June  9,  190'^. 
JOUBNAL  OF  EOBTICULTUBE  AND  COTTAGE  GABDENEB. 
503 
excess  of  moisture  at  this  stage  has  a  tendency  to  cause  split¬ 
ting  at  the  stone.  Every  care  should  be  taken  to  secure  good 
finish. 
HOUSES  STARTED  IN  JANUARY.— Where  the  trees 
have  been  forced  for  several  years  consecutively  they  will  have 
the  fruit  in  the  condition  described  in  the  preceding  paragraph, 
but  where  they  are  forced  for  the  first  time,  or  have  progressed 
gently,  the  finest  fruits  will  now  be  ripening.  The  leaves  should 
be  turned  aside,  and  the  fruits  raised  on  laths  placed  across  the 
trellis,  and  secured  with  the  apexes  to  the  light.  This,  however, 
ought  to  have  been  effected  some  time  ago,  and  the  fruit  will, 
where  that  has  been  done,  now  have  attained  a  good  colour. 
If  the  weather  prove  dull  and  cold  gentle  fire  heat  will  be 
necessary  to  secure  a  circulation  of  air  constantly,  the  tem¬ 
perature  being  maintained  at  60deg  to  65deg  at  night  and 
70deg  to  75deg  by  day.  Cease  syringing  as  soon  as  the  fruit 
begins  to  ripen  or  soften,  and  take  care  to  have  the  foliage  free 
from  red  spider  before  the  syringing  ceases,  as  the  pest  other¬ 
wise  will  increase  so  rapidly  whilst  the  fruit  is  ripening  as  to 
seriously  jeopardise  future  crops.  See  that  there  is  no  deficiency 
of  moisture  in  the  border,  and,  if  necessary,  give  a  thorough 
.supply  of  water,  mulching  lightly  with  rather  short,  lumpy 
manure,  such  as  that  of  a  spent  Mushroom  bed,  or  partially 
decayed,  always  sweetened,  stable  litter  with  the  straw  shook 
out. 
SUCCESSION  HOUSES. — Hurrying  the  trees  during  the 
stoning  process  is  sometimes  fatal  to  the  fruit,  therefore  give 
time  for  this  most  exhausting  essential.  Allow  a  free  circulation 
of  air,  ventilating  early  in  the  morning,  and  close  in  the  after¬ 
noon,  with  abundance  of  atmospheric  moisture,  so  as  to  raise 
the  temperature  to  SOdeg  or  85deg,  and  ventilate  a  little  after¬ 
wards  for  the  night,  the  temperature  being  allowed  to  fall  to 
between  60deg  and  65deg.  This  must  only  be  practised  after 
the  stoning  is  completed,  as  a  close  atmosphere  has  a  tendency 
to  promote  grow'th,  and  is  not  favourable  to  that  process,  there¬ 
fore  avoid  undue  excitement  when  the  trees  are  in  that  condi¬ 
tion.  When  the  fruits  have  stoned  remove  all  superfluous 
fruits,  and  turn  the  others  with  their  apexes  to  the  light  to 
insure  colour  and  even  ripening  from  the  apex.  Allow  a  rather 
free  extension  of  the  laterals  as  an  encouragement  of  root 
action,  but  be  careful  not  to  crowd  the  principal  foliage,  and 
keep  insects  in  check  by  syringing  twice  a  day.  Give  thorough 
supplies  of  water  through  a  light  mulching  of  lumpy  manure, 
and  supply  weakly  trees  with  liquid  nourishment.  Vigorous 
trees  will  not  need  more  than  a  surface  mulching,  as  high 
feeding  will  only  cause  grossness,  which  must  be  avoided. — 
G.  A.,  St.  Albans,  Herts. 
The  Flower  Garden. 
