282 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  26,  1903. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES:  EAKLIEST  FORCED  IN  POTS.— The  caiics  started 
last  November  that  liavc  been  duly  attended  to  are  now  ripening 
the  Grape.s.  The  siipplie.s  of  nourishment  and  water  at  the  roots 
should  be  lessened  gradually,  so  as  to  give  a  check,  and  the  atmo¬ 
spheric  moisture  must  be  reduced,  yet  not  withholding  it  entirely. 
Maintain  a  temperature  of  bOdeg  to  Codeg  at  night  and  70deg  to 
75deg  by  day,  keeping  between  75deg  and  85deg  from  sun  heat, 
ventilating  freely  in  favourable  weather. 
EARLY  HOUSES. — In  the  house  started  early  in  December 
the  Grapes  are  rapidly  advancing  towards  the  colouring  .stage, 
and  should  be  ahorded  due  but  not  exce.ssive  .supplies  of  liquid 
nourishment.  A  light  mulching  of  .short  stable  manure  maintains 
an  even  moisture  in  the  border,  in  which,  however,  there  must  not 
be  any  deficiency,  as  it  is  important  that  the  Grapes  be  kept 
plump  and  the  foliage  healthy.  Excessive  moisture  at  the  routs, 
on  the  other  hand,  tends  to  undue  shanking.  Damir  the  paths 
and  border  at  closing  time  until  the  fruit  is  well  advanced  in 
colouring,  after  which  reduce  the  moisture  gradually,  and.  pro¬ 
vide  a  circulation  of  warm  air  bv  day  and  night.  This  is  u.sually 
all  that  is  required  in  most  cases  to  prevent  Madresfield  Court 
from  cracking  ;  it  is  also  an  excellent  preventive  of  spot,  the  ven¬ 
tilation  being  increa.sed  early  in  the  day. 
SliCt'ESSION  HOT  SES. — Disbud  when  the  best  shoots  for 
fruit  can  be  determined,  leaving  only  growths  for  which  there  is 
space  to  allow  the  foliage  full  exposure  to  light,  with  a 
margin  for  lateral  development.  Tie  down  the  shoots  before  their 
IKjints  reach  the  glass,  and  pinch  one  or  two  or  more  joints 
beyond  the-  fruit  when  the  leaf  at  the  stopping  joint  is  the  size 
of  a  halfpenny.  Stop  the  laterals  at  the  first  joint,  and  to  cne  after¬ 
wards  as  growth  advances,  or  allow  lateral  extension  where  there 
is  room,  but  only  on  that  condition.  Ventilate  early,  but  avoid 
lowering  the  temperature,  as  this  chills  and  produces  crumpled 
foliage  and  rust.  If  the  promise  is  good  for  fruit  afford  a  top- 
dres.sing  of  the  advertised  fertilisers,  either  watering  cn 
moderately  or  pointing  in  lightly,  but  avoid  saturating  the  soil, 
as  thi.s  does  not  forward  but  hinders  root  formation,  and  tends 
to  induce  grossness  and  shanking. 
