328 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  14,  1904. 
from  the  Poplar  Borough  Council  agreeing  to  maintain  All 
Saints,  Poplar,  churchyard  when  laid  out  by  the  association,  and 
it  was  decided  to  take  steps  for  carrying  out  this  desirable 
scheme,  and  raising  the  money  required.  Suggestions  were 
made  respecting  the  churchyards  of  St.  John’s,  Wapping,  and 
St.  Mary’s  'Whitechapel,  as  suitable  for  conversion  into  public 
gardens,  and  it  was  decided  to  I'enew  the  efforts  made  on  pre¬ 
vious  occasions  to  secure  these  grounds  for  this  purpose. 
It  was  agreed  to  oppose  the  Bill  to  be  introduced  by  the 
Board  of  Education  for  acquiring  the  interesting  Wycliffe  v^uapel 
and  its  large  graveyard,  Phillip  Street,  Stepney,  for  the  purposes 
of  the  London  School  Board,  and  the  Liverpool  and  Wigan 
Churches  Bill,  which  seeks  power  as  regards  some  eight  or  nine 
disused  churchyards,  to  override  the  public  law  against  building 
on  such  grounds.  It  was  agreed  to  express  the  approval  of  the 
association  to  the  Bill  introduced  by  the  Board  of  Agriculture 
for  the  much-needed  consolidation  of  the  Open  Spaces  Acts,  and 
to  suggest  certain  amendments. 
In  response  to  an  application  from  the  Islington  Borough 
Council,  it  was  agreed  to  render  assistance  in  the  laying  out  of 
the  Norfolk  Square  area,  which  will  provide  a  lung  in  a  crowded 
part  of  the  borough.  Amongst  a  variety  of  proposals  under 
consideration  were  the  preservation  from  buildings  of  an  island 
opposite  Kew  Gardens,  the  opening  of  Golden  Square  and  of 
Vincent  Square  during  summer  evenings,  the  extension  of 
Hampstead  Heath,  window  gardening  in  Spitalfields,  the  erec¬ 
tion  of  drinking  fountains,  the  propagation  of  a  variety  of  Poplar 
tree  no  longer  obtainable,  and  tree  planting  in  Maida  Hill  West. 
Theale  and  District. 
A  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday  evening.  Mr.  E.  Blatch 
presided,  and  a  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  W.  Bazeley,  of  Twyford, 
entitled  “A  Chat  on  Orchids.”  A  good  discussion  followed, 
in  which  the  following  members  took  part — Messrs.  E.  Blatch, 
J.  Young,  A.  A.  Harrison,  R.  H.  Tutty,  &c.  A  vote  of  thanks 
was  passed  to  Mr.  Bazeley. 
Croydon  and  District  Horticulturai. 
Roses  ”  was  the  subject  of  a  paper  read  before  the  members 
of  this  society,  at  their  room.  Sunflower  Temperance  Hotel, 
George  Street,  on  Tuesday,  April  5,  and  an  excellent  exponent 
was  found  in  Mr.  W.  Easlea,  Waltham  CrosSj  whose  experience 
gained  in  the  last  twenty-five  years  was  sufficient  to  recommend 
him  as  one  who  knew  what  he  was  talking  about.  A  good  deep 
strong  loam  he  recommended  as  the  ideal  soil  to  grow  them  in, 
and  where  not  naturally  existing,  should  be  made  up  by  deep 
trenching,  with  the  incorporation  of  fresh  yellow  loam  and  well 
turned  farmyard  manure.  The  planting  is  best  done  in  October 
and  November,  but  can  be  accomplished  in  February  and  March, 
or  even  to  the  middle  of  April. 
Wargrave  Gardeners’. 
Mr.  G.  Stanton,  of  Park  Place  Gardens,  read  an  interesting 
paper  before  the  members  at  the  last  meeting,  the  subject  being 
”  '\Vinter  and  Spring  Flower  Gardening.”  Reference  was  made 
to  the  late  Mr.  J.  Fleming,  at  one  time  head  gardener  at  Cleve- 
den,  who  originated  the  system  now  spoken  of  as  “  winter  and 
spring  bedding.”  Other  pioneers  of  the  system  were  Messrs. 
