May  21,  1903; 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
455 
Melons. 
Plants  ripening  their  fruit  should  have  water  Avithheld  from 
it,  and  only  sufficient  given  at  the  roots  to  keep  the  foliage 
fresh.  A  little  air  constantly,  gentle  warmth  in  the  hot-Avater 
pipes,  and  rather  free  ventilation,  increased  from  the  early 
part  of  the  day,  is  the  best  safeguard  against  the  fruit  crack¬ 
ing.  If  there  be  any  danger  of  this,  cut  the  vine  about  half- 
Avay  through  a  short  distance  h^loAv  the  fruit;  but  the  chief 
thing  is  to  keep  the  atmosphere  airy,  and  thus  cause  the 
evaporation  from  the  fruit  to  go  in  instead  of  moisture  being 
condensed  upon  it.  Plants  in  floAver  must  also  have  a  little  air 
constantly,  with  a  free  circulation  on  fine  days,  fertilising  the 
flowers  as  they  become  fully  expanded ;  and  Avhen  a  sufficient 
number  of  fruits  of  about  equal  size  are  set  upon  a  plant, 
remove  all  others  and  floAvers,  botli  staminate  and  pistdlate. 
Three  or  four  fruits  on  plants  of  ordinary  size  and  vigour  are  as 
many  as  each  can  bring  to  full  size  and  highest  perfection,  over¬ 
cropping  being  alike  fatal  to  appearance  and  utility,  the  fruit 
very  often  not  attaining  maturity,  but  ripens  prematurely,  and 
these  are  comparatively  Avoi'thless.  Plants  SAvelling  their  fruits 
should  have  liberal  supplies  of  tepid  liquid  manure,  or  light 
top-dressings  of  fertiliser  Avorked  in  moderately,  Avith  additions 
made  to  the  ridges  or  hillocks  of  fresh  soil  as  the  roots  pro¬ 
trude,  and  it  should  be  Avarm.  Go  over  the  plants  freciuently 
for  the  removal  or  stopping  of  the  laterals,  keeping  the  prin¬ 
cipal  foliage  Avell  exposed  to  the  light,  and,  above  all  things, 
perfectly  free  from  pests. 
Young  plants  in  frames  Avith  the  groAvths  trained  over  the 
surface  must  be  thinned  to  four, '^tAvo' -being  taken  to  the  front, 
and  two  to  the  back,  keeping  the  laterals  rubbed  off  to  quite 
bin  from  the  stem,  and  pinching  the  main  shoots  Avhen  12in  to 
18in  from  the  sides  of  the  frames  or  pits.  The  laterals  Avill 
show  fruit  at  the  second  or  third  joint  if  not  first,  and  the 
flowers  being  fully  expanded,  fertilise  them  about  noon  on  a  fine 
day,  leaving  a  little  air  on  constantly  to  preA^ent  the  condensa¬ 
tion  of  moisture,  a  moist  atmosphere  being  fatal  to  a  good  set. 
Pinch  out  the  points  of  the  .shoots  one  joint  above  the  fruit,  and 
after  three  or  four  fruits  are  set  and  s^Avelling  on  a  plant,  remove 
all  others.  Keep  the  laterals  closely  pinched,  and  thin  them 
if  likely  to  crowd  the  principal  foliage.  Sprinkle  the  plants  in 
the  afternoon  of  fine  days  Avith  clean  soft  Avater,  closing  about 
3  p.m.  to  4  p.m.,  or  so  early  as  to  raise  the  temperature  to 
90deg,  95deg,  or  lOOdeg,  and  ventilate  parly  in  the  day,  or  from 
7.30  a.m.  to  8  a.m.,  keeping  through  the  day  at  80deg  to  90deg, 
and  reduce  the  ventilation  gradually.  Keep  a  .sharp  look-out  for 
aphides,  and  fumigate  on  tAvo  or  three  consecuth’-e  evenings 
moderately,  an  overdose  doing  great  injui-y.  Shade  the  foUoAv- 
ing  day  if  the  Aveather  be  bright,  and  ahvays  have  the  foliage 
dry  when  fumigating.  Red  spider  Avill  not  appear  if  the  plants 
are  kept  properly  moist ;  but  if  it  does,  place  a  little  floAvers  of 
sulphur  on  a  slate  raised  on  an  inverted  floAver-pot,  so  that  the 
sun  can  act  upon  it.  If  canker  appear,  rub  quicklime  in  the 
affected  parts  of  the  stem  until  they  are  dry,  and  repeat  as 
occasion  requires,  being  careful  to  keep  Avater  from  the  collar. — 
G.  A. 
Fruit  Growing  in  Western  Australia. 
