102 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  ZO,  ie03. 
Early  Outdoor  Peaches. 
In  a  large  measure,  clue  to  .the  cold  and  chili iiig  spring,  the 
early  Peaches,  what  few  there  are  left,  are  ripening  prematurely, 
and* in  advance  of  last  year’s  date.  Every  fruit  gathered  so  far 
has  split  stones,  a  failing  sometimes  attributed  to  an  absence  of 
sufficient  lime  in  the  soil.  •  i  i 
The  trouble  complained  of  is  not  an  annual  one  here,  indeecl ; 
but  very  rarely  has  there  been  a  .split  .stone  fruit  gathered  in 
previous  seasons.  Ample  lime  is  afforded  for  stone  fruits,  ob¬ 
tained,  when  possible,  from  demolished  buildings.  When  this 
source  fails,  then  newly-slaked  lime  is  applied,  and  since  the 
growth  of  the  trees  is  so  free,  and  the  usual  tendency  to  bear 
fruit  with  an  ordinary  freedom,  soil  condition  cannot  be  so  very 
far  wrong.  .  ,  ,  i 
The  greater  wonder,  however,  is  not  that  the  stones  should 
have  become  ruptured,  but  that  there  are  any  Peaches  at  all  left 
remaining,  for  the  spring  frosts  were  so  severe  that  there  appeared 
then  no  prospect  at  all.  The  weather  has  been  a  series  of  ex¬ 
tremes  so  far  this  yc-ar.  Cold  cvinds,  frost,  heavy  rains,  and  hot 
sun  have  been  successive  experiences.  Alexander  and  \\  aterloo 
are  the  varieties  grown  for  early  gathering  outdoors,  and  which 
do  so  well  in  ordinary  seasons. 
Last  year  they  bore  heavily,  and  gave  fine,  well-coloured  fruits 
over  a  fairly  lengthened  season.  The  first  fruit  then  gathered 
was  on  July*  20.  This  year  the  fruit  was  pulled  ten  days  earlier, 
but  as  these  are  not  perfect  specimens,  aiicl  hastened  by  their 
ruptured  stones,  time  cannot  be  said  to  be  fairly  gained. 
Though  Peach  trees  on  the  open  walls  in  some  gardens  now 
look  so  well,  instances  are  not  wanting  where  they  still  show 
unmistakeable  signs  of  the  inclement  spring.  Soil  and  shelter 
no  doubt  account  for  these  troubles,  the  first-named  in  particular. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Peaches,  even  on  glass-coped  walls, 
show  an  absence  of  fruit  on  the  lower  portion  of  the  walls,  say  a 
tliird  of  their  depth.  This  is  due  to  the  greater  extremes  of  cold 
near  the  soil.  There  are  trees  bearing  their  customary  crops  on 
the  upper  portions  of  the  walls,  and  a  few  cases  are  found  where 
a  full  average  are  developing  over  the  whole  surface,  but  these 
must  be  rare,  and  due  to  peculiar  and  local  means  of  shelter. 
Those  favoured  with  a  Peach  crop  have  reason  to  be  grateful, 
for  the  dearth  of  other  summer  fruits  will  render  these  of  greater 
than  their  ordinary  value,  and  be  most  acceptable  for  the  dessert 
supply.  Amsden  June  is  a  variety  equally  dependable  for  the 
open  walls,  and  so  is  Early  Rivers  Nectarine,  and  those  provided 
with  an  irregular  supply  from  indoors  should  make  an  effort  to 
accommodate  at  least  a  tree  or  two  of  the.se  early  Peaches  and 
Nectarines.  Hale’s  Early  is  a  splendid  successional  variety, 
hardy,  and  free  fruiting;  and  Condor  is  another  that  deserves  a 
irlace. 
Bud  dropping,  so  common  a  failing  of  the  Americarr  Peaches 
under  glass,  is  scarcely  known  outdoors.  Instead  of  a  dearth, 
there  is  more  frequently  a  difficulty  in  thinniirg  down  the  fruits  to 
a  reasonable  limit. — W.  S. 
Melons. 
Late  Fkuit. — A  sowing  should  be  made  early  in  August  to 
afford  very  late  Melons.  The  plants  will  be  fit  to  plant  out  iir 
about  a  month,  they  will  set  fruit  in  September,  and  that  Avill  be 
ripe  in  November.  Gunton  Scarlet  (scarlet-flesh).  Middlesex 
Hero  (green-flesh))  and  Longleat  Perfection  (white-flesh),  are  good 
varieties.  A  light,  airy  structure,  well  heated,  is  essential  with 
high  culture  for  this  crop.  Bottom  heat  is  neces.sary,  and  is  best 
afforded  by  hot-watcr  pipes. 
Eakly  Autumn  Fiiuit. — Good  looking  fruit  is  always  esteemed, 
if  only  from  a  decorative  point  of  view,  and  when  the  quality 
is  high  the  advantage  is  duly  appreciated.  To  have  fruit  ripe 
in  October  the  plants  should  be  planted  out  at  once,  giving  them 
about  a  barrowload  each  of  soil,  made  into  a  flattened  cone  or 
ridge  about  lOin  deep  in  the  centre.  Rather  strong  loam,  with  a 
fifth  of  sweetened  horse  droppings  and  a  sixth  of  old  mortar 
rubbish  form  a  suitable  compost.  Make  this  quite  firm,  and  leave 
it  in  a  moist  state  before  [;lanting.  Turn  the  plants  out  care¬ 
fully,  watering  them  overnight,  so  that  the  roots  may  come  freely 
from  the  side  of  the  the  pots,  and  make  the  soil  firm  about  the 
balls.  Keep  the  stem  slightly  raised,  and  water  to  settle  the 
soil  about  the  roots.  The  plants  mirst  be  encouraged  to  make  a 
free  growth  by  syringing  at  clo.sing.  and  damping  the  paths  and 
walls  in  the  morning  and  evening  of  hot  days.  Ventilate  between 
TOdeg  and  75deg,  and  keep  the  temperature  through  the  day  at 
those  degrees  by  artificial  heat,  Sodeg  to  90deg  from  sun,  and 
close  so  as  to  raise  to  9o  deg  or  lOOdeg.  Through  the  night  the 
temperature  may  fall  to  Godeg. 
