480 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  28,  1903. 
being  secured,  prevent  its  escape  by  a  liberal  mulching  of  manure 
on  the  soil.  As  a  remedy,  a  good  handful  of  sulphur  mixed  in  a 
soft.soap  solution  is  excellent  for  red  spider. 
CATERPILL.IRS. — Gooseberries  and  Currants  are  subject  to 
attacks  from  small  caterpillars  which  do  much  harm  to  the 
foliage.  They  are  the  result  of  saw  flies  depositing  eggs  on  the 
lower  sides  of  the  leaves.  Hellebore  powder  is  effective  in 
killing  them,  but  it  is  rather  unsafe  because  of  its  poisonous 
character,  and  if  used  the  fruit  must  be  well  washed  before 
utilising  for  cooking  or  eating.  Fine  lime  may  be  employed,  or 
flowers  of  sulphur.  The  larvae,  too,  of  the  codlin  moth  makes  its 
appearance  at  this  season,  and  should  be  destroyed  by  a  mixture 
of  Paris  green  and  water,  loz  to  20gals,  thoroughly  mixed  and 
kept  so.  Deliver  it  over  the  trees  with  a  spray  distributor. 
The  best  time  for  the  first  application  is  as  soon  as  the  blossoms 
fall.  Follow  with  a  second  three  weeks  later.  This  remedy  and 
method  of  aiiplying  will  also  do  for  the  winter  moth  caterpillars. 
OUTDOOR  VINES. — The  early  disbudding  practised  as  soon 
as  the  Vines  push  into  growth  has  the  effect  of  clearing  away  all 
undesirable  growth.  A  further  selection  may  now  be  made  and 
laid  into  the  wall  or  ti’ellis,  giving  preference  to  those  which  are 
showing  bunches  of  fruit.  Rejected  shoots  may  be  cut  out. 
The  shoots  bearing  bunches  may  be  stopped  at  two  joints 
beyond.  If  a  suitable  growth  is  starting  from  a  part  of  the  Vine 
where  it  would  prove  useful  to  fill  up  a  space,  retain  such  and 
allow  it  free  extension  until  it  grows  to  a  length  of  4ft,  when  the 
point  of  shoot  may  be  taken  out.  This  has  the  effect  of  con¬ 
centrating  the  vigour  in  the  extension  already  made,  while  at  the 
same  time  a  new  leader  is  growing.  Give  a  copious  watering  to 
the  roots  should  the  soil  be  dry. 
STRAWBERRIES. — Mulchings  of  manure  applied  now 
between  rows  of  Strawberries  should  be  composed  of  less  solid 
manure  than  if  laid  down  early.  The  object  now  is  to  provide  a 
clean  bed  for  the  fruit  to  rest  upon.  Any  assistance  the  plants 
require  may  be  afforded  now  by  applications  of  liquid  manure. 
A  solution  of  nitrate  of  soda  loz  to  the  gallon  of  water  has  a 
rapid  effect  in  aiding  the  swelling  of  the  fruit  after  a  fair  quantity 
has  set.  Where  the  bloom  trusses  are  numerous  and  thickly 
placed  some  may  be  removed  with  advantage,  following  later  with 
thirming  the  fruit. 
W’ALL  TREES. — The  protecting  material  may  be  removed 
entirely  now  from  the  walls,  storing  nets  and  canvas  or  tiffany 
away  in  a  dry  place.  There  will  be  found  a  more  than  usual 
number  of  curled  and  distorted  leaves  on  stone  fruits  owing  to 
the  cold  weather.  These  .should  be  removed  or  the  whole  shoots 
cut  away.  Loosen  the  surface  soil  over  the  roots  if  hard,  and 
afford  water  freely,  alternating  with  liquid  manure  or  dressing 
of  artificials  washed  in. — East  Kent. 
Frnit  Forcing. 
CHERRY  HOUSE. — There  is  nothing  in  the  fruit  way  so 
charming  at  this  time  of  year  as  a  house  of  Cherries,  whether 
the  trees  are  planted^  out  and  trained  to  trellises,  or  grown  in 
pots  as  standards.  No  greater  mistake*  is  made  than  having  a 
number  of  varieties  for  affording  a  general  supply,  and  a  long 
.succession  of  fruit  can  be  had  by  forcing  such  as  Early  Rivers, 
Governor  Wood,  and  Black  Tartarian.  When  the  whole  of  the 
crop  is  ripe  the  chief  consideration  will  be  to  keep  the  fruit 
fresh,  and  prolong  the  season  as  long  as  possible.  Shading  will 
do  so,  but  it  is  only  advisable  when  the  Cherries  are  directly  ex¬ 
posed  to  the  sun,  owing  to  the  limited  foliage.  Free  ventila¬ 
tion  must  be  attended  to,  and  in  hot  weather  a  sprinkling  of 
water  on  the  surface  of  the  border,  as  well  as  the  paths,  in  the 
hottest  part  of  the  clay,  will  assist  in  keeping  the  fruit  plump. 
