42 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  9,  1903. 
it  is  possible  to  thin  the  fruits  if  a  crop  has  set.  so  freely  as  to 
render  it  worth  while  to  reduce  the  number  in  order  to  obtain 
superior  fruits  in  size,  form,  quality,  and  colour.  When  fruifs 
can  develop  beyond  a  medium  size  for  the  variety,  they  are 
better  able  to  show  forth  the  special  characteristics  of  each. 
Quantity  should  be  sacrificed  for  quality  and  appearance.  It  is 
better  for  the  trees  in  a  general  way,  imposing  as  it  does  less 
strain  upon  them.  Clusters  of  several  fruits  may  with  advantage 
be  reduced  to  two,  or  even  one  fruit  on  a  spur.  Plums  ought 
also  to  be  thinned  to  secure  fine  dessert  fruit. — East  Kent. 
Frnit  Forcing. 
CUCUMBERS. — A  few  seeds  may  now  be  sown  for  late 
summer  and  early  autumn  produce.  The  plants  from  this  sowing 
will  afford  much  finer  fruit  during  the  late  summer  and  early 
autumn  months  than  plants  that  have  been  in  bearing  a  consider¬ 
able  time,  as  old  plants  generally  produce  knobbed  (seeded)  fruits 
towards  the  end  of  the  season,  and  are  neither  so  handsome  nor 
useful  as  straight  seedless  fruits.  The  seedlings  will  be  fit  to 
plant  in -about  a  month,  and  succeed  admirably  in  frames  with  a 
little  bottom  heat,  such  as  may  be  afforded  by  partially  spent 
manure,  mixed  with  a  little  fresh,  but  not  rank,  stable  litter. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  plants  succeed  in  houses  or  pits, 
.such  as  after-  clearing  from  bedding-out  plants  or  placing  of 
plants  outdoors,  and  give  a  supply  to  a  late  period  of  the  summer 
or  even  autumn  where  there  is  sufficient  heating  power. 
PLANTS  IN  FULL  BEARING. — In  order  to  keep  up  a  regu¬ 
lar  succession  of  fruit,  attention  must  be  given  to  thinning 
exhausted  growths,  removing  bad  leaves,  stopping,  tying,  and 
regulating,  so  as  to  keep  up  a  successional  growth  of  bearing 
wood.  Add  a  little  fresh  soil  to  the  surface  of  the  bed  from  time 
to  time,  with  a  light  mulching  of  sweetened  horse  droppings  or 
cow  manure,  the  latter  dried  and  broken  up,  and  sprinkle  on  a 
small  handful  per  square  yard  of  soot.  Syringe  at  closing  time, 
and  maintain  a  good  moisture  all  day  by  damping  the  floors  in  the 
morning,  noon,  and  early  in  the  evening;  Avoid  too  much  mois¬ 
ture  in  dull  weather,  as  it  makes  the  foliage  soft,  and  more  liable 
to  attacks  of  leaf-spot  fungus  (Cercospora  melonis),  and  the 
growths  cannot  well  bear  the  sun  after  a  return  to  bright 
weather.  After  a  few  days  of  dull  moist  weather  it  is  advisable 
to  shade,  and  keep  the  house  rather  close  on  a  bright  period  en¬ 
suing.  Supply  liquid  manure  copiously  once  or  twice  a  week, 
but  it  will  not  materially  benefit  plants  sparsely  furnished  with 
roots  and  defective  in  foliage.  What  such  plants  want  is  fi'esh 
soil  or  surface  dressings  of  lumpy  material. 
VINES  SWELLING  THEIR  CROPS.— A  genial  condition  of 
the  atmosphere,  secured  by  gentle  warmth  in  the  hot-water  pipes 
and  sprinkling  the  paths  and  borders  in  the  morning  and  after- 
nooh,  particularly  the  latter  at  closing  t^ne,  is  essential  for  the 
swelling  of  the  berries  and  health  of  the  foliage.  The  border 
being  mulched  with  a  little  short,  rather  lumpy  sweetened  stable 
manure,  about  an  inch  thickness  sufficing,  and  this  sprinkled 
occasionally,  will  give  off  some  ammonia  to  the  atmosphere,  and 
nutriment  be  washed  down  to  the  roots  at  the  waterings.  If  a 
little  sweetened  material  be  added  from  time  to  time,  the  supply 
of  ammonia  vapour  and  of  liquid  nourishment  will  be  regular  and 
never  so  excessive  as  to  injure  the  foliage.  If  not  convenient  to 
use  stable  manure,  the  neat  drainings  of  stables  or  cow  houses 
may  be  diluted  with  six  times  the  bulk  of  water,  and  this  used 
for  sprinkling  at  closing  time,  about  3  gals  sufficing  for  a  square 
rod  of  border  or  SOi  square  yards.  Avoid  a  close  atmosphere, 
particularly  in  dull  weather,  A  little  ventilation  at  the  top  of 
the  house  constantly  will  make  all  safe;  but  it  is  desirable  to 
close  the  house  in  the  afternoon,  damping  well  at  the  same  time, 
allowing  the  temperature  to  rise  to  90deg  or  95deg,  and  after 
six  o’clock  provide  a  little  ventilation  at  the  top  of  the  house,  as 
it  vvill  prevent  excessive  deposition  of  moisture^through  the  night. 
