April  7,  1904. 
SOG  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
irerv  practical  character,  treating  with  planting,  training,  dis¬ 
budding,  varieties,  &c.  Although  the  paper  was  a  short  one, 
yet  a  very  animated  and  well-sustained  discussion  followed,  in 
which  Messrs.  Exler,  Bright,  Townsend,  Wilson,  Tunbridge,  Fry, 
Powell,  Judd,  House,  Neve,  Alexander,  and  the  president  took 
part.  The  exhibits  were  exceedingly  interesting:  Honorary,  a 
splendid  collection  of  Narcissi,  Hyacinths,  and  Tulips,  staged 
by  Mr.  F.  Lever,  Hillside  Gardens,  the  most  noticeable  varieties 
being  Emperor,  Empress,  Her  Ma.ie.sty,  Van  Zion,  Figaro,  Mrs. 
Langtry,  Maximus,  and  Horsefieldi  Narcissi;  Baron  de  Tuyll, 
Ija  Grandesse,  Norma,  Czar  Peter,  and  Grand  Maitre  Hyacinths ; 
Blanche  Hative,  Silver  King,  Crimson  Beauty,  Vermilion,  and 
Artus  Tulips.  Mr.  F.  W.  Exler,  East  Thorpe  Gardens,  had  a 
grand  batch  of  Cineraria  stellata ;  Mr.  H.  C.  Loader,  Holme 
Grange  Gardens,  superb  Princess  of  Wales  and  Marie  Louise 
Violets:  and  Mr.  A.  E.  Bailey,  Leopold  House  Gardens,  blooms 
of  Rhododendron  Veitchi.  For  the  certificates,  Mr.  H.  House, 
of  Oakfield  Gardens,  exhibited  a  well-grown  plant  of  Clivia,  and 
Mr.  S.  Ager,  of  Tidmarsh  Manor  Gardens,  bunches,  spray  and 
buttonhole  of  Princess  of  Wales  and  Marie  Louise  Violets.  The 
certificate  was  awarded  to  the  Violets.  Seven  new  members 
were  elected. 
The  Irish  Gardeners’  Association. 
Mr.  Alex.  Dickson  gave,  on  the  last  night  of  March,  which, 
by  the  way,  went  out  like  Taurus  lunaticus,  a  Rose  lecture  to 
the  members  of  the  above  society,  who  associated  in  full  force  to 
Nycterinia  selaginoides. 
hear  him.  It  was  premised  that  the  great  Irish  Rose  grower 
would  have  a  good  deal  to  say,  and  he  had,  and  he  said  it ; 
going  over  ground  covering  three  parts  of  the  globe,  and  time 
stretching  back  for  a  couple  of  thousand  years.  His  practical 
I>oints  on  planting  and  pruning  were  exhau, stive,  and  must  have 
satisfied  the  veriest  tyro,  but  it  was  a  matter  for  surprise  that 
he  should  give  away  so  generously  much  of  the  my.stery  and 
many  of  the  secrets  of  successful  hybridising,  and  Rose  raising 
generally,  considering  that  the  rising  generation  of  gardeners 
was  strongly  represented  by  our  lads  of  the  bothy.  Hence, 
whilst  predicting  a  marked  increase  in  the  sale  of  budding 
knives,  it  is  hoped  that  no  decrease  in  the  amount  from 
Newtonards  will  result,  for  if  such  should  occur,  in  spite  of  the 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  accorded  to  Mr.  Dickson,  he  would  have 
to  thank  himself. — K.,  Dublin. 
• - - - 
Nycterinia  selaginoides. — This  pretty  half-hardy  cnnu.al 
requires  no  introduction.  The  seedlings — from  seeds  sown  now 
— are  planted  out  in  beds  and  borders  at  the  end  of  May,  and 
the  plants  are  in  flower  during  June.  It  is  a  fi'ee-flo  wering 
compact  growing  plant,  and  very  suitable  for  edgings.  Tl. e 
terrible  “  new  ”  name  given  to  it — Zaluzian.skia  selaginoides — 
will  never  be  accepted  by  horticulturists. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
APRICOTS. — Trees  of  these  with  us  are  not  flowering  so 
fj-eely  as  usual.  This  is  owing  no  doubt  to  the  unfavourable 
weather  of  last  season,  causing  the  ivood  to  be  badly  ripened. 
