150 
JOURNAL  ON  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  18,  19C4. 
S  WOKK.foi\.theV 
/EE 
• 
8 
& 
Fruit  Forcing. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES:  EARLIEST  HOESE.— 
Whei'e  the  shoots  reserved  at  the  base  of  the  present  bearing 
wood  are  sufficiently  started,  they  should  be  tied  down,  so  as 
to  give  them  the  desired  inclination,  taking  care  not  to  bring 
them  too  sharply  to  the  branches,  nor  endeavour  to  tie  them 
until  they  are  sufficiently  advanced  to  allow  of  the  operation 
being  performed  without  snapping  off  their  points.  The  terminal 
growths  of  leading  branches  should  be  trained  in  their  full  length, 
pinching  the  laterals  to  one  leaf  as  produced.  Growths  for  fur¬ 
nishing  branches  also  require  to  be  ti’ained  in  without  stopping, 
tying  and  regulating  them  as  they  advance,  in  doing  which  leave 
plenty  of  room  for  the  swelling.  In  laying  in  young  growths 
from  extensive  branches  allow  a  distance  of  12in  to  15in  between 
them,  so  that  the  foliage  will  receive  plenty  of  light  and  air. 
Shoots  retained  to  attract  the  sap  to  the  joint  must  be  kept 
closely  pinched  to  one  loaf  after  they  have  previously  been  stopped 
at  the  third  joint  or  to  that  witli  a  good  leaf. 
MAKE  AN  EXAMINATION  OP  THE  BORDER  every  fort¬ 
night  or  three  weeks,  not  being  deceived  by  the  surface  looking 
wet  from  syringing,  and  supply  water  or  liquid  manure  to  weakly 
trees  thoroughly  whenever  required.  This  procedure  is  better 
than  having  stated  times  for  watering,  for  needless  supplies  of 
either  water  or  liquid  manure  only  tend  to  make  the  soil  sodden 
and  sour,  while  neglect  of  affording  moisture  retards  growth 
Bruce’s  Flower  Holder,  No.  i. 
and  favours  attacks  of  red  spider.  Syringe  the  trees  in  the 
morning  and  afternoon  to  keep  this  Tiest  in  subjection,  and  for 
it  and  aphides  apply  an  insecticide — petroleum  emulsion  properly 
diluted  being  effective  and  safe.  The  temperature  should  be 
maintained  at  GOdeg  to  Godeg  by  artificial  means,  a  fall  to  bodeg 
on  cold  mornings  being  much  better  for  the  trees  than  sharp 
firing,  which  only  induces  attenuated  growths  and  favours  insects. 
TREES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.— These  will  now 
require  attention  in  disbudding,  doing  it  gradually,  removing 
the  strongest  and  ill-placed,  retaining  a  good  growth  at  the  base 
of  each  current  bearing  branch,  and  a  shoot  on  a  level  with  or 
above  the  fruit.  Thinning  the  fruits  must  al.'^o  be  attended  to* 
where  too  thickly  placed,  by  first  removing  the  smaller  and  those 
on  the  under  side  of  the  branches;  but  avoid  wholesale  thinning 
and  disbudding,  proceeding  on  the  principle  of  a  little  and  often. 
A  temperature  of  55deg  at  night  in  cold  weather,  GOdeg  when 
mild,  GOdeg  to  Godeg  by  day  artificially,  advancing  to  70deg  to 
75deg  from  sun  heat,  and  free  ventilation  from  Godeg.  Syringing 
the  trees  must  be  practised  morning  and  afternoon,  except  when 
the  weather  is  dull,  when  an  occasional  syringing  and  damping 
of  the  paths  and  borders  in  the  morning  and  early  afternoon 
will  be  sufficient. 