This  will  to  some  extent  safeguard  the  foliage  against  scorching 
should  the  sun  act  powerfully  upon  the  house  before  the  ventila¬ 
tion  is  increased,  which  it  ought  to  be  as  soon  as  the  sun  reaches 
the  structure ;  indeed,  it  is  the  best  preventive  of  scorching  and 
scalding.  A  night  temperature  of  6odeg  and  a  genial  warmth  of 
70deg  to  75deg  by  day,  will  be  sufficient  by  artificial  means  to 
keep  the  Grapes  steadily  progressing  in  dull  w'eather.  Increase 
the  ventilation  from  70deg  to  7odeg,  allowing  it  to  advance  to 
SOdeg  to  85deg,  and  close  so  as  to  raise  it  to  90deg  or  95deg. 
Permit  a  steady  growth  in  the  laterals,  but  never  allow  large 
extensions,  which  must  afterwards  be  removed  or  considerably 
reduced.  Do  not  allow  the  laterals  to  interfere  with  the  prin¬ 
cipal  leaves,  for  upon  the  free  a'ccess  of  light  and  air  depend 
their  elaborating  power,  and  the  more  these  assimilate  the  crude 
material,  the  healthier  the  Vines  are,  and  the  more  food  storing 
-in  the  Vines  for  the  succeeding  crop.  It  is  also  essentiaF  for  the 
formation  of  the  coming  Grapes  in  embryo  in  the  buds. 
Supply  sufficient  waterings  or  liquid  manure  as  required,  or 
afford  surface  dressings  and  water  them  in  after  having  made  the 
border  thoroughly  moi.st.  Outside  borders  must  not  be  neglected, 
but  have  copious  waterings  where  the  rainfall  is  deficient.  Mulch 
d>he  borders  lightly.  Heavy  coatings  do  more-  harm  than  good. 
A  little  stable  manure,  lin  to  Ijin  thick,  will  lessen  evaporation. 
and  from  its  lumpy  nature  not  deprive  the  soil  of  the  beneficial 
action  of  air,  warmth,  and  the  moisture  of  dew  and  rain, 
MELONS, — When  old  plants  are  in  good  health  and  free  from 
insects  they  will  then  fruit  freely  on  the  laterals,  even  when  the 
current  crop  is  swelling,  but  these  blossoms  will  not  set  unless 
syringing  is  discontinued,  which  is  not  advisable,  so  that  lateral 
growths  should  be  encouraged  to  insure  fruit  showing  w-hen  the 
present  crop  is  advanced  for  ripening,  and  these  will  set  freely 
with  the  drier  atmosphere,  and  the  crop  be  somewhat  advanced 
before,  or  by  the  time  the  fruit  is  cut.  The  plan  is  then  to  cut 
away  such  old  growths  as  are  useless,  and  concentrate  the  energies 
of  the  fresh  growth  on  the  young  fruit.  Encourage  root  growth. 
Give  supports  to  the  fruits  "before  they  become  heavy,  letting  the 
table  slant  so  as  not  to  hold  wet,  and  place  slates  beneath  the 
fruits  of  plants  in  frames,  raising  them  above  the  foliage  on 
small  inverted  flower-pots  as  the  swelling  advances.  Fertilise 
the  flowers  daily  until  sufficient  fruits  of  equal  size  are  set  on  a 
plant;  then  remove  all  the  flowers,  and  reduce  the  fruits  to 
three  or  four  on  a  plant  according  to  its  vigour.  Shade  only  to 
prevent  flagging ;  it  is  most  needed  in  bright  weather  succeeding 
a  dull,  moist  period.  Melons  directly  exposed  to  the  sun  are 
benefited  at  such  times,  otherwise  they  are  apt  to  be  scorched, 
and  when  ripening  are  all  the  better  by  a  slight  shade,  especially 
when  the  plants  do  not  supply  moisture  to  the  fruit  from  indif¬ 
ferent  health.  Repot  any  plants  requiring  it,  and  keep  them 
sturdy  by  placing  them  near  the  glass.  Keep  a  sharp  look  out 
for  canker.  It  often  arises  from  damp,  and  the  remedy  is  a  drier 
atmosphere  or  freer  ventilation,  and  rubbing  quicklime  into  the 
affected  parts,  keeping  them  quite  dry  by  repeating  the  process. 
