting  ram  it 
firmly  into  the  pots  about  the  roots,  plunging  on  a  bottom  heat 
cf  90deg  to  95deg,  until  the  roots  have  permeated  the  soil,  Avhen 
they  shmdd  have  8odeg,  Avhich  is  suitable  for  successional' plants, 
Avith  a  night  temperatiu’e  of  GOdeg  to  Godeg,  ventilating  at  80deg, 
and  elosing  at  85deg.  lightly  sprinkling  the  plants  occasionally. 
Fruiting  plants,  and  those  near  the  floAvering  stage,  .shoidd  have 
a  night  temperature  of  Godeg  to  TOde-g,  and  7odeg  by  day.  AA'ith 
80deg  to  90deg  from  ,sun  heat,  closing  at  85deg,  damping  all  suit¬ 
able  surfaces  in  the  house  at  the  same  time. — Practice. 
Fruit  from  Queensland.  1 
The  Queensland  Citrus  Fruit  GroAvers’  Association,  AA’hich  Avas 
formed  last  year  for  the  purpose  of  organising  the  export  of  fruit 
in  the  coming  season,  hopes  to-  send  foi’Avard  .shipments  to  London. 
Fp  to  the  present  the  Association  has  been  bending  its  energies 
to  the  sale  of  fruit  in  Ncav  Zealand  and  other  States,  but  Avith  the 
break  up  of  the  drought,  it  is  proposed  to  ship  to  Europe. 
Grape  groAA'ing  has  been  much  increased  in  Queensland  of  late, 
the  coastal  districts  from  Bundaberg  to  the  NeAv  South  Wales 
border  being  particularly  fitted  for  the  industry.  The  folloAving 
kinds  are  groiA'ii  Avith  success  in  tho  State: — Chasselas  d’Ore  or 
SiveetAA-ater,  Precoce  de  Ccurtiller,  Madelaine  Augerine,  Made- 
laine  Royal,  Luglienga,  all  early  A-arieties,  and  Chasselas  Negre- 
pont.  Blue  Portuguese,  Black  Hamburgh,  early  coloured  A-arie¬ 
ties  ;  for  later  A-arietics,  Mrs.  Pincei  Muscat,  Muscat  Hamburgh, 
Muscat  Beaume,  Ronsette,  Golden  Champion,  Bermestia  Gros 
Guillaume,  and  Wortley  Hall.  All  these  mentioned  are  Euro¬ 
pean  A'arieties.  American  A-arieties  groAvn  are:  Concord,  Dela- 
Avare.  Wilder,  Goethe,  Iona.  Alvey.  F.  de  Lc-sseps,  and  a  so- 
called  Wantage. 
Cherry  House. 
'S'entilation  is  the  nieasure  of  success  or  failure  in  groAA'ing 
('herries.  A  free  circulation  of  air  should  pass  through  the 
hou.se  Avhenever  the  temperature  exceeds  uOdeg,  regulating  the 
amount  by  the  condition  of  the  external  atmosphere.  Maintain 
a  night  temperature  of  40deg  to  45deg.  and  employ  fire  heat  t,-) 
raise  the  temperature  to  -jOdeg  by  eight  or  nine  a.m.,  preventing 
it  falling  beloAv  that  through  the  day,  turning  the  heat  off  at 
closing  time.  Fertilise  the  floAAcr.s  either  by  shaking  the  trees 
gently  or  distributing  the  pollen  AAith  a  camel-hair  brush, 
feather,  rabbit’s  tail  mounted  on  a  stick,  or  plume  of  Pampas 
Grass.  Aphides  must  be  kept  in  check,  but  it  does  not  ansAA-er 
to  fumigate-  or  A-apourise  AAliilst  the  trees  are  in  floAAer.  Spray¬ 
ing  Avitli  an  infusion  of  ((uassia  chips  hoAvcA-er,  has  no  injurious 
effect,?  on  the  blossoms  beyond  converting  the  ripe  pollen  into 
paste  and  preventing  fertilisation  for  the  time  being.  This  i  ■. 
not  usually  disastrous,  eseeciallv  aaIicu  it  is  done  in  the  declin¬ 
ing  part  of  the  day.  "When  the  fruit  is  set  and  there  are 
apTiides,  fumigation  or  spraying  AA'ith  an  insecticide  must  be 
practisrd.  as  nothing  le>s  than  thorough  cleanliness  can  result 
in  fine  clear  Cherries.  Catei’pillars  infest  Cherry  trees.  One 
species  rolls  itself  up  in  the  leaves,  and  can  be  desO'oyed  by 
squeezing:  but  the  other  eneases  itself  on  the  under  side  of  Die 
leaves  in  a  sort  of  Aveb.  and  gives  the  appearance  of  having 
been  .scalded.  From  tlu’  leaA'es  it  makes  its  AAay  to  the  Iriut. 
perforating  and  destroying  the  Cherries.  The  only  means  of 
riddance  is  to  examine  the  trees  occasionally  and  destroy  tin* 
grubs'.  Borders  must  net  be  alloAved  to  become  dry  and  remain 
so,  but  have  due  .supplirs  of  AA'ater :  trees  in  pots  should  be  fre- 
(luon+ly  examined,  and  Avater  supplied  as  required. — CL 