LATE  HOUSES. — The  bud.s  on  these  are  much  too  forward 
where  the  roof  lights  are  fixed,  there  being  quite  a  fortnight 
difference  between  them  and  those  which  have  been  exposed 
since  the  fall  of  the  leaf.  All  pruning  and  readjustment  of  the 
trees  on  the  trelli.ses  must  be  completed  without  delay.  Where 
the  lights  are  off  they  need  not  be  replaced  until  the  buds  .show 
colour.  In  other  cases  ventilate  freely,  merely  excluding  frost, 
or  not  that,  as  the  buds  take  no  harm  until  they  are  swelled  so 
as  to  show  pink  or  red.  The  pi'uning  must  be  completed  in  the 
case  of  trees  in  unheated  houses  before  the  buds  are  muth  ad¬ 
vanced  and  swelling,  and  they  cannot  be  kept  too  cool,  as  late 
blossoming  is  an  important  matter,  the  spring  frosts  and  dull 
weather  at  the  time  of  setting  often  i^roving  disastrous  to  the 
crop.  Indeed,  unheated  houses  are  not  advisable,  especially  in 
cold  localities.  Fixed  roofs  are  a  still  greater  mistake,  as  the 
blossoms  come  on  too  rapidly  in  seasons  like  this,  and  they  often 
have  to  struggle  with  a  close,  moist  atmosphere  and  a  low  tem¬ 
perature  when  they  should  be  setting.  A  little  heat  during 
flowering  does  much  towards  ensuring  a  good  .set,  and  in  late 
.summer  a  gentle  artificial  heat  does  much  in  ripening  the  fruit 
and  maturing  the  wood.  Examine  the  borders,  making  .sure 
that  there  is  no  lack  of  moisture.  If  the  soil  has  left  the  walls 
loosen  it  with  a  fork  and  close  the  inter-stices  so  as  to  make  the 
water  go  through  all  parts  of  the  borders,  and  thoroughly  moisten 
them  from  the  surface  down  to  the  drainage. 
LATE  VINERIES.  —  The  mild  weather  has  not  made  much 
difference  in  the  trees,  they  appearing  to  take  what  they  are 
all  the  better  for,  namely,  a  period  of  apparently  complete  rest. 
Avoid  dryness  at  the  roots,  affording  thoi’ough  supplies  of  water 
or  liquid  manui'e,  not,  however,  making  the  soil  sodden  by 
needless  applications.  Where  the  roof  lights  have  been  removed 
the  borders  will  have  Ijeen  well  moistened  by  the  recent  rains. 
Ventilation  will  be  nece.s.sary  to  the  fullest  extent,  so  as  to 
keep  back  the  blo.ssoms,  and  the  roof  lights  should  remain  off 
until  the  flowers  are  emerging  from  their  scaly  covering,  and 
not  theii  safe  front  fro.st. — G.  A.,  St.  Albans,  Herts. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
PARSNIPS  AND  CARROTS. — The  main  crop  of  these 
should  now  l)e  sown  as  the  soil  becomes  dry.  But  better  defer 
this  for  a  week,  or  even  a  fortnight,  than  to  sow  while  the. 
soil  is  wet  and  cold.  The  soil  is  at  present  in  a  vei’y  w:et  and 
cold  condition,  which  will  necessitate  extra  care  and  watchful¬ 
ness.  A  slight  pointing  over  will  be  of  great  service  in 
bringing  the_.soil  into  good  tdth.  The  seed  will  require  to  be 
sown  a  littl^  more  thickly  than  usual,  on  account  of  the  wet 
harvests  of  last  year,  many  of  the  seeds  being  weak  or  sterile. 
PRICK  OFF  CAULIFLOWERS.~The,se  should  not  be 
allowed  to  become  drawn  and  weakly  in  the  seed  pans  or  boxes. 
’Ihey  should  be  plucked  off  into  other  boxes  or  frames  as  soon 
as  large  enough  to  handle.  It  is  not  necessary  to  wait  for  the 
second  leaf  before  this  is  done.  They  will  need  a  little  care  in 
shading  and  watering.  Use  tepid  water. 
LETTUCES. — These  u'ill  also  require  attention.  They 
should  be  ^nicked  off  into  shallow  frames,  placed  on  a  mild 
hotbed,  or,  failing  this,  prick  off  into  boxes  and  place  these 
in  a  house  near  the  roof  glass.  Avoid  a  high  temiierature. 
This  also  apirlies  to  the  Cauliflower. 
HERBS. — It  is  now  a  good  time  to  sow  many  kinds  of  these 
in  boxes.  Herbs  are  often  much  more  succe.ssfully  raised  in 
boxes  placed  in  cool  frames  than  when  sown  later  on  the  cold 
soil. 
PEAS. — Another  sowing  of  second  early  Peas  may  be  made 
at  the  end  of  the  month.  See  that  the  .soil  is  in  good  condition. 
Open  the  drill  on  a  warm,  dry  morning,  if  possible. 
SEAKALE  AND  RHUBARB.— More  of  these  should^  be 
covered  to  succeed  that  covered  some  weeks  since.  The 
material  irsed  for  the  earlie.st  supplies  will  afford  sufficient  heat 
to  bring  this  late  lot  on  sufficiently .  fast.  The  pots  mu.st  not 
be  taken  off  that  ju.st  forced.  The  lids  may  be  kept  off  in  the 
daytime,  but  replaced  on  frosty  nights. 
