July  5,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
21 
circulating  about  the  trees,  not  only  for  the  benefit  of  the  wood  but 
also  for  the  fruit.  The  most  destructive  insects  which  attack  the 
leaves  at  the  latter  part  of  the  season  are  red  spider.  They  may  be 
kept  under  by  freely  syringing  while  the  fruit  remains  green,  and  after 
the  crops  have  been  gathered,  also  maintaining  the  soil  moist. 
Frait  Forcing. 
Cherry  House. — After  the  fruit  is  gathered  the  chief  object  is  to 
secure  the  due  formation  or  development  of  the  buds  without  starting 
them  into  growth,  by  keeping  the  foliage  clear  of  every  description  of 
insect^  pest,  syringing  abundantly,  and  if  necessary  applying  an 
insecticide.  Although  less  moisture  is  needed  than  when  the  fruit  is 
swelling  and  the  trees  making  growth,  yet  there  should  be  sufficient 
to  maintain  the  trees  in  a  healthy  condition.  Trees  in  pots  from  which 
the  fruits  are  gathered  may  be  placed  outdoors  in  the  full  sun,  plunging 
the^  pots  in  ashes.  Water  as  required  to  keep  the  soil  moist,  and 
syringe  in  the  evening  of  hot  days. 
Cucumbers. — The  disease  produced  by  eelworm  and  that  caused  by 
a  fungus  closely  allied  to  “sleepy,”  which  results  in  sudden  collapse  of 
the  leaves,  stunting  of  the  fruits,  and  uselessness  of  the  whole  plant,  are 
^ain  playing  havoc  with  Cucumbers.  This  is  due  in  a  great  measure, 
if  not  altogether,  to  the  conditions  of  management,  the  atmosphere 
of  Cucumber  houses  being  kept  so  moist  and  close,  with  a  compost  full 
of  organic  matter  in  a  constantly  moisture  laden  state,  as  to  induce 
a  susceptible  to  disease  condition  of  the  plant  and  provide  the 
circumstances  and  substances  favourable  for  the  increase  of  semi- 
parasitic  pests.  Both  eelworms  and  “  sleepy”  fungus  revel  in  organid 
nitrogen,  as  found  in  either  dead  vegetable  substances  or  living  plants 
rendered  susceptible  to  attack  by  the  cultural  conditions  forenamed,  and 
singularly  they  abhor  the  food  elements  of  green-leaved  plants  when  in 
the  forms  only  assimilable  by  these.  Nitrates  and  chlorides,  phosphates 
and  sulphates,  are  no  use  whatever  to  saprophytes,  semi  and  positive 
parasites,  until  organised.  Thus  the  saprophytes  and  parasites  will  be 
precluded  from  soils  mainly  containing  the  food  elements  in  those  forms,, 
hence  cultivators  have  something  tangible  to  work  upon  as  regards  both 
preventive  and  remedial  measures.  The  old  fashioned  dressings  of  lime, 
wood  ashes,  and  soot  have  done  yeoman  service  in  the  past,  and  are 
still  the  best,  in  conjunction  with  well  reduced  manure. 
Attention  must  be  given  to  plants  in  full  bearing  by  way  of  thinning 
out  the  exhausted  growths  and  foliage,  laying  in  young  bearing  wood, 
stopping  one  joint  beyond  the  fruit,  and  earthing  the  roots  occasionally. 
Copious  supplies  of  water  or  liquid  manure  will  be  required  about 
twice  a  week,  or  as  may  be  necessary,  but  avoid  applying  it  too  strong. 