CARPET  BEDDING. — The  weather  is  now  sufficiently  warm 
and  settled  to  render  it  safe  to  place  out  even  the  tendere.st  of 
the  ornamental  leaved  plants  employed  in  constructing  a  formal 
design.  Some  of  the  hardier  plants  will  have  been  established 
ere  this  in  their  positions,  but  it  is  not  too  late  to  plant  them 
now,  these  consisting  of  Echeverias,  Pyrethrum,  Herniaria 
glabra,  Antennaria  sempervivens,  while  those  remaining  to  place 
out  are  Alternaiitheras,  Iresines,  Mesembryanthemum  cordi- 
folium  variegatum  and  Coleus  Verschaffelti.  Plant  strong  plants 
closely  together,  and  they  will  soon  become  established,  and 
produce  an  effect  at  once.  After  insertion  the  beds  must  never 
suffer  for  want  of  moisture.  ^ 
WINDOW  BOXES. — The  furnishing  of  window  boxes  must 
be  effected  with  plants  in  bloom,  or  just  about  commencing. 
Drain  the  receptacles  with  a  few  crocks  and  a  good  proportion 
of  broken-up  turves  from  which  the  loose  soil  has  been  shaken. 
The  compost  should  be  good  and  substantial,  so  that  the  vigour 
of  growth  and  blooming  propensities  of  the  plants  may  be  main¬ 
tained.  The  best  plants  for  the  purpose  are  zonal  Geraniums, 
Calceolarias,  Marguerites,  Petiinias,  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums, 
Lobelias,  Nasttirtiums.  Intermix  them  as  effectively  as  possible, 
using  the  low-growing  and  trailing  plants  to  the  front.  The 
success  of  window-box  culture  depends  on  the  regular  attention 
accorded  the  requirements  of  the  plants. 
GENERAL  NOTES  ON  BEDDING.— All  the  various  kinds 
of  plants  used  for  furnishing  beds  should  be  disposed  in  their 
places  as  soon  as  possible,  keeping  a  reserve  for  possible  blanks. 
See  that  the  whole  of  the  plants  are  moist  at  the  roots  when 
inserting.  Plant  fairly  closely,  but  not  crowding.  Watering 
should  be  done  late  in  the  afternoon  oi’  evening.  When  the 
soil  becomes  caked  through  rain  or  wateiing.  break  the  surface. 
This  will  prevent  rapid  evaporation  and  assist  growth.  "Weeds 
springing  up  among  the  plants  .should  be  quickly  pulled  out  or 
hoed  down.  Attend  early  to  those  requiring  regulating  and 
pegging  down.  Annuals  in  beds  should  be  thinned  out  as  they 
touch  one  another. 
ROSES. — Shoots  too  freely  furnished  with  buds  should  have 
some  of  them  removed,  retaining  only  a  limited  number  when 
growing  for  exhibition.  Insects  on  the  growths  will  be  inimical 
to  the  welfare  of  the  plants.  Vigorous  syringing  will  dislodge 
aphis,  though  if  very  numerous  a  solution  of  insecticide  may 
be  prepared  and  used.  Established  plants  about  to  bloom  may 
require  more  nourishment  than  the  soil  affords,  but  if  the  soil 
moisture  is  maintained  the  plants  will  not  suffer,  though  the 
quality  and  size  of  the  blooms  may  be  improved  by  feeding  with 
any  of  the  artificial  fertilisers,  using  loz  to  the  gallon  of  water. 
— E.  D.  S.j  Gravesend. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
PEAS. — The  last  sowing  of  Peas  should  now  be  made.  An 
early  variety  of  a  dwarf  type  should  be  used  for  this  late  sowing, 
and  I  know  of  no  better  variety  than  Chelsea  Gem.  If  a  shel¬ 
tered  border  can  be  spared,  so  much  the  better,  especially  if  it 
has  a  full  south  exposure.  If  the  soil  is  at  all  dry,  the  trenches 
should  receive  a  thorough  soaking. 
CELERY.— The  main  crop  of  this  should  now  be  set  out. 
The  plants  should  be  carefully  lifted  by  a  handfork,  with  good 
balls  of  soil  attached  to  the  roots.  See  that  the  soil  is  in  a 
moist  statm  having  been  watered  some  hours  ijrevious  to 
planting.  Celery  should  not  be  allowed  to  want  for  water.  This 
is  one  of  the  main  causes  of  bolting. 