YOUNG  \TNES. — Those  planted  last  j'ear  and  cut  back  to  the 
bottom  of  the  rafts  or  trellis  at  the  winter  pruning,  must  be  en¬ 
couraged  by  gentle  fire  heat,  so  as  to  allow  for  them  making  and 
conipletin^  a  good  growth.  The  laterals  must  have  their  points 
pinched  off  at  the  first  leaf  up  to  a  lieight  of  Oft  to  8ft.  The  result 
will  be  concentration  on  the  part  below  and  some  increase  of 
lateral  growths,  which  suppress  by  pinching  to  one  leaf  as  made, 
but  take  one  growth  forward  from  the  extremity  of  the  cane  as 
leader. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
PEAS.  On  the  appearance  of  the  Peas  above  ground  the  most 
important  matter  is  to  protect  the  seedlings  from  birds.  The 
protection  must  be  efficient,  and  should  con.sist  either  of  wire 
netting  arched  over  the  rows,  or  wire  guards  expre.'sly  manufac- 
e  purpose,  .so  as  to  completely  exclude  the  feathered 
tribe.  The  next  best  protection  is  black  cotton,  strands  of  which 
may  be  .stretched  tightly  over  the  rows.  Tanned  netting  will  alsjo 
angler,  laying  it  upon  wire  or  other  arches  to-  prevent  the 
material  resting  on  the  plants.  So  soon  as  possible  after  the  early 
Peas  liave  well  started  into  growth  and  forming  leaves  place 
sticks  to  thein.  For  the  dwarf  varieties  short  brushy  sticks  are 
a  great  help  m  shielding  the  growth  from  cold  winds,  and  for 
taller  varieties  early  sticking  affords  both  protection  and  .support 
after  the  .seedlings  have  grown  to  .such  a  size  that  birds  do  not 
at^ck  fheni-  Early  Peas  raised  in  boxes  or  on  turves  may,  if 
planted  out  now,  disturbing  the  roots  as 
little  as  po.ssible.  To  these  affix  short  sticks  immediately  the  rows 
are  finished  planting.  Longer  sticks  if  de.sirable  may  be  placed 
afterwards.  lurther  .s'owings  of  main-crop  varieties  should  be 
made.  Give  ample  room  between  the  rows  for  tall  varietie-s. 
planting  tomatoes. — A  light,  roomy  structure,  properly 
Leafed,  may  be  filled  with  good,  strong  plants  of  Tomatoes. 
Arrange  so  that  the  border  is  not  far  from  the  glass,  and  is  not 
too  deep  and  wide.  A  narrow  border  can  always  be  increased  in 
width,  and  top-dressings  for  the  roots  will  increase  the  depth  as 
required.  Place  the  plants  not  closer  together  than  1ft,  train¬ 
ing  each  to  a  single  stem  on  a  wire  under  the  roof.  In  some 
structures  pot-culture  may  be  more  convenient.  They  must  he 
.stood,  however,  where  the  plants  can  be  near  the  glass.  Train 
single  growths  to  wires  or  to  upright  stakes.  The  compost  may 
be  of  a  generous,  sub'^tantial  character,  consisting  of  turfy  loam 
four  parts,  rotted  manure  one  .part,  and  a  little  bonemeal  with 
wood  ashes  all  well  mixed  together.  Do  not  give  the  plants  too 
much  soil  at  first,  ju.st  enough  to  cover  and  surround  the  ball  of 
roots  and  soil  being  ample.  Make  firm.  A  temperature  of  50deg 
to  .^•'ideg  will  promote  a  healthv  .strong  growth,  affording  ven¬ 
tilation  freely. 
PARSNIPS. — For  ordinary  use  Parsnips  may  be  sown  in  drills 
1ft  asunder  and  lin  deep.  Drop  two  or  three  seeds  at  intervals 
of  9in  or  lOin,  eventually  removing  all  but  one.  For  larger  roots 
sow  the  .seeds  at  more  di.stant  intervals,  1ft  being  suitable.  The 
.soil must  be  deep  and  well  prepared,  working  in  manure  at  the 
bottom  rather  than  the  top.  Student  is  a  good  large  Parsnip, 
Tender  and  True  .‘■•mailer  in  size. 
CARROTS. — The  best  Carrots  for  main  crop  sowing  are  the 
Intermediate,  Altrincham,  and  Long  Red  Surrey.  Any  or  all  of 
the.se  may  be  sown  now.  Like  Parsnips,  Carrots  like  deep,  clean 
soil,  that  is,  .soil  free  from  manure  in  the  surface  spit.  The 
drills  may  be  drawn  1ft  apart  and  lin  deep.  Scatter  the  seed 
evenly  along  and  cover  lightly. 