Syringe  at  closing  time,  and  maintain  a  good  moisture  in  the  house  all 
day  long  by  sprinkling  the  paths  and  walks  as  necessary,  always  with 
tepid  water,  attending  to  it  more  frequently  in  hot  weather  than  when 
dull.  Do  not  overcrop  young  plants,  or  allow  the  fruit  to  hang  too 
long,  as  upon  attention  to  this  depends  in  a  measure  a  good  and  con¬ 
tinuous  supply.  A  few  seeds  may  now  be  sown  for  a  late  summer  and 
autumn  supply  of  fruit.  They  will  germinate,  and  the  seedlings  be 
fit  to  plant  in  about  a  month. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Early  Houses. — The  fruit  being  cleared  off 
syringe  forcibly  to  eject  red  spider.  This  will  be  facilitated  or  rendered 
more  effectual  by  cutting  away  all  the  shoots  that  have  borne  fruit 
except  extensions,  and  taking  care  not  to  leave  more  growths  than 
will  be  required  for  next  year’s  fruiting.  If  this  be  attended  to  now, 
little  winter  pruning  will  be  required.  If  the  roof-lights  are  movable 
take  them  off  about  the  middle  of  the  month.  Rain  has  a  peculiarly 
invigorating  effect  on  forced  trees,  and  the  borders  become  thoroughly 
moistened  in  the  autumn.  The  roof -lights  must  not  be  taken  off  until 
the  trees  have  been  inured  by  free  ventilation  and  the  buds  are 
advanced  in  plumping. 
Succession  Houses. — With  the  frixit  taking  the  last  swelling,  syringe 
twice  a  day  to  keep  down  red  spider,  it  being  important  to  have  the 
trees  quite  clean  when  the  fruit  commences  to  ripen,  as  syringing  then 
spoils  its  appearance  and  flavour.  Supply  liquid  manure  abundantly 
to  inside  borders  unless  the  trees  are  gross,  when  it  will  only  aggrava'e 
the  evil.  Mulch  the  inside  and  outside  borders,  keeping  the  material 
moist,  so  as  to  have  the  roots  near  the  surface.  This,  however,  will  not 
be  any  use  unless  the  soil  beneath  is  kept  properly  watered.  Ventilate 
a  little  constantly  and  increasingly  with  the  advancing  sun.  Maintain 
the  day  temperature  at  80°  to  85°  with  sun,  and  close  sufficiently  early 
for  a  rise  to  90°,  admitting  a  little  air  before  night.  As  the  fruit 
approaches  ripening  ventilate  more  freely,  and  do  not  allow  so  great  a 
range  of  temperature,  60°  to  65°  at  night,  and  70°  to  75°  by  day  being 
suflicient.  Keep  water  from  the  fruit,  but  damp  the  house,  especially 
on  hot  days.  Tie  and  regulate  the  growths,  having  the  fruits  well 
exposed  to  the  sun.  Stop  laterals  to  one  or  two  joints  of  growth,  and 
avoid  overcrowding. 
Late  Houses. — Where  rains  have  not  fallen  so  as  to  moisten  the  soil 
thoroughly  down  to  the  drainage  a  thorough  watering  should  be  given 
outside  borders  as  well  as  the  inside,  affording  liquid  manure  to  trees 
carrying  full  crops.  The  shoots  should  be  tied  down  as  they  advance, 
not  crowding  them,  but  allowing  each  space  for  development,  as  without 
full  exposure  to  light  and  air  the  foliage  cannot  perform  its  functions. 
Stop  the  laterals  at  the  first  joint,  and  to  each  succeeding  one  as  made. 
Cut  back  gross  shoots  or  remove  them  altogether.  Ventilate  early  and 
freely,  and  close  early,  with  plenty  of  moisture  in  the  house,  admitting 
a  little  air  at  the  top  before  nightfall,  so  as  to  allow  the  pent-up  moisture 
to  escape,  and  permit  the  atmosphere  to  gradually  cool,  so  as  to  give 
the  trees  rest.  Syringe  forcibly  twice  a  day,  but  not  in  dull  weather, 
as  it  is  necessary  the  foliage  be  fairly  dry  before  nightfall,  and  not 
kept  constantly  dripping  with  moisture.  If  needful  apply  an  insecticide, 
as  under  no  circumstances  must  red  spider,  thrips,  or  aphides  be  allowed 
to  make  headway.  Mulch  the  borders  with  some  partially  decayed 
manure,  but  not  more  than  an  inch  or  two  thick,  and  lumpy  rather  than 
such  as  when  wet  will  form  a  soapy  mass. 
- - 
HE  BEE-KEEPER. 
■  r- 1  - 1  -  T-v-n 
e;  /'/iJ 
Leaving  Supers  On  in  Winter. 
