370 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  23,  1903. 
spiiere  secured  by  an  occasional  damping ;  but  this  mill  only  be 
nece.ssary  in  very  bright  weather.  As  soon  as  tlie  first  crop  is 
gathered,  syringe  the  trees  daily,  renewing  the  toi>-dressin,  and 
watering  at  the  roots  with  weak  licjuid  manure.  If  the  second 
crop  be  very  abundant  the  fruits  must  be  thinned,  removing 
tliose  at  tire  points  of  the  shoots,  so  as  not  to  overtax  tlie  trees 
for  earlv  forcing  next  season. 
EARLY  FORCED  PLANTED-OIT  TREES.— The  fruit  is 
advancing  rapidly  towards  the  ripening  stage,  and  juust  have 
sufficient  nourishment.  If  necessary,  give  the  trees  a  thorough 
supply  of  water  or  liquid  manure,  ioz  to  loz  per  gallon  of  water 
of  phosphate  of  potasli  being  excellent,  ajid  to  conserve  the 
moisture  and  to  encourage  surface  roots,  mulch  the  border  with  a 
little  partially  decayed  and  raked  lumpj  manure.  Do  not  cease 
syringing  until  the  fruit  commences  ripening,  avoiding  then  a 
suijcrfiuity  of  moisture  about  the  house,  having  a  little  ventila¬ 
tion  at  the  top  constantly,  and  a  free  ccirulation  under  favourable 
external  conditions  until  the  fruit  is  gathered.  Do  not  gather 
the  fruit  until  it  is  thoroughly  ripe,  unless  it  has  to  be  packed. — 
St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
PEAS. — Peas  will  grow  quickly  after  the  cold  spell,  and  all 
rows  needing  support  ought  to  have  the  sticks  inserted  so  that 
the  haulm  does  not  lie  over,  and  thus  become  injured.  Continue 
some  protection  over  all  rows  just  emerging  through  the  ground 
until  they  are  safe.  A  liberal  sowing  of  the  best  varieties  of 
the  Marrowfat  section  should  be  made.  Provide  ground 
generously  prepared,  sowing  in  trenches  a  little  below  the 
general  level  of  the  ground,  so  that  copious  supplies  of  water 
niay  be  afforded  during  the  prevalence  of  continued  dry  weather 
in  summer,  also  helpful  soakings  of  liquid  manure. 
SPINACH. — Thinnings  of  .summer"  Spinach  which  may  be 
made  will  provide  a  few  di.shes,  but  if  not  used  it  is  beneficial 
to  give  the  plants  more  room,  for  Sf)inach  is  best  appreciated 
when  the  leaves  are  large  and  .succulent.  A  good  sowing  of 
Spinach  Beet  may  be  made,  as  this  variety  comes  in  useful  when 
the  quicker  growing  varieties  of  Spinach  cannot  be  procured. 
lettuce. — Lettuce  sown  now  will  germinate  quicklv,  hence 
sow  rather  more  thinly  than  hitherto.  Superb  White  Cos  and 
Commodore  Nutt  Cabbage  Lettuce  are  good  varieties.  Continue 
thinning  out  the  seedlings  from  early  sown  beds.  The  strongest 
of  the  plants  may  be  planted  out  whore  the  ground  is  rich  and 
moist. 
SOWING  ^  EGEIABLE  MARROW^S. — For  obtaining  plants 
for  the  main  crop  the  present  is  an  excellent  time  to  sow  the 
seed.  Three-inch  pots  ought  to  be  half  filled  with  good  loam, 
into  which  drop  one  seed  in  each  pot.  Cover  half  an  inch.  If 
the  soil  is  properly  moist  no  water  need  be  given  until  the  seed 
germinates.  Greenhouse  treatment  will  .suffice.  Place  near  the 
glass  to  encourage  a  short,  stocky  growth,  and  gradually  harden 
to  frame  treatment.  In  a  month  from  sowing  the  plants  may 
be  inserted  in  their  permanent  positions. 
POTATO  PLANTING. — Potatoes  .should  be  planted  on 
every  favourable  opportunity,  taking  particular  care  in  insert¬ 
ing  those  tubers  which  are  well  furnished  with  sprouts,  especially 
should  they  be  of  a  more  slender  character  than  is  desirable. 
When  short,  hardened,  and  purple  coloured,  indicative  of 
strength,  the  sprouts  are  not  so  readily  injured.  In  planting, 
draw  the  drills  when  the  ground  is  perfeclly  friable  and  dry. 