EARLY  PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES. — The  trees  having 
been  cleared  of  the  fruit,  cut  away  the  wood  on  which  it  has  been 
produced  to  the  successional  shoot  at  the  base,  and  stop  growths 
making  more  than  12in  to  14in  of  wood  required  for  bearing  next 
year,  always  excepting  extensions,  which  may  be  allowed  to  grow 
where  there  is  room.  Pinch  the  laterals  at  the  first  leaf,  and  to 
subsequent  as  made,  tlrinning  where  crowded.  Syringe  forcibly 
to  expel  red  spider,  and  if  necessary  apply  an  insecticide.  Admit 
all  the  air  possible,  and  where  practicable  withdraw  the  roof  lights 
from  the  earliest  forced  hou.ses.  Maintain  a  proper  condition  of 
moisture  in  the  outside  as  well  as  inside  borders. 
LATE  HOUSES. — It  is  only  possible  to  have  fruit  very  late 
by  keeping  the  houses  as  cool  as  possible,  ventilating  day  and 
night,  but  not  in  windy  weather,  this  causing  the  current  to  rush 
through  the  house  and*  dry  the  atmosphere  excessively.  Nothing 
is  gained  by  that,  but  often  a  rich  harvest  of  battered  leaves  and 
a  plentiful"  crop  of  red  spider.  This  pe.st  must  be  laid  low  by 
forcible  syringings  in  the  morning  and  late  afternoon,  the  tr^s 
having  also  plenty  of  water  and  nourishment  at  the  roots,  with 
mulchings  of  partially  decayed  lumpy  manure,  and  -these  kept 
moist  will  keep  the  roots  near  the  surface.  About  an  inch  thick¬ 
ness  is  sufficient. — St.  Albans. 
Trade  Note. 
An  Imperishable  Horticultural  Paint. 
Mr.  Chas.  T.  Druery,  as  manager  of  the  Lubroso  Paint  Com¬ 
pany,  Moorgate  Station  Chambers,  E.C.,  calls  our  attention 
to  a  paint  recently  introduced  into  this  countrv,  which  is  admi¬ 
rably  adapted  for  the  x^rotection  of  wood  and  ironwork  in  con¬ 
servatories  or  greenhouses.  It  is  entirely  distinct  from  oil 
paints,  having  an  imperishable  rubber-like  body  as  a  basis,  so 
that  the  paints  form  an  elastic  and  strongly  adherent  skin,  which 
cannot  crack,  blister,  or  flake  off,  and  stands  both  heat  and 
damp  indefinitely.  As  no  x^riming  is  required,  and  two  coats 
equal  in  covering  caxiacity  four  of  oil  they  are  vc^ 
economical  in  application,  apart  from  greater  permanence,  while 
their  apxiearance  is  equal  to  the  best  exxiensive  enamel  paints. 
An  enormous  Continental  consumption  and  an  experience  of 
five  years  demonstrates  their  value  beyond  a  doubt. 
Seacombe  Recreation  Ground. 
The  new  recreation  ground  at  Seacombe  is  a  great  tribute  to 
the  powers  of  the  Wallasey  District  Council,  marking  as  it  does 
a  new  departure  in  their  policy,  and  one  that  must  x^rove  ct  in¬ 
calculable  benefit  to  the  working  classes  more  esxiecially,  A  tew 
evenings  ago,  crossing  over  by  the  ferry  .steamer,  and  thence  to 
the  Ground  by  car,  I  was  more  than  delighted  to  see_how  eagerly, 
the  various  games  were  being  contested,  splendid  quoitmg 
grounds,  fine  bowling  greens,  and  a  host  of  side  shows  tor  the 
juniors,  were  evidently  appreciated  to  the  full.  The  shimbberies 
have  all  been  planted,  and  most  judiciously  too,  judging  from  the 
luxuriant  growth.  Standing  on  high  ground,  W'lth  the 
rolling  below,  it  is  at  once  health-giving  to  those  who  occupy  the 
various  seats  x^rovided.  There  are  many  councils  -who  might 
follow'  this  examx>le  of  providing  small  grounds,  ins-teacl  ot 
]  waiting  for  parks,  &c.,  which  in  many  case.s  cannot  be  afforded. 
1  — R.  P.  R. 