Win.  Ingram  and  Wm.  Wildsmith.  Mr.  Stanton’s  opinion  was 
that  winter  and  spring  gardening  had  not  improved  so  much  as 
some  other  branches  of  the  gardener’s  art.  He  divided  the 
plants,  Ac.,  suited  to  this  method  of  gardening  into  variegated, 
white  and  green  leaved,  yellow  and  golden  leaved,  red  and 
purple  leaved,  green  leaved,  annuals,  bulbs  and  specimen  shrubs, 
and  berried  plants,  and  gave  brief  cultural  directions  for  each 
kind.  A  useful  discussion  took  place,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
passed  to  Mr.  Stanton.  Mr.  Mackenzie  showed  a  collection  of 
spi-ing  flowers. 
Market  Gardeners’  Hailstorm  Insurance. 
The  ninth  annual  general  meeting  of  the  Nurserymen, 
Market  Gardeners’,  and  General  Hailstorm  Insurance  Corpora¬ 
tion,  Ltd.,  was  held  at  the  Registered  Office,  41  and  42,  King 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  on  Friday  last,  the  8th  inst.  The  chair¬ 
man,  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch,  presided  over  a  good  attendance  of 
shareholders.  The  premium  income  for  the  year  amounted  to 
£2,391  2s.  6d.  on  34,423,363  square  feet  of  glass.  The  interest 
and  ground  rents  from  investments  amounted  to  £542  18s.  Id. 
The  business  done  by  the  company  in  all  branches  showed  a  sati.s- 
factory  increase,  whilst  the  working  expenses  were  at  the  ratio 
of  £19  13s.  4d.  per  cent,  a  very  low  one  for  an  accident  insurance 
company.  A  dividend  of  5  per  cent.,  and  a  bonus  of  2J  per 
cent.,  was  declared,  free  of  income  tax;  £1,480  was  carried  to 
reserve  fund,  making  the  reserves  £7,500,  and  £506  2s.  2d.  was 
carried  forward.  The  shareholders  expressed  their  satisfaction 
at  the  continued  progress  and  the  economical  management  of 
the  busine.ss.  Seven  claims  were  paid  for  damage  done  by  hail 
during  the  year  in  six  different  counties. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
CUCUMBERS. — Instead  of  striving  to  renovate  plants  that 
have  been  in  bearing  all  the  winter,  it  has  become  a  practice  to 
uproot  them,  remove  all  the  old  soil,  thoroughly  cleanse  the 
house,  place  in  new,  sterilised  soil,  and  put  out  strong,  healthy, 
young  plants,  answers  admirably  for  large  establishments  and 
for  marketing  purposes.  But  many  home  growers  are  obliged 
to  make  .shift  with  the  old  plants  until  a  supply  can  be  had 
from  small  houses,  pits,  or  frames  that  cannot  be  utilised  for 
the  purpose  until  cleared  of  bedding  or  other  plants,  so  the 
winter  fruiters  have  to  be  kept  and  renovated  at  the  roots,  and 
that  without  prejudicing  the  successional  supply  of  fruit.  Stop¬ 
ping  and  training  and  cutting  out  old  growths  to  give  place 
for  young  and  fruitful  successional  shoots  must  be  followed  up, 
and  copious  waterings  given  as  necessary.  Assist  plants  in  full 
bearing  with  abundant  supplies  of  weak  liquid  manure,  and 
earth  the  roots  with  rich  warmed  compost  occasionally.  Damp 
the  floor  about  8  a.m.  and  3  p.m.,  the  foliage  being  syringed 
lightly  on  fine  afternoons,  and  keep  the  evaporation  troughs 
charged  with  guano  water  or  liquid  manure.  Shading  will  be 
most  needful  after  a  period  of  dull  weather  to  prevent  flagging, 
which  must  not  be  permitted. 
MELONS. — In  the  earliest  house  the  plants  are  swelling 
their  fruits  and  require  supports.  Remove  all  surplus  fruits 
and  all  flowers,  also  superfluous  shoots,  stopping  ancf  tying  the 
growths  as  necessary.  Afford  efficient  supplies  of  water,  giving 
liquid  manure  as  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  a  free  growth. 