Where,  however,  there  is  promi.se  of  a  heavy  crop,  and  the 
blossoms  are  unduly  crowded,  it  may  be  well  if  time  can  be 
found  to  remove  those  at  the  back  of  branches  on  some  of  the 
small  and  ill-placed.  It  wnli  be  necessary  to  protect  the  trees 
until  the  fruit  is  set.  Do  not  be  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  thin,  as 
sometimes  Apricots  swell  very  irregularly,  some  quickly  attain¬ 
ing  a  good  size,  and  others  remaining  stationary  and  ultimately 
falling. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES. — The  remarks  as  to  pro¬ 
tecting  Apricots  apply  equally  to  those  on  walls  outside.  Our 
trees  are  much  later  than  usual,  and  have  not  yet  needed  cover¬ 
ing,  but  double  fish  nets  will  be  placed  over  them  w'ithin  the 
next  two  or  three  days.  In  colder  districts  blinds  of  tiffany  or 
canvas  should  be  provided  either  on  rollers  or  so  arranged  that 
they  may  be  quickly  removed  in  the  daytime  or  replaced  during 
cold  storms  of  hail  and  sleet.  When  netting  is  used  care  ought 
always  to  be  taken  to  secure  this  from  bloiving  about,  as  in 
violent  winds  it  may  be  bloivn  against  the  trees,  and  dislodge 
many  flowers.  Commence  to  disbud  early.  In  removing  super¬ 
fluous  .shoots,  it  is  wi.se  to  begin  with  the  worst  placed,  gradually 
eliminating  those  not  required  until  just  sufficient  remain  for 
extending  the  trees  and  for  groivths  to  supply  the  succeeding 
season’s  crop  of  fruit.  Keep  up  a  sharp  ivatch  for  insect  pests, 
and  if  aphides  appear,  dust  the  portions  attacked  with  tobacco 
powder.  Immediately  the  fruit  is  set,  the  trees  may  be  dressed 
with  an  insecticide,  a  solution  of  quassia  and  tobacco  water 
being  excellent  for  the  purpose.  Early  action  in  this  matter 
will  frequently  go  a  long  way  towards  keeping  the  trees  clean 
throughout  the  season.  Be  prepared  to  apply  a  fungicide  in 
case  of  “  leaf  bli.ster,”  and  pick  off  the  worst  of  the  leaves  and 
burn  them  should  the  disease  become  prevalent. 
STRAWBERRIES. — Beds  of  these  that  have  been  pre¬ 
viously  forked  over,  and  had  all  deep  rooting  weeds  removed, 
should  now  be  Dutch  hoed  when  the  surface  of  the  soil  is  dry. 
When  the  proper  weather  conditions  prevail,  hoeing  should  be 
vigorously  pushed  on  throughout  the  whole  of  fruit  plantations, 
as  millions  of  small  weeds  ivill  now  be  pushing  through  the  soil. 
RECENTLY  PLANTED  TREES.— Those  planted  a  short 
time  ago  against  walls  should  not  at  once  be  nailed  or  tied  into 
position  ;  the  roots  and  soil  should  be  allowed  to  settle  before 
this  is  done.  A'oung  Apple  trees  that  have  not  long  been 
planted  may  now  have  the  young  branches  shortened,  removing 
from  a  third  to  one-half  according  as  the  p-rowths  are  strong 
or  weak.  Particularly  is  this  pruning  advisable  w'hen  fruit  buds 
have  formed  along  the  ends  of  the  shoots,  or  these  latter  are 
badly  ripened.  If  care  is  taken  in  disbudding,  so  that  only  a 
sufficient  number  of  growths  remain  to  ensure  the  proper  form 
of  the  trees,  much  after  pruning  will  be  saved,  and  this  will  be 
decidedly  to  their  benefit. 
BUSH  FRUITS.— A  heavy  dressing  of  dry  ashes  from  refuse 
fires  may  with  advantage  be  given  to  these,  adding  in  the  case 
of  Gooseberries  and  Currants  that  produce  weakly  growth  a 
good  mulching  of  short  manure.  The  fibrous  roots  of  Currants 
quickly  find  the  benefit  of  this.  Many  bushes  will  also  at  this 
season  derive  great  benefit  from  applications  of  liquid  manure. 
If  there  is  any  doubt  as  to  this  being  too  strong  add  an  equal 
part  of  clear 'water  before  applying.  A  heavy  mulching  of 
manure  should  also  be  afforded  to  Ra.spberries  if  from  any  cause 
they  have  not  already  received  attention  in  this  respect. — J.  M  ., 
Newent,  Glos. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
CHERRY"  HOUSE.— If  the  trees  are  heavily  laden  with  fruit, 
the  demand  for  nutriment  will  be  greater,  as  such  trees  will  be 
less  vigorous  than  those  with  few  fruits;  and  w'hilst  the  former 
will  be  benefited  by  the  application  of  liquid  manure,  the  latter 
should  have  clear  water  as  often  as  required  to  maintain  the 
soil  in  a  thoroughly  moist  condition.  Inside  borders  are  more 
suitable  fop  early  forcing  of  Cherry  and  other  fruit  trees  than 
outside  ones,  as  they  afford  a  better  temperature,  more  corre¬ 
sponding  to  that  of  the  house  or  that  in  which  the  trees  are 
growing,  rendering  the  progress  of  the  crop  more  certain  and 
satisfactory,  provided  due  regard  be  paid  to  the  affording  of 
needful  supplies  of  water.  Attend  to  ventilation  and  tempera¬ 
ture,  admitting  air  from  50deg,  and  liberally  at  65deg.  Syringe 
the  trees  twice  a  day,  and  keep  the  surface  of  the  border 