Break  down  any  lumpy  portions,  and  after  the'  tubers  are  iir 
cover  lightly  with  the  pulverised  material.  Give  Potatoes  the 
advantage  of  open  positions,  and  observ'e  the  di.stanoes  between 
the  rows  according  to  the  vigour  of  the  varieties ;  wider  distances 
for  strong  growers  or  where  good  crops  of  the  best  shaped  tubers 
are  required  for  exhibition. 
PICKLING  ONIONS.; — In  growing  Onions  for  this  purpose 
the  seed  may  be  sown  thickly  on  poor  ground,  and  no  thinning 
resorted  to.  Small  growing  varieties  such  as  Paris  Silver-skin 
may  be  grown. 
BEET. — The  main  sowing  of  Beet  should  be  made.  Select 
a  piece  of  ground  which  has  undergone  the  usual  liberal  pre¬ 
paration  as  regards  digging,  but  has  not  been  freely  manured, 
at  least  not  near  the  surface.  Form  drills  a  foot  apart  for  the 
medium  growing  varieties,  giving  loin  to  the  larger  sorts.  Drop 
the  seeds  at  equal  short  intervals,  and  on  germination  thin  out 
to  the  desired  di.stances  be,st  suited  to  the  development  of  the 
plants. 
FRENCH  BEANS. — One  or  two'  early  rows  of  French  Beans 
may  be  sown  on  a  warm  border,  but  it  is  not  wise  to  risk  the  main 
cron  until  next  month,  especially  in  cold  wet  districts  and  heav^j' 
soil. 
SALSAFY.— This  delicious  root  is  often  neglected,  but  being 
so  useful  for  winter  it  ought  not  to  be  omitted.  Provide  deeply 
trenched  ground,  manuring  the  bottom  spit  of  soil  freely,  but 
n,qt  the  top,  as  it  is  important  that  the  roots  grow  downwards 
without  forking.  As  it  pays  to  grow  in  good  soil  form  the  drills 
loin  apart. 
CHICORY’'.— -For  the  provision  of  winter  salads,  Chicory  is 
useful.  To  provide  roots  for  blanching,  seed  should  be  sown  now 
in  drills  12in  apart,  on  the  deepest  dug  ground.  Thin  the  seed¬ 
lings  to  9in  apart. 
TOMATOES. — Seedling  plants  ought  not  to  be  kept  too  long 
croAvded  together  in  seed  pans,  pots,  or  boxes,  but  .‘should  early 
be  transferred  to  small  pots,  singly  burying  the  stems  to  th;> 
seed  leaves,  and  keep  the  plants  near  the  glass.  The  plants 
which  have  been  transplanted  early,  and  have  formed  tufts  of 
roots,  are  norv  ready  for  a  further  shift  into  larger  pots.  Usually 
two  shifts  are  sufficient  before  the  final  potting  or  planting.  The 
compost  best  adapted  for  the  plants  in  the  early  stages  consist> 
of  a  sandy,  loamy  character,  avoiding  large  quantities  of  leaf 
soil  and  manure,  which  are  more  likely  to  cause  leafy  groAvth 
of  a  .succulent  character  instead  of  .short-jointed  stems.  If  the 
pots  can  stand  on  a  moist  base  the  soil  will  not  dry  out  so 
quickly,  but  on  hot  sunny  days  considerable  attention  is  neces¬ 
sary  in  watering,  especially  as  the  pots  fill  with  roots.  Accord¬ 
ingly  as  Sin  or  4in  pots  are  filled  with  roots  the  time  has  arrived 
for  transferring  the  plants  to  their  fruiting  quarters,  Avhether 
these  are  large  pots,  boxes,  or  borders,  or  stages  under  glass. 
PLANTING  TOMATOES. — In  suitable  positions  or  borders 
in  a  slightly  heated  house  strong  plants  of  Tomatoes  may  norv  be 
largely  x)lanted.  Narrow  and  shallow  borders  may  be  formed 
for  them  on  stages,  provided  an  outlet  can  be  found  for  super¬ 
fluous  Avater.  The  depth  of  the  border  need  not  be  more  than 
Gin,  and  about  loin  Avide.  In  this  place  the  plants  a  foot  apart, 
not  giving  more  soil  than  is  absolutely  necessary  at  first  to  give 
them  a  good  start.  DAvarf.  stocky  plants  will  soon  make  head- 
AA’ay.  Plant  them  as  near  the  base  of  the  roof  as  possible,  and 
train  each  on  a  single  Avire  under  the  roof  about  a  foot  from  the 
glass. 
