273 
September  18,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
it.  iimpess'ible  for  the  vitiated  air  to  escape,  and  it  has  con¬ 
sequently  to  be  driven  out  by  the  bees.  With  plenty  of  air  under¬ 
neath.  suitable  warm  covering  above,  a  waterproof  roof,  and  the 
requisite  conditions  previously  mentioned,  stocks  will  require 
nothing  more  till  March,  except  an  occasional  examination  to 
ascertain  if  the  quilts  are  dry. — E.  E.,  Sandbaoh. 
workjopvthe  week,. 
Orchids — Tlie  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
Day  after  day  of  dull  and  wet  weather  is  net  at  all  to  the  liking 
of  heat-loving  Orchids,  such  as  Pha-lsenopsis,  for  no  matter  how 
good  the  heating  arrangements,  nothing  takes  the  place  cf  sun  as 
a  quickening  buoyant  agent  to  me  atmosphere.  We  can  only  do 
our  best,  and  that  consists  in  keeping  the  glass  scrupulously  clean 
inside  and  out,  and  allowing  sufficient  heat  on  the  pipes  to  enable 
the  ventilators  to  be  opened  daily.  The  plants  themselves,  too, 
must  be  frequently  sponged  to  remove  accumulations  of  dust  and 
enable  the  sensitive  leaves  to  carry  cut  their  proper  functions. 
The  roots  must  not  be  disturbed  now  further  than  to  remove 
any  of  the  surface  moss  that  has  grown  too  freely  during  the 
summer,  and  will  hold  too  much  moisture  in  suspension  later  on 
in  the  season.  This  is  most'  safely  accomplished  by  the  hand. 
Some  growers  use  scissors  to  clip  it  off,  but  in  case  of  a  root  push¬ 
ing  upward,  as  often  happens,  this  would  be  likely  to  be  severed, 
and  a  check  to  the  plant  would  ensue.  In  other  cases  the  moss 
may  be  dead  or  decaying,  and  here  it  should  be  removed  and  its 
place  filled  with  new. 
The  Mexican  Lselias  are  many  of  them  growing  freely  and 
throwing  up  their  spikes.  Every  ray  of  sun  possible  should  be 
allowed  to  reach  them.  In  small  collections  where  only  a  few 
plants  of  each  species  are  grown  these  may  be  taken  to  the 
Cattleya.  house  and  suspended  in  the  lightest  part  of  it  close  to 
the  glass,  but  when  a  house  or  compartment  is  set  aside  for  their 
reception  then  the  best  must  be  done  by  elevating  the  specimens 
on  pots  inverted,  and  allowing  all  the  room  possible  between  them. 
L.  majalis  will  by  now  have  had  a  good  turn  in  the  open  air,  and 
should  be  brought  in  and  hung  up  in  the  sunniest  position  and 
kept  well  on  the  dry  side. 
L.  autuinnalis  and  L.  anceps  are  very  similar  plants  in  appear¬ 
ance  and  requirements  ;  they  are  both  needing  moisture  in  medium 
supply,  and  considerable  watchfulness  must  be  practised,  else  slugs 
and  small  snails  will  make  havoc  of  the  spikes.  A  more  difficult 
plant  to  manage  is  the  refined  and  charming  L.  albida.  In  treat¬ 
ing  this  Orchid  I  have  always  found  it  best  to  let  it  have  its  head, 
and  not  attempt  either  to  force  it  to  grow  or  to  rest  when  its 
inclinations  seem  to  run  in  the  opposite  direction.-  -H.  R.  R. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Ol  TDOOR  VINES. — Vines  on  outdoor  walls  and  trellises  that 
have  a  full  crop  of  bunches  should  not  be  allowed  to  have  such  an 
amount  of  crowded  growth  as  will  exclude  light  and  air  from  the 
interior,  these  conditions  being  necessary,  not  only  for  the  com¬ 
plete  ripening  and  finishing  of  the  crop,  but  also  for  the  ripening 
of  the  wood.  Black  Grapes  need  not  be  fully  exposed  to  the  sun, 
as  the  berries  colour  up  better  when  partially  shaded,  but  white 
Grapes  require  full  exposure,  and  this  should  be  secured  to  them. 