Is  it  an  advantage  to  leave  supers  on  the  hives  during  winter,  and 
not  remove  them  before  they  are  filled  the  following  summer  ?  This 
is  an  important  subject.  If  the  bees  do  equally  well  under  the  above 
conditions,  it  is  a  decided  advantage  to  nervous  bee-keepers  who 
have  a  difficulty  in  handling  their  bees,  as  the  sections  or  other  supers 
may  be  put  on  the  hives  in  the  summer.  Mr.  J.  Hiam,  on  page  517, 
is  favourably  impressed  with  this  system,  having  taken  off  “some 
beautifully  filled  sections  from  a  crate  left  on  all  the  winter.”  He  has 
his  doubts,  however,  whether  the  bees  worked  in  them  last  summer. 
If  they  did  not,  there  must  have  been  something  seriously  wrong  in 
their  management,  as  they  were  placed  on  the  hive  when  “  honey  was 
coming  in  fieely  from  the  Clover  harvest.”  If  they  were  only  partly 
filled  the  bees  would  carry  it  down  during  the  winter,  so  the  chances 
are  the  combs  would  be  drawn  out,  but  perfectly  empty  when  the 
bees  commenced  to  work  in  them  this  spring. 
We  have  tried  the  system  of  leaving  on  crates  of  sections  that 
were  not  properly  finished  off  many  times,  and  we  have  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  is  not  an  advantage  to  allow  them  to  remain  on 
the  hive  throughout  the  winter  and  during  the  following  spring.  The 
bees  will  not  cluster  in  the  supers,  and  the  consequence  is  there  is  an 
open  air  space  above  the  brood  nest  at  a  time  when  a  high  temperature 
in  the  hive  is  necessary  for  brood  rearing. 
An  Early  Crop  of  Honey. 
As  an  illustration  of  what  can  be  done  when  bees  are  well 
managed,  we  may  mention  an  instance  that  has  recently  come  under 
our  notice.  Before  those  lines  written  by  Mr.  J.  Hiam  appeared  in 
print  we  were  visiting  a  bee-keeper  in  North  Yorkshire,  who  received 
his  first  lesson  in  bee-keeping  from  us.  We  were  agreeably  surprised 
to  find  his  stocks  in  such  a  forward  condition.  His  best  stock  had 
three  crates  of  twenty-one  sections  each  on  it.  One  of  the  crates  of 
sections  was  well  finished  off,  another  nearly  so,  and  the  third  we  con¬ 
sidered  would  be  perfectly  sealed  over  in  three  days.  There  would  thus 
be  a  total  of  sixty-three  sections  from  one  colony.  This  is  remarkably 
good  for  so  early  in  the  season,  and  shows  what  may  be  done  under 
proper  management  in  the  county  of  broad  acres.  We  do  not  remember 
such  an  early  crop  of  honey  in  any  previous  season.  The  chief  sources 
were  the  Hawthorns  and  field  Beans.  The  hive  was  an  ordinary 
bar  frame  holding  ten  standard  sized  frames. 
The  bees  were  not  fed  last  autumn,  but  wintered  on  their  natural 
stores.  Sections  were  placed  on  the  hive  as  soon  as  the  bees  were 
considered  to  be  in  the  ri2ht  condition  for  receiving  them.  This 
prevented  them  swarming.  Other  frame  hives  were  in  good  condition, 
and  were  each  working  a  crate  of  sections  or  shallow  frames.  There 
had  not  been  any  swarms ;  although  a  stock  wintered  in  a  straw  skep 
was  kept  for  that  purpose,  they  had  not  at  that  date,  June  12th, 
swarrlied,  neither  had  there  been  any  surplus  stoied.  This  fact  shows 
that  under  good  management  bees  winter  equally  as  well  in  frame 
hives  as  they  do  in  straw  skep-'. — An  English  Bee-keepee. 
Gardeners’ Charitable  and  Provident  Institutions. 
The  Gaedeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution.  —  Secretary. 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  175,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — Secretary, 
Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Secretary,  Mr.  Brian  Wynne, 
8,  Danes  Inn,  Strand,  London,  W.C, 