The  supply  of  water  must  not  be  neglected,  for  dryness  at  the 
roots  is  inimical  to  the  formation  of  the  buds  for  the  ensuing 
crop  of  fruit  and  health  of  the  trees. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES  ;  EARLY  FORCED  TREES. 
— The  fruit  of  the  very  early  is  gathered  where  the  trees  were 
started  in  late  December  or  at  the  new  year.  The  wood  on 
which  the  fruit  has  been  borne  should  be  cut  out,  and  if  all 
superfluous  are  removed,  light  and  air  cvill  be  admitted  to 
the  shoots  whicli  are  to  produce  fruit  next  year.  Thoroughly 
cleanse  the  trees  by  washing  them  forcibly  wfth  water  from  the 
syringe  or  engine,  and  if  they  have  beconie  infested  with  red 
spider  or  thrips,  add  2oz  of  i^araffin  oil  emulsion  to  each  gallon 
of  water.  Scale  also  often  appears  on  forced  trees,  weakening 
the  growths  by  extracting  the  juices,  and  impairing  their  health 
by-  the  filthy  excreta.  The  paraffin  emulsion  solution  acts  well 
against  young  scale,  and  is  readily  made  for  immediate  use  by 
dissolving  l^lb  of  softsoap  in  a  gallon  of  water  by  boiling,  and 
when  boiling  hot  add  three  wineglassfuls  of  paraffin  oil,  stirring 
briskly  until  thoroughly  amalgamated ;  then  dilute  to  lOgals, 
and  apply  at  a  temperature  of  llOdeg  to  llodeg  by  means  of  a 
syringe,  or  preferably,  for  economy,  a  spraying  machine,  direct¬ 
ing  the  spray  upwards,  so  as  to  reach  the  pests  that  are  fastened 
on  the  midribs  of  the  leaves,  as  well  as  those  on  the  young 
wood.  Maintain  the  border  in  a  thoroughly  moist  state. 
Admit  air  freely,  and  keei)  the  house  as  cool  as  po.ssible,  but  not 
allowing  the  temperature  i:o  fall  to  an  unsafe  point  at  night,  as 
this  tends  to  premature-  ripening  of  the  foliage.  The  roof  lights 
should  not  be  removed,  nor  trees  in  pots  placed  outdoors  until 
the  weather  becomes  more  .settled,  which  does  not  usually  occur 
until  the  middle  of  June. 
SECOND  EARLY  VARIETIES. — These  are  ripening  in  the 
house  started  at  the  new  year,  Hale’s  Early  holding  first  place 
a.s  a  handsome  and  good  quality  fruit ;  but  it  has  not  the  size 
of  A  Bee,  or  the  colour  of  Crim.son  Galande,  while  this  has 
not  the  C[ua,lity  of  Early  Alfred  and  Dr.  Hogg,  both  of  which 
force  well.  Stirling  Castle  has  plenty  of  colour,  but  is  rather 
smaller  than  Royal  George,  yet  it  possesses  its  good  equalities, 
and  is  a  sure  forcer.  Dymond  is  an  excellent  variety,  both  in 
size  and  colour,  and  also  equality,  combined  with  a  healthy,  free- 
bearing  habit,  and  forces  quite  as  well  as  Royal  George.  Car¬ 
dinal  is  the  first  Nectarine  to  rii>en.  closely  followed  by  Early 
Rivers,  and  in  succession  by  Stanwick  Elruge.  Lord  Napier  is 
very  liable  to  shrivel  at  the  aqmx,  which  detracts  from  its  appear¬ 
ance,  otherwise  it  is  a  good  second  eaidy  variety  of  very  high 
quality.  Riqiening,  and  even  shrinking  at  the  apex  may  be 
retarded  by  a  slight  shade  from  powerful  sun.  Artificial  heat 
will  still  be  necessary,  especially  in  dull  and  cold  weather,  to 
permit  a  circulation  of  air. 
SUCCESSION  HOUSES. — Lack  of  moisture  at  the  roots  pre¬ 
judices  the  swelling  of  the  fruit,  and  often  results  in  its  drop- 
qjing  or  ripening  qirematurely.  In  all  cases  before  watering  make 
an  examination  of  the  border,  and  when  the  soil  is  becoming 
rather  dry,  not  before,  afford  a  thorough  supply.  Overcropping 
is  a  frequent  cause  of  indifferent  stoning,  premature  ripening, 
and  lack  of  quality,  as  well  as  .size  in  the  fruit.  Thin  the 
fruit,  therefore,  in  the  early  stages  of  swelling  gradually,  and 
always  have  regard  to  the  po.rftion  of  the  fruit  for  receiving  light, 
exposing  them  from  the  first  as  much*  as  possible  to  the  sun. 