A  little  manipulation  of  the  growths  and  the  tying  back  of  any 
obstructing  leaves  will  afford  the  exposure  necessary.  Young 
canes  necessary  for  next  year’s  cropping  should  be  laid  in,  and 
very  little  superfluous  wood  ought  to  be  allowed.  As  a  help 
towards  finishing  off  the  crop  give  a  little  extra  sustenance  to  the 
roots,  weak  liquid  manure,  guano,  soot  water,  or  artificial 
manure  providing  suitable  food.  Should  the  border  prove  to  be 
very  dry,  it  is  desirable  to  moisten  it  thoroughly  with  clear  water. 
The  sudden  moistening,  however,  of  a  dry  border  may  cause  the 
berries  to  crack  owing  to  the  increased  flow  of  the  sap.  This 
emphasises  the  importance  of  maintaining  regular  moisture 
throughout  the  growing  season.  A  light  mulching  cf  manure  is 
of  great  assistance  in  maintaining  equable  moist  conditions. 
BLACKBERRIES.—1 The  new  canes  have  grown  vigorously, 
and  of  considerable  length,  but  only  the  strongest  should  be 
retained,  spacing  them  cut  on  the  trellis  in  order  that  they  may 
become  thoroughly  ripened.  When  the  crop  of  fruit  has  all  been 
gathered,  there  is  no  further  need  of  the  bearing  growths,  and 
they  may.  therefore,  be  cut  out,  which  will  afford  additional  space. 
The  extreme  tips  of  the  long  growths  can  be  removed.  Further 
shortening  should  be  carried  out"in  winter,  when  the  canes  may 
be  pruned  back  to  ripe  parts. 
APPLES  AND  PEARS.— The  whole  of  the  early,  and  many  of 
the  midseason  varieties  of  Apples  and  Pears  may  be  completed 
gathering  now,  Blustering  winds  of  extra  force  often  occur  about 
this  period,  and'  the  result  is  seen  in  the  wholesale  fall  of 
varieties  just  commencing  to  ripen.  Fruit  which  falls  pre¬ 
maturely  owing  to  grubs  in  them,  or  fallen  fruit  cf  any  descrip¬ 
tion,  should  be  picked  up,  utilising  the  best,  and  destroying  the 
rest.  Fruit  in  store  must  be  looked  over  frequently.  Appar¬ 
ently  good  fruit  is  found  commencing  tc  decay,  and  requires  removal 
before  it  contaminates  other  specimens.  A  few  samples  of  bruised 
fruit  may  accidentally  have  been  introduced,  and  should  not 
remain. — East  Kent. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES.— MIDSEASON  HORSES.— Where  the  Grapes  are 
still  hanging  careful  attention  must  be  given  to  the  ventilation, 
a  little  air  being  admitted  constantly,  and  in  cold  damp  weather 
a  gentle  warmth  in  the  hot -water  pipes,  so  as  to  ensure  a  circula¬ 
tion,  cr  prevent  the  atmosphere  becoming  stagnant  and  moisture 
being  deposited  on  the  berries.  When  the  atmosphere  is  properly 
aerified  Grapes  will  become  raisins  before  they  will  decay, 
provided  care  be  taken  to  promptly  remove  any  berries  that  show 
indications  of  decomposition.  A  moderately  moist  condition  at 
the  roots  is  necessary  to  preserve  the  plumpness  of  the  berries, 
and  will  not  do  any  harm  while  the  Vines  have  leaves  in  a  more 
or  less  active  state.  Laterals  should  be  kept  well  in  hand,  and 
even  reduced  when  growth  ceases. 