Genial  atmospheric  moisture  must  be  maintained  by  damping 
in  the  morning  and  afternoon,  syringing  the  plants  lightly 
about  3  p.m.  on  bright  afternoons.  Later  plants  showing  fruit 
should,  unless  abundant  and  the  plants  vigorous,  have  the  first 
blooms  removed.  Secure  a  somewhat  high  temperature  and 
drier  atmosphere  during  the  setting,  only  affording  as  much 
moisture  as  will  prevent  flagging.  Stop  the  shoots  at  one  joint 
beyond  the  fruit,  but  employ  the  knife  as  little  as  possible 
during  the  setting  period.  In  pits  and  frames  ample  bottom 
heat  must  be  maintained,  observing  the  conditions  previously 
advised  during  the  setting.  'When  the  fruits  are  set  and 
swelling  they  should  be  placed  on  a  piece  of  slate.  If  canker 
appear  at  the  collar  rub  quicklime  into  the  affected  part  until 
quite  dry,  repeating  tnis  as  necessary. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES :  EARLIEST  HOUSE.— 
Where  such  varieties  as  Alexander,  Waterloo,  Duchess  of  Corn¬ 
wall,  Amsden  June,  Early  Louise,  and  Early  Rivers  Peaches, 
with  Cardinal  and  Early  Rivers  Nectarines  are  grown,  the 
stoning  process  will  be  over,  and  to  accelerate  the  ripening  they 
may  be  given  a  night  temperature  of  65deg,  but  falling  to  60deg 
on  cold  nights.  Admit  a  little  air  constantly.  Close  the  house 
at  80deg  sufficiently  early  to  allow  of  an  advance  to  85deg  or 
90deg,  the  trees  being  well  syringed  and  good  atmospheric 
moisture  secured.  Remove  the  leaves  over  or  in  front  of  the 
fruit,  and  turn  this  with  its  apex  to  the  light  by  thin  lathes 
placed  across  the  trellis.  Syringing  should  cease  when  the  fruit 
commences  ripening,  but  a  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere 
must  be  maintained  for  the  benefit  of  the  foliage  by  damping 
the  paths  and  borders  twice  a  day,  and  keeping  the  soil  properly 
moist. 
SECOND  HOUSE. — The  trees  in  the  structure  started  early 
in  January,  and  brought  forward  gently,  have  the  fruit  in  a 
forward  state,  the  disbudding  completed,  and  the  shoots  that 
are  to  follow  those  now  fruiting  laid  in.  Allow  plenty  of  room 
in  the  trees,  and  do  not  keep  them  closely  tied  down  for  some 
time  longer.  Permit  no  more  growths  to  remain  than  are 
necessary  for  next  year’s  fruiting,  or  for  the  extension  of  the 
trees.  Stop  gross  shoots  or  remove  them,  as  it  is  highly  impor¬ 
tant  the  sap  be  equally  distributed,  and  an  equality  of  vigoiu- 
maintained  through  the  branches  of  each  tree.  Pinch  laterah 
at  the  first  joint,  and  shoots  retained  to  attract  the  sap  to  the 
fruit  should  only  be  allowed  moderate  extension.  Endeavour 
to  maintain  an  equal  distribution  of  foliage  that  will  shade  and 
protect  the  strong  wood  from  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  as  rue 
season  advances.  Ventilate  freely,  but  carefully,  so  as  to  avoid 
cold  currents  of  air  and  sudden  depressions  of  temperature. 
Water  the  outside  borders  copiously,  and  keep  them  mulched 
with  sweet,  rather  lumpy  manure. 
TREES  STARTED  IN  FEBRUARY.— Examine  them  fre¬ 
quently  for  disbudding  ;  this  is  best  done  gradually,  the  strongest 
parts  of  the  trees  being  commenced  with.  As  the  fruit  is 
swelling  freely,  remove  those  worst  placed,  and  leave  only  a 
few  more  than  will  be  required  for  the  croj).  One  to  every 
square  foot  of  trellis  covered  by  the  trees  being  ample  for  the 
large  fruited  varieties,  and  one  to  every  9in  .square  for  tha 