One  fruit  to  each  square  foot  of  trellis  covered  by  the  trees  is 
as  much  as  the  large-fruited  varieties  can  swell  to  a  full  size; 
the  medium-sized  .sorts  may  have  the  fruit  left  a  little  closer. 
Above  all  things,  attend  to  cleanliness,  for  it  is  absolutely 
essential  to  the  qjerfection  of  the  current  crop  and  the  due 
provision  of  buds  and  stored  matter  for  next  year’s  fruiting. 
LATE  HOI'SE. — Disbudding  and  tying  in  the  shoot-s  must  be 
attended  to  in  due  time,  also  thinning  the  fruit  qirior  to  stoning. 
Do  not  overcrowd  the  growths,  for  light  is  the  essence  of  fertility. 
Ventilate  early  and  freely  on  all  favourable  occasions.  Close 
early  in  the  afternoon,  so  as  to  induce  the  fruit  to  swell  kindly, 
and  syringe  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  when  the  weather  is 
bright.  Aq>hides  are  very  troublesome  this  season.  Fumigate 
with  tobacco  paper,  or  vapourise  with  nicotine  compound  mode¬ 
rately,  having  the  foliage  dry,  and  deliver  the  smoke  cool. 
Remember,  the  foliage  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines  is  very  tender 
and  easily  injured,  also  the  young  fruit,  by  an  overdose;  hence 
it  is  often  advisable  to  have  recourse  to  .syringing  or  spraying 
with  quassia  extract,  instead  of  fumigating  or  vapourising. 
Mildew,  and  even  “  blister,”  are  not  absent  this  year  from  trees 
in  cool  houses.  Probably  they  are  too  cold  and  moi.st  at  times, 
or  so  variable  in  atmosqflierio  conditions  as  to  favour  the  qiara- 
sites.  Sulqohur  makes  an  end  of  the  mildew  but  both  it  and 
‘*  blister  ”  are  more  successfully  combated  by  the  use  of  the 
qoowder  fungicides,  such  as  antiblight  and  fostite,  containing 
sulphate  of  coqiqier  with  lime 
EARLY  MUSCATS.— Where  Muscat  of  Alexandria  was  started 
in  December,  or  not  later  than  the  new  year,  the  croqi  is  now 
ripening,  and  the  Vines  must  not  lack  water  at  roots.  The 
temqrerature  should  be  keqit  at  Oodeg  to  70deg  at  night,  70deg  to 
7odeg  by  day  from  fire  heat,  and  through  the  day  at  SOdeg  to 
90deg  from  sun  heat.  Maintain  a  circulation  of  air  constantly, 
it  being  imqjortant  that  water  does  not  become'  condeirsed  on  the 
berries  as  a  safeguard  against  “sq)ot,”  while  a  warm  and  rather 
dry  air  q^revents  scalding,  and  is  necessary  for  securing  perfection 
in  Muscats.  If  the  sun  is  very  qrowerful,  and  the  qianes  of  gliuss 
large  and  clear,  a  single  thickness  of  herring  nets  drawn  over  the 
roof  lights  will  break  the  force  of  the  sun,  qireventiug  scoi'ching 
of  the  leaves  and  berries. 
SUCCESSION  HOUSES.— In  order  to  prevent  scorching  of 
the  foliage  and  scalding  of  the  berries  there  is  nothing  l^e  open¬ 
ing  the  ventilators  judiciously  early  in  the  morning.  'Thinning 
the  bunches  and  berries  must  be  attended  to.  Remove  all  suq>er- 
fluous  bunches  unflinchingly.  Stop  or  remove  all  laterals  not 
required,  letting  those  retained  extend  where  space  qiermits. 
Supply  water  or  liquid  manure  to  the  borders  liberally 
needed,  and  encourage  surface  roots  with  top-dressing^.  The 
night  temperature  should  be  kept  at  GOdeg  to  Godeg,  /Odeg  by 
day,  and  SOdeg  to  90deg  from  sun  heat. 
PLANTING  GROWING  VINES.— The  canes  reared  from  eyes 
in  Februarv  or  March  and  grown  in  qiots  or  turves  may  now  be 
planted  out.  Such  of  those  put  out  by  the  beginning  of  June  wull 
get  a  good  hold  of  the  soil  this  season,  and  ripen  the. cane  suffi- 
cientlv  for  cutting  down  to  the  first  wire  of  the  trellis.  Pre,s.s  the 
.  soil  firmly  about  the  ball  or  turf,  giving  a  moderate  watering, 
mulching  with  about  an  inch  of  .short  manure,  and  shade  from 
bright  sun  until  they  become  established. — St.  Albans. 