ChVBBAGE. — The  provi.sion  of  Cabbage  for  summer  may  be 
secured  by  planting  now,  the<se  forming  a  good  succession  to  the 
spring  crop  now  rapidly  advancing.  The  latter  may  be  accelerated 
in  growth  by  frequent  hoeing  and  stirring  the  .soil.  Sprinkle  a 
light  dressing  of  nitrate  of  soda  between  the  rows  as  a  stimulant 
to  growth. 
POTATOES. — Forward  the  planting  of  Potatoes  when  the 
■weather  permits  and  the  ground  is  workable.  In  well-pulverised 
ground  the  drills  may  be  drawn  with  a  hoe  4in  to  Gin  deep.  A 
little  superphosphate  may  be  used  along  the  drills  before  plant¬ 
ing  the  tubers.  The  minimum  distance  for  planting  the  tubers  is 
1ft  in  the  clrills,  the  latter  being  2ft  to  3ft  apart. 
LETTU^CE. — Thin  Lettuce  plants  in  the  rows  when  of  suffi¬ 
cient  .size  to  handle,  not  removing  to  the  full  distance  at  first, 
but  as  they  increase  in  size.  So-w  successional  beds. 
PARSLEY. — A  moderately  open  position  may  be  cho-sen  for 
Parsle.y.  Sow  either  broadcast  or  in  drills  Gin  to  Sin  apart. — 
East  Kent. 
*  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. 
VARIOUS  (G.  F.). — The  answers  to  your  questions  arc  as 
follows;  1,  No,  unless  agreed  upon  at  the  engagement  in  writing; 
2,  Must  work  the  whole  day,  though  surely  no  reasonable 
employer  would  be  so-  exacting ;  3,  Cannot  claim  travelling 
expenses  if  not  agreed  upon  before  going  to  a  situation. 
“  ETHERISATION  OF  PLANTS  ”  (M.  M.).— Our  notes  on 
this  subject  were,  as  stated,  from  an  article  in  “  The  Times.” 
We  do  not  think  the  pamphlet  detailing  the  process  has  been 
translated  into  English ;  but  M.  E.  Leiuoine  recently  read  a 
paper  before  the  Fellows  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on 
etherisation,  and  this  will,  in  due  course,  appear  in  the  Society’s 
Journal.  Tlie  subscription  to  become  a  F.R.H.S.,  is  only  one 
guinea,  per  year,  and  you  would  receive  each  quarterly  Journal, 
and  most  valuable  they  are. 
ROSE,  HER  MAJESTY. — With  reference  to  our  illustration 
of  this  Rose,  a  correspondent  writes : — “  I  think  there  must  be 
some  mistake  as  to  the  figure  of  this  Rose  printed  on  page  255. 
It  is  not  only  not  of  all  like  the  blooms  of  the  variety,  but  is 
evidently  not  the  wood  of  it,  which  is  very  stout  and  extremely 
thorny.  Is  it  Messrs.  Kelway’s  error?  The  wood  of  Her 
Majesty  is  very  stiff,  and  the  blooms  are  absolutely  upright.” 
[The  illustration  block  of  this  Ro.se  used  on  page  255  was  kindly 
lent  by  Me.ssrs.  Kelway,  whose  inscription  we  followed. — Ed.] 
BOOKS  WANTED  ON  SUCCESSIVE  CROPPING  IN  THE 
CHANNEL  ISLANDS  AND  IN  BELGIUM,  AND  ALSO  ON 
MARKET  GARDENING  (A.  H.  C.). — We  do  not  know  of  any 
books  treating  of  these  subjects,  though  there  are  some  on 
Market  Gardening,  and  probably  “  Market  Gardening,”  price  8d. 
(the  Sali.sbury  Series),  would  suit  you.  It  is  procurable  from  the 
office  of  “The  Fruit  Grov.'er  and  Market  Gardener,”  Sali.sbury 
Court,  Fleet  Street,  London.  Cuthill’s  “Market  Gardening,” 
and  vShaw’s  “  Alarket  and  Vegetable  Gardening”  are  both  of 
service. 
