February  4,  19C4. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
103 
this  generous  system  of  culture  was  of  the  first  size,  colour,  and 
quality.  The  hack  walls  of  the  house.s  are  covered  with  Figs 
which,  receiving  abundance  of  light,  thrive  satisfactorily. 
“The  varieties  of  Peaches  and  a  few  Nectarines  which  are" 
found  to  give  a  long  succession  of  superior  fruit  at  Wilton  are 
the  following,  which  ripen  somewhat  in  the  order  named.  Farly 
house:  Early  Beatrice,  Early  Louise,  Hales’  hlarly,  Dr.  Hogg, 
Grosse  Mignonne,  Stirling  Ca.stle,  with  Rivers’  Early  Orange  and 
Elruge  Nectarines.  Second  house:  Royal  George,  Noblesse, 
Exquisite,  Barrington,  Walburton  Admirable,  with  Violette 
Hative,  Pine  Apple,  and  Victoria  Nectarines. 
“  As  affording  a  better  idea  than  can  be  conveyed  in  writing 
of  the  trellis  arrangement  in  the  houses  in  ciue.stion,  a  figure 
is  introduced  of  tlie  end  division.  The  top  ventilating  gear  on 
the  north  side,  which  is  not  shown,  being  similar  to  that  on 
the  south  side.  The  hot-air  pipes  and  perforated  ventilators  are 
shown  at  back  and  front,  and  the  arrangements  will  now  be 
comprehended.  The  walls  are  of  cement.  The  method  of 
glazing  is  given  except  tlie  indentations  in  the  clips  for  forming 
the  points  on  -which  the  glass  rests,  instead  of  one  pane  resting 
on  the  other.  This  is  a  simple  but  important  feature  for  the 
reasons  above  stated.  The  whole  of  fhe  work  was  executed  by 
workmen  on  the  estate,  with  the  exception  of  the  heating,  which 
was  satisfactorily  performed  by  Messrs.  Weeks  and  Co.,  simply 
by  an  addition  of  pipes  to  the  apparatus  arranged  formerly  by 
them.” 
Vegetable  Notes, 
Globe  Artichokes:  Spring  Planting. 
In  the  vegetable  garden  in  summer  and  autumn  the  Globe 
Artichoke  plays  an  important  imrt  in  the  daily  service  to  the 
kitchen.  In  order  to  maintain  this  supply  an  effort  must  be 
made  to  provide  that  at  least  a  portion  of  the  bed  be  youth¬ 
ful  ;  that  is  to  say,  an  annual  course  of  planting  is  distinctly 
necessary.  Old  stools  in  their  struggle  with  the  vicissitudes  of 
wunter  often  make  a  poor  effort  to  grow  wdien  spring  comes 
round,  even  if  they  survive  the  oi'deal,  which  they  often  do  not. 
In  young  plants  there  is  greater  vigour — and  there  cannot  be 
too  much  in  reason — and  a  constitution  that  can  endure  the 
rigours  of  winter,  and  assume  strong  leaf  growth  wdth  the 
advent  of  spring  that  may  be  relied  on  to  give  heads  for  the 
dining  room  in  greater  or  less  regularity,  according  to  the 
numbers  grown.  A  point  of  importance  we  find  in  keeping  up  a 
healthy  stock  is  to  change  the  site  often.  Fresh  soil  is  a  great 
power  in  the  growth  of  any  kind  of  fruit  or  vegetable,  and 
though  this  is  so  well  remembered  and  acted  upon  with  so 
many  vegetables,  it  appears  to  be  often  overlooked  as  affecting 
Globe  Artichokes. 
It  is  at  the  same  time  quite  true  that  while  these  grow 
with  freedom,  and  give  no  particular  trouble  in  the  regularity 
of  their  crops  in  some  soils,  in  others  it  is  absolutely  essential 
that  the  stocks  bo  periodically  removed  to  fresh  ground  and  new 
.sites.  It  does  not  repay  the  trouble  to  replant  on  the  same 
ground,  making  up  losses  that  may  occur  from  year  to  year. 