MUSHROOM  BEDS  OUTSIDE.— Beds  may  now  be  made 
outside  in  a  partially  shaded  place.  The  manure  should  be  care¬ 
fully  prepared  by  turning  frequently.  It  may  be  turned  in  a 
long  ridge  on  the  ground  where  the  bed  is  to  be  made.  The 
manure  should  be  carefully  shaken  to  pieces  as  the  turning 
proceeds.  The  beds  may  be  3ft  deep  and  3ft  wide  at  the  base, 
gradually  tapering  to  the  top,  and  should  be  beaten  very  firmly. 
When  the  heat  recedes  from  90deg  the  spawn  should  be  inserted, 
and  the  bed  covered  with  straw,  in  such  a  way  as  to  throw  off 
heavy  storms  of  rain. 
ASPARAGUS  BEDS. — These  should  receive  a  good  dressing 
of  an  approved  fertiliser.  This  should  be  done  after  all  the 
heads  have  been  gathered.  If  lightly  forked  in,  so  much  the 
better,  but  this  must  be  done  carefully.  This  dressing  will 
greatly  benefit  summer  growth,  and  .strengthen  the  plants  for 
next  year’s  crop  of  heads.  Cutting  should  cease  towards  the 
end  of  the  month,  at  the  latest. 
KIDNEY  BEANS. — Another  sowing  of  these  should  now  be 
made  for  the  production  of  a  late  supply.  It  will  be  found  an 
excellent  plan  to  nip  the  points  out  of  the  plants  as  soon  as 
they  show  the  first  truss  of  flower,  and  to  keep  these  pinched 
closely  instead  of  allowing  them  to  climb  up  the  sticks.  They 
will  prove  far  more  productive  treated  in  this  way  as  a  late 
crop. 
SALADS. — More  seeds  of  Lettuce,  Endive,  Radish,  and  such¬ 
like  salading  should  be  sown  to  keep  up  a  supply.  This  should 
be  sown  on  a  north  or  shady  cool  border.  In  such  a  place  it  will 
germinate  far  more  satisfactorily,  and  the  young  plants  will 
grow  more  rapidly  in  hot  weather,  and  will  not  bolt  so  quickly  as 
would  be  the  case  in  the  sun. 
RIDGE  CUCUMBERS. — These  may  now  be  planted  out  on 
a  little  manure,  or  an  old,  spent  hotbed  will  be  an  admirable 
place  for  them.  These  will  require  an  abundance  of  water  to 
keep  them  growing  in  warm  weather.  The  growths  should  be 
regulated  in  order  to  keep  them  from  crossing  each  other  when 
they  first  start  into  growth.  Syringe  the  plants  on  warm 
evenings. — A.  T.,  Cirencester. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Wisley,  Surrey. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height 
above  sea  level,  150  feet. 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
P 
3 
4-3 
ci 
J-4  • 
Temperature 
of  the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Wind. 
a> 
1904. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
ir*  X 
Sc 
r-i 
At 
At 
At 
Rain. 
c 
o 
Total 
velocity 
for  the 
24  hours 
ending 
9  a.m. 
2 
Oi 
a 
May 
and 
June. 
Dry 
L’ulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest 
c. 
•ji  ^ 
P 
o 
1-ft. 
deep 
2-ft. 
deep 
4-ft. 
deep 
o 
0) 
Q 
Sun.  29 
deg. 
63 
deg. 
C8 
deg. 
70 
deg. 
60 
deg 
47 
deg 
68 
deg. 
60 
dog. 
63 
Ins. 
N. 
Mile.s. 
124 
h.  m . 
7  34 
Mor.  lO 
55 
55 
67 
63 
54 
60 
58 
63 
0-08 
E. 
179 
3  14 
'J  ue.'i.  31 
58 
56 
60 
65 
50 
f9 
68 
64 
0-26 
S.W. 
85 
— 
Wed.  1 
54 
54 
63 
47 
39 
67 
57 
64 
0-01 
w. 
140 
1  34 
Thurs  2 
56 
fO 
67 
49 
48 
57 
57 
64 
— 
N. 
139 
0  29 
Fri.  3 
53 
60 
64 
49 
49 
57 
66 
6  4 
E. 
113 
4  57 
Sat.  4 
54 
52 
67 
48 
33 
66 
66 
64 
W. 
178 
11  18 
Means 
56 
U 
64 
60 
46 
58 
67 
54 
Total 
0-35 
_ 
137 
4  9 