Vines,  from  which  the  Grapes  have  been  cut  may  now  be 
divested  of  their  laterals  down  to  the  principal  buds,  even  shorten¬ 
ing  the  bearing  shoots  to  a  joint  or  two  above  the  pruning  buds, 
which  will  tend  to  plump  the  basal  ones,  and  the  storing  of  matter 
of  a  nutrient  nature  in  the  adjacent  wood.  A  free  circulation  of 
air  is  necessary,  and  in  the  case  of  young  Vines,  or  where  there- is 
the  least  doubt  about  the  thorough  ripening  of  the  growths,  fire 
heat  will  be  necessary.  When  indications  of  the  maturing  of  the 
foliage  is  manifest,  top-dressing  is  best  effected,  or  even  earlier 
when  the  Vines  are  weak  and  unsatisfactory.  If  the  roots  are 
active  at  the  surface,  in  the  old  mulching  or  ton-dressing,  it  will 
only  be  necessary  to  remove  the  loose  material  and  give  a  top¬ 
dressing  of  turfy  loam  with  a  fifth  of  sweetened  manure  and  a 
sprinkling  of  honemeal  two  parts,  and  one  of  sulphate  of  potash, 
mixed,  and. about  4oz  per  square  yard,  or  the  advertised  fertilisers 
will  answer  a  similar  purpose,  that  of  supplying  phosphatic  and 
potassic  matter  to  the  soil.  If  the  roots  have  net  penetrated  the 
mulching,  remove  the  soil  down  to  them  and  supply  fresh  compost, 
but  not  covering  them  deeply.  2  or  3in  is  sufficient,  taking  the 
opportunity  to  lift  any  that  are  deep  and  lay  them  in  fresh 
material  nearer  the  surface.  A  moderate  watering  will  be  needed 
in  the  case  of  inside  borders,  but  outside  ones  will  rarely  need  it 
at  this  season,  and  after  they  have  had  the  benefit  cf  the  October 
rains  a  covering  of  leaves  and  a  little  litter  over  them  will  be  all 
that  is  needed  to  exclude  frost,  which  is  important  for  Vines 
started  while  severe  weather  prevails.  In  the  case  of  borders 
only  partly  made,  a  breadth /of  2ft  may  be  added  to  the  front, 
choosing  dry  weather  for  the  operation  and  putting  the  materials 
together  firmly. 
YOUNG  VINES. — Those  planted  this  spring  or  early  in  the 
summer  will  need  every  encouragement  in  keeping  the  foliage 
clean  and  healthy,  also  keep  the  laterals  away  from  the  principal 
leaves  in  order  that  they  may  have  due  exposure  to  the  air  and 
light,  especially  those  at  the  base  of  the  canes,  so  that  the  buds  to 
which  the  Vines  are  to  be  pruned  may  be  thoroughly  matured, 
and  the  wood  well  ripened.  In  order  to  insure  the  ripening  of 
the  wood  maintain  a  genial  warmth  in  the  hot  water  pipes  by  day 
with  moderate  ventilation,  and  throw  the  house  open  at  night, 
except  when  frost  prevails. — St.  Albans. 
Trade  Notes. 
The  Bulb  Catalogues. 
Messrs.  Ware,  Limited,  of  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Feltham, 
have  issued  their  autumn  bulb  and  plant  catalogue,  which  is 
found  to  be  replete  with  good  lists.  Their  tuberous  Begonias 
at  Bexley  Heath  are  in  full  bloom,  and  well  worthy  of  a  visit. 
Once  again  our  pile  cf  new  bulb  catalogues  has  risen  to  over 
a  foot  in  height  cn  the  shelf  assigned  to  them.  First  to  hand 
came  Ant.  Rooz?n  and  Sons’  (general  agents  for  Great  Britain. 
Messrs.  Mertens  and  Co.,  3,  Cross  Lane,  St.  Mary-at-Hill, 
London,  E.C.),  which  we  think  is  a  useful  catalogue  for  all 
gardeners,  containing  as  it,  does  important  cultural  notes,  with 
good  lists  and  descriptions,  not  only  of  Dutch,  but  also  of  Capo 
bulbs.  Some  hardy  herbaceous  plants  are  also  included.  Of  home 
bulb  lists,  those  of  Messrs.  Sutton,  Veitch,  Webb,  Clibran,  Dick¬ 
sons,  Limited,  Barr  and  Sens,  Pearsons,  and  R.  H.  Bath.  Limited, 
are  well  arranged  and  thoroughly  representative.  Messrs. 
Hogg  and  Robertson’s  is  very  interesting,  and  E.  P.  Dixon  and 
Sens,  of  Hull,  include  coloured  illustrations  in  their  list. 