That  is  not  sufficient,  and  those  who  in  the  past  have  depended 
on  material  from  becls  so  long  retained  wall  find  matters  much 
simplified  if  the  change  of  routine  outlined  here  is  acted 
upon. 
From  spring  planted  stock  we  have  found  an  unusually  good 
autumn  yield  of  fleshy  heads,  and  for  pheasant  shooting  parties 
in  November  these  come  in  very  serviceable  for  a  change  of 
dish.  Seed  raising  is  an  easy  matter;  quite  strong  plants  may 
be  had  in  a  season  from  a  spring  sowing,  but  the  almost  in¬ 
variable  rule  is  that  they  di.sappoint.  They  give  the  small,  close- 
pointed  heads  which  the  chef  favours  not,  nor  cares  to  u.se. 
Once  there  is  a  stock  of  the  true  Globe,  weed  out  all  inferior 
plant.s,  so  that  they  cannot  be  extended  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
better  strain. 
For  the  winter’s  protection  a  varied  practice  obtains;  some 
will  use  straw  litter,  others  leaves,  bracken  fern,  or  house 
ashes  sifted.  The  last-named  are  jDarticularly  useful  to  protect 
the  roots  and  crowns  of  the  plants,  because  they  are  porous, 
and  thus  do  not  retain  undue  moisture,  and  they  are  to  a  large 
degree  non-conducting,  thus  retaining  soil  warmth  and  staying 
the  action  of  frost.  Leaves  packed  up  around  them  and  lightly 
covered  to  prevent  disturbance  by  the  wind  is  a  first-rate  pro¬ 
tection  for  anything  tender. 
In  planting  them  a  single  crown  with  rootstock,  when  given 
an  open  station,  well-manured  and  deeply  dug  soil,  soon  increase 
in  size,  particularly  if  attended  in  accordance  with  the  nature 
of  the  season.  Last  year  the  excess  of  rain  and  absence  of 
droughty  soils  made  an  ideal  state  for  the  progress  of  newly 
planted  stock. — W.  S. 
Figs  under  Glass. 
At  wide  intervals  during  recent  years  I  hav'e  sent  to  the 
Journal  of  Horticulture  brief  seasonable  notes  on  big  cultiux'. 
under  glass.  This  I  propose  continuing,  as  though  houses  of 
Fig  trees  are  not  found  in  every  gardening  establishment,  theii' 
cultivation  is  sufficiently  extensive  to  make  the  observations  of 
value.  Obviously  general  details  cannot  be  afforded  unless  a 
series  of  articles  be  given,  and  these  might  not  have  the  .same 
value  as  concentrated  hints. 
Earliest  Trees  In  Pots. 
The  trees  that  were  started  in  December  being  now  in  full 
growth,  the  points  of  the  shoots  must  be  pinched  out  when 
they  have  made  about  five  good  leaves.  Where  the  stopping 
is  likely  to  produce  a  crowded  habit  growths  not  recjuirecl^  should 
be  rubl>ed  off  wdiilst  cpiite  small.  A  temperature  of  55deg  to 
GOdeg  at  night,  GSdeg  by  day,  advancing  to  TOdeg  with^  sun 
heat,  closing  early,  and  allowing  an  advance  to  SOdeg  or  Sodeg, 
is  suitable  for  the  present.  When  the  weather  is  dull  afford 
a  slight  increase  of  heat  in  the  early  part  o^  the  clay,  so  as  to 
admit  of  a  little  ventilation,  if  only  for  an  hour  or  two,  to 
effect  a  change  of  atmosphere  and  induce  sturdy  growth.  The 
bottom  heat  should  be  kept  steady  at  70deg  to  75cleg,^  intro¬ 
ducing  fresh  .sweetened  leaves  and  litter  as  necessary.  Syringe 
frecpiently  to  keep  the  trees  free  from  red  spider,  and  always 
sufficiently  early  to  allow  the  foliage  to  become  dry  befoi-e 
night. 