We.stem  Australia  has  a  fine  future  in  fruit  groAving.  In 
1902,  says  the  “  Western  Mail,”  this  State  had  6,000  acres  of 
orchards  and  3,600  acres  of  vineyai-ds.  All  Australia  had  about 
175,000  acres  of  orchards  and  65,000  acres  of  Vines,  Western 
Au.stralia  is  thus  far  behind  its  proper  proportion.  Instead  of 
being  beloAv  the  average,  this  State  should  be  aboA-e  it.  Local 
c-onditions  are  good  for  fruit.  From  Geraldton  to  Albany  there 
is  splendid  land  for  all  the  best  fruits,  Avhile  the  climate  is 
almo^  ideal.  No  doubt  the  local  market  Avill  be  filled  in  a 
few  years,  as  all  local  markets  are  filled  in  successful  industries. 
The  present  century  Avill  almost  certainly  see  a  vast  increase  in 
the  world’s  fruit  con.sumption.  The  last  three  centuries  have 
taught  the  North  of  Europe  to  make  a  proper  use  of  vegetables. 
The  ideal  diet  is  no  longer  simply  bread  and  flesh  in  many 
forms.  At  first  vegetables  were  regarded  as  a  luxury.  Fruit  is 
now  at  that  stage,  but  is  almo.st  certain  to  gradually  take  the 
firmer  footing  of  an  ordinary  form  of  diet  in  all  countries.  This 
Avill  bo  especially  the  case  in  regions  Avhich  lie  .sufficiently  near 
the  tropics  to  experience  hot  summers.  That  Western  Australia 
Avill  ta.k0  its  part  in  fruit  supply  in  the  future  may  be  regarded 
as  a  certainty. 
Mostly  Irish. 
Veather?  Plenty;  quite  a  corner  in  it,  in  fact:  but  the 
tabooed  by  the  Editor,  hence  the  least  said  the  better. 
Uh,  it  s  going  to  be  a  great  year  in  Ireland !  So  it  is,  Aveather 
or  no.  vV  e  shall  mote  with  the  eyes  of  Europe  and  America  on 
us;  and  from  the  East,  and  from  the  West,  will  flow  in  francs, 
thalers,  gulden,  dollars,  and  other  kinds  of  lucre.  Already  is 
the  stranger  within  our  gates;  later  on  there  will  be  colonels 
nobilities,  and  notabilities  galore.  A  Cead  mill’e 
failthe  to  Royal  EdAvard,  and  a  ncAv  pavilion  at  KingstoAvn,  to 
Avhich  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Ireland  will  run  down 
and  hold  their  summer  shoAv  by  the  sea.  There’s  pride  in  the 
eye  of  the  Peach  groAver  as  he  counts  hi.s  fruit  (before  they  have 
stoned),  anticipating  gilt-edged  market  notes  in  the  good  time 
coming.  Early  Peas  and  early  Strawberries,  late  Peas  and  late 
StraAvberries.  Really,  things  do  look  a  little  brighter  for  the 
u  I  ’  *o*^g'®'^ff<’ring  market  groAver,  who  has  to  compete 
Avith  half  the  private  gardens,  small  and  large,  around  Dublin  in 
seeking  a  living. 
Fruit  prospects  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  sea 
are  about  normal,  but  the  farther  one  goes  inland  the  worse 
Giey  fare,  every  few  hundred  yards  seeming  to  make  a  difference 
The  great  gale  of  February  26  and  27  is  not  forgotten.  Too 
many  mementoes  of  its  fury  lay  around.  Throe  thousand  trees 
doAvn  in  the  Phoenix  Park,  the  bulk  ancient  Elms,  the  balance 
venerable  Thorns;  and  efforts  are  being  made  to  have  all 
cleared,  swept,  and  garnished  ere  the  King  comes.  Five  thou¬ 
sand  trees  doAvn  at  Straffan,  in  Kildare,  and  Carton  shorn 
of  its  stateliest  timber.  Hoav  are  the  mighty  fallen!  Sad,  too, 
are  tales  Avhich  folloAv  the  track  of  the  tornado  through  Kildare 
and  Meath.  Here,  at  home,  the  finest  Elms  have  gone,  or, 
rather  lie  prostrate,  for  go  they  Avill  not,  even  at  a  gift.  Elm 
IS  a  glut  in  the  market,  and  likely  to  remain  so  for  vears  to 
come.  It  is  remarkable  tha,t  not  a  Beech  came  doAvn  "with  us 
that  memorable  night ;  all  Elm,  save  a  feAv  Chestnuts  and  so  on 
in  the  Aucinity.  There  should  be  a  lesson  to  planters  in  this. 