Tomatoes  Avill  succeed  equally  Avell  in  pots,  the  best  size 
for  fruiting  them  in  being  llin  pots.  Crock  them  carefully,  but 
not  heaA’ily,  and  provide  good  compost.  A  mixture  of  decayed 
turf  four  parts,  old  manure  one  part,  half  a  part  of  Avood  a,shes 
and  sand,  AA'ith  a  good  dash  of  bonemeal,  answers  admirably.  It 
should  be  Aveli  mixed.  Some  of  the  rougher  parts  Avill  seiwe  to 
cover  the  crocks.  This  compost  is  suitable  for  borders  as  AA'ell  as 
pots  and  boxes.  It  must  be  moist,  so  also  should  the  ball  o"f 
I’oots  and  soil  be  Avhen  planting.  Work  the  material  firmly 
round.  When  placing  in  pots  sink  the  plants  Ioav  down  in  order 
to  avoid  using  a  great  bulk  of  soil.  Fresh  rooting  material  can 
easily  be  added  Avhen  necessary  afterAvards.  With  correct  con¬ 
ditions  as  regards  moisture  it  Avill  not  be  necessary  to  Avater 
heavily  for  some  time,  but  much  Avill  depend  upon  the  Aveather. 
Rub  out  the  side  shoots  as  they  shoAv  in  all  plants.  This  Avill 
be  continuous. — East  Kent. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswict. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis- 
Avick,  height  aboA^e  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
o 
1903. 
April. 
il 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
.5 
*5 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
u  • 
S  00 
••3  ^  00 
5  d  eS 
6  ort 
O  P* 
u 
a 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
49 
03 
0) 
to 
a 
43 
03 
o 
& 
o 
iJ 
Jag 
(U  o 
B 
Sunday  ...12 
N.W. 
deg. 
44-5 
deg. 
42-2 
deg. 
50-1 
deg. 
36  9 
Ins. 
deg. 
47-2 
deg. 
47-6 
deg. 
47-6 
deg. 
25T 
Monday  ...13 
w. 
40-1 
37-2 
47-4 
33-2 
— 
45-9 
47-5 
47  6 
239 
Tuesday  ...14 
N.W. 
41-7 
36-2 
48-3 
30-8 
0-06 
44-7 
47-0 
47-7 
18-3 
Wed’sday  15 
N.W. 
40-7 
36-7 
47'6 
38  9 
— 
44  9 
46-8 
47-5 
270 
Thursday  16 
N.N.E. 
39-7 
35-0 
45  6 
280 
0-01 
441 
46-5 
47-5 
■14-8 
Friday  ...17 
N.N.E. 
39  2 
34  0 
461 
29  5 
— 
43  2 
46-2 
47-3 
15-6 
Saturday  13 
N.N.E. 
39  7 
35-2 
50-3 
29-0 
42  8 
45-8 
47-2 
17-3 
Means  ... 
^0-8 
36  6 
47-9 
32-3 
[ 
Total. 
0  07 
44  7 
46-8 
47-5 
20-3 
Fine,  dry,  eoldj  Avindy  Aveather,  Avith  sharp  frosty  mornings.  Tlie 
hardy  fruit  crops  have  suffered  terribly  during  the  Aveek  OAving  to  the 
unusually  seA'ere  frosts. 
- «  *  • - 
Trad-e  Catalogues  Received. 
H.  Cannell  and  Sons.  SAvanley,  Kent. — Flairtl  Guide. 
Jules  de  Cock,  Yilla  des  Lauriers,  Meirelbeke,  Ghent,  Belgium. — 
General  Nursery  Catalogue. 
F.  W.  Currey  (Miss),  The  Warren  Gardens,  Lismore,  Ireland. — Daffodil 
List. 
4V.  C.  Mountain,  Bulb  GroAver,  Constantinople. — Galan  thus,  Chionodoxa, 
Narcissus,  d’-c. 
Amos  Perry,  Winehmore  Hill  London,  N. —  Water  Plants, 
M.  Y.  Seale,  The  Nurseries,  Sevenoaks. — Dahlias,  Carnations,  and 
Bedding  Plants. 
James  Yeitch  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  Royal  Exotic  Nursery,  Chelsea,  S.^Y. — 
Novelties,  1903. 
Thos.  S.  Wai-e  (1902).  Ltd.,  4Yare’s  Nurseries,  Feltham,  Middlesex. — 
Bedding  Plants,  Dahlias,  Begonias,  Gannas  dx.  - 