Early  Trees  in  Borders. 
The  trees  .started  at  the  new  year  have  commenced  growth, 
and  the  temperature  slightly  raised.  A  warmth  of  55deg  will 
be  suitable  at  night,  and  GOdeg  to  G5deg  by  day,  with  a  rise 
to  70deg  or  75deg  from  sun  heat,  and  a  free  circulation  of  air, 
as  a  drawn  and  weakly  growth  cannot  afterwards  be  rectified, 
and  must  be  avoided  by  free  ventilation  on  all  favouiable 
occasions,  striving  to  secure  a  .sturdy,  short-jointed  wood  from 
the  commencement.  Syringe  the  trees  twice  a  day  on  fine  days, 
but  when  dull,  morning  syringing  will  be  sufficient.  The  border 
will  require  copious  supplies  of  tepid  liquid  manure,  or  water¬ 
ing  through  a  mulch  of  lumpy  manure  not  over  2in  in  thick¬ 
ness,  so  as  to  allow  the  roots  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  air. 
Avoid,  however,  making  the  trees  exuberant,  as  that  is  fatal 
to  fruitfulness.  In  order  to  secure  the  free  and  certain  swelling 
of  the  first  crop  of  fruit  keep  the  growths  somevdiat  closely 
pinched— say  at  the  fifth  leaf— and  rub  off  side  growths  not 
required  to  "occupy  vacant  space,  or  to  form  the  so-called  .spurs. 
Second  Early  Border  Trees. 
The  house  to  afford  fruit  at  the  end  of  June  or  early  in  July 
may  now  be  started.  The  trees  will  affoi’d  a  second  ciop  of  fiuit 
in  September,  which  will  be  very  acceptable.  If  the  tiees  have 
not  had  the  old  bare  growths  cut  out,  so  as  to  leave  the  suc- 
cessional  wood  with  its  terminals  for  furnishing  the  first  crop, 
and  been  dressed  with  an  insecticide,  these  matters  must  have 
immediate  attention.  The  border  should  be  brought  into  a 
thoroughly  moist  state  by  repeated  watering,  if  necessary,  witli 
tiGpicl  oi*  Avli0rG  tli©  borders  tire  snA<tll  uncL  tlio  tioos  liiigG 
liquid  manure  may  be  supplied.  Syringe  the  tree,s  twice^  a  day  in 
brio-ht  Aveather,  occasionally  only  when  dull,  but  damp  the  floors 
ancf  borders  so  as  to  secure  a  genial  atmosphere.  A  temperature 
of  50deg  at  night  and  55deg  by  day  artificially  is  sufficient  to 
commence  with,  advancing  to  Godeg  from  sun  heat,  with  a  tree 
circulation  of  air. — Grower. 
Some  Notes  on  Grape  Culture. 
In  a  lecture  delivered  before  the  Woolton  (Liverpool) 
Hardeners’  Society,  Mr.  Lambert,  Bromborough  Hall  Gardens, 
lealt  with  the  site  of  vineries  as  regards  altitude,  and  claimed 
hat  an  elevated  position  should  be  chosen,  ivliich  would  facilitate 
Iraiiiao-e,  and  protection  in  some  measure  from  frost.  Care 
hould^aiso  be  taken  not  to  erect  vineries,  where  possible,  in 
lear  proximity  to  large  trees,  and  the  position  chosen  rcspect- 
no-  the  aspect  should  be  south  or  south-western.  Ihe  different 
tvles  of  vineries  he  next  brought  before  his  audience,  and 
idvocated  the  “  lean-to  ”  for  early  work,  both  as  regards  pot 
I’^ines  and  those  planted  out. 
For  succession  houses  “lean-tos”  should  be  built  of  larger 
limemsions.  For  midsea.son  Grapes  he  contended  that  the  span- 