And,  noAv,  the  reverberation  of  high  explosives  is  heard  far  and 
near  clearing  the  Avreckage.  Sic  transit  gloria  sylva. 
It  is  pleasanter  to  turn  to  our  beds  and  borders,  bright  Avith 
spring  flowers;  the  more  so  that  the  yellow  fever  of  the  earlier 
season  has  abated  under  the  blue  flags  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis. 
Gold  dust’ — gold  dust  galore  in  the  Avay  of  Alyssum  saxatile  does 
not  pall  on  the  eye;  it  is  glorious  en  masse.  But  the  most 
persistent  bloomer,  brightening  up  the  borders  from  last  autumn 
till  noAV,  is  Erysimum  helveticum.  Treated  as  a  Wallflower,  viz., 
seeds  soAvn  in  June  and  transplanted,  is  the  little  trouble  justly 
due  for  its  cheerfulness  and  mild  fragrance.  A  very  good  hit 
is  Golden  CroAvn  Tulips  freely  planted  througli  massive  beds 
of  red  WallfloAvers,  and  Gesneriana  through  Cloth  of  Gold  Wall- 
floAvers;  whilst  beds  of  Eastern  Queen  with  a  foot  wide  edging 
of  London  Pride,  the  latter  noAv  in  bloom,  gives  a  ciuaint  and 
pleasing  harmony  of  colour.  WallfloAvers!  Who  Avould  be 
Avithout  them  at  this  seaison  ?  We  do,  certainly,  look  and  long 
for  a  brighter  red  if  if  is  possible  to  have  it ;  but  Primrose 
Dame  shoAvs  pale  colours  through  it,  pale  enough  to  predict  a 
Avhite  in  the  near  future.  Calceolaria  Burbidgei  on  the  wall  of 
an  unheated  Peach  house  has  come  through  the  winter’s  frost 
un.scathed,  and  a  good  thing  it  is,  Avitli  its  handsome  flowers 
resembling  one  of  its  parents,  C.  amplexicaulis,  yet  with  a 
rambling  free  habit  capable,  probably,  of  clothing  a  AA-all  10ft 
high,  possibly  higher.  Nous  verrons. 
St.  Brigid  Anemones  are  fine;  presumably  this  and  the 
Alderborough  strain  are  identical.  All  that  has  been  said  of 
them  and  for  them  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  is  heartily 
endorsed  ;  yet  practice  differs  a  little  to  attain  the  same  end. 
The  finest  floAvers  are  now  under  selection  for  seed,  and  as 
soon  as  sufficient  ripe  seed  is  to  be  had,  say  about  the  end  of 
June,  it  is  immediately  soAvn  in  a  well-prepared  bed  in  Avhich 
leaf  mould  is  liberally  incorporated.  These  seedlings  remain 
undisturbed,  and  floAver  the  folloAving  spring,  when,  after  dying 
doAvn,  they  are  lifted,  dried,  and  replanted  in  late  autumn. 
Two  j'ears  old  tubers  and  all  older  .stock  folloAV  the  usual  course 
of  yearly  lifting  and  replanting.  By  persistently  seeding  the 
finest  floAvers  only,  the  survival  of  the  fittest  obtains,  and  this 
is  the  method,  indeed,  by  which  the  late  Mrs.  LaAvrenson,  of 
Howth,  originated  the  St.  Brigid  typo. 
A  grand  old  gardener  of  the  past  generation  has  passed 
aAvay  in  the  person  of  John  Bain,  one  time  Curator  of  the 
Trinity  College  Botanic  Gardens.  Since  his  retirement,  some 
thirty  years  ago,  on  a  liberal  pen-sion,  he  lived  at  Holyhead,  but 
Avas  lirought  back  to  the  land  he  loved,  and  laid  to  rest  in 
Mount  Jerome  Cemetery.  An  insufficient  acquaintance  Avith  the 
details  of  his  long  life  prevents  reminiscences  here;  yet  ever 
and  anon  some  pithy  anecdote  in  which  he  figured  Avould  be 
recorded  by  the  pre.seut  estimable  Curator,  Avho  possibly  may 
relieve  the  paucity  of  this  notice  by  notes  Avhich  could  not  fail 
to  be  interesting.  All  honour  to  the  grand  old  men  of  the 
great  gardening  Avorld,  and  encouragement  for  the  young  ones! 
— K.,  Dublin. 