Feuit  Swelling. — 'J’he  ultimate  result  must  be  kept  in 
view  from  the  start,  as  sturdy  plants  only  produce  fine  fruit,  and 
this  may  be  spoiled  by  overcropping  the  plants.  When  the  fruit 
is  fairlv  swelliifg  the  crop  should  be  reduced  to  one  or  two  on 
a  weakly,  three  on  a  moderately  vigorous,  four  on  a  strong,  and 
six  on  a  large  plant.  Overcropping  is  very  prejudicial  to  the 
plants’  health,  and  unless  the  foliage  is  in  good  condition  to  the 
finish,  liigh  quality,  which  mainly  depends  on  solidity  through 
the  high  elaboration  of  the  juices,  cannot  be  expected,  therefore 
keep  tlie  foliage  thin,  having  full  exposure  to  light.  Earth  the 
roots,  giv'ing  copious  supplies  of  water  or  liquid  manure,  and  damp 
the  paths  with  liquid  manure  twice  a  week,  but  it  is  best  to  give 
it  often  and  iveak.  The  weak  drainings  of  stables  should  be 
diluted  with  five  times  the  bulk  of  water. 
Feuit  Ripening. — The  atmosphere  should  be  kept  diy  and  a 
top  heat  maintained  of  TOdeg  to  Todeg  by  artificial  means,  admit¬ 
ting  a  little  air  con.stantly.  a  circulation  O'f  rather  dry,  warm  air 
greatly  improving  the  quality  and  finish  when  ripening.  Water 
should  be  withheld  from  the  house  unless  there  is  fruit  advancing 
in  swelling,  when  an  occasional  damping  will  be  neces.sary  for  the 
benefit  of  the  foliage. 
Pl.\nts  in  Pits  and  Feames. — The  late.st  plants  will  be 
setting  their  fruit,  it  being  important  that  the  fruit  be  set  at 
the  close  of  July  or  early  in  August,  to  allow  time  for  its  swell¬ 
ing  and  ripening.  Give  a  good  watering  if  neces.sary  before  the 
flowers  open,  and  line  the  sides  of  the  frame  with  hot  dung,  or  the 
mowings  of  lawns,  and  give  a  little  ventilation  constantly  at  the 
top  of  the  lights  until  the  fruit  is  set  and  commences  swelling.  Thi.s 
prevents  the  deposition  of  moisture  on  the  blossoms  and  insures  a 
good  set.  Fertilise  the  flowers  daily,  and  when  sufficient  are  set, 
and  the  fruit  swelling  about  equal  size,  remove  all  flowers,  and 
keep  the  growths  thin  and  well  stopped,  maintaining  a  warm, 
moist  atmosphere,  but  not  stagnant,  by  early  closing  with  sun 
heat.  Sprinkle  the  foliage  on  fine  afternoons,  and  afford  water 
in  bright  weather  about  twice  a  week. — G.  A. 
Where  our  Fruit  Comes  From. 
The  home  crop  of  fruit  wull  be  light,  and  generally  the 
shortage  will  be  serious.  On  the  other  hand,  the  foreign  imports 
are  not  only  plentiful  but  varied,  as  the  following  facts  obtained 
from  inspection  of  the  arrivals  prove.  The  bulk  of  the  Straw¬ 
berries  on  sale,  says  a  corresjiondent  to  the  “Newcastle 
Chronicle,”  comes  from  Holland.  A  few  still  are  consigned  from 
France,  but  the  season  is  practically  over.  The  Dutch  shippers 
bring  us  from  2,000  to  3,000  packages  a  week. 
Peaches  put  up  in  shallow  boxes  reach  us  from  the  Paris 
agents,  but  at  present  the  arriiMs  are  limited.  These  grower.s 
are  sending  fair  quantities  of  Plums,  the  season  for  this  fruit 
being  well  opened  now.  They  are  put  up  in  ba.skets  and  boxe,s, 
the  latter  containing  the  Green  Gage  variety.  A  few  Spanish 
Plums  in  boxe.s  are  on  sale.  The  Red  and  Black  Currants  have 
been  grown  in  Germany.  Holland,  Belgium,  and  France,  the 
largest  quantity  coming  from  France. 
The  Gooseberries  are  of  Dutch,  Belgian,  and  French  growth. 
Out  of  2,277  packages  received  last  week,  2,149  came  from  Hol¬ 
land.  They  send  huge  supplies  of  cheap  berries  into  our  markets 
every  year.  The  whole  of  the  Apricot-s  now  on  .sale  are  French. 
The  groivers  pay  special  attention  to  the  culture  of  this  fruit  for 
the  English  markets.  The  Apricots  are  packed  in  clean  one-layer 
boxes  chiefly,  and  are  attractively  arranged  with  the  aid  of 
coloured  tissue  paper.  This  season,  an  unusually  large  quantity 
of  Bilberries  are  being  sold  in  our  markets.  They  reach  us  from 
Germany  and  Holland,  and  at  the  rate  of  20,000  and  30,000 
packages  a  week.  Black  Currants  being  short  this  year  Bilberries 
are  sold  as  a  substitute  for  that  fruit.  In  the  Midland.s  these 
juicy  berries  are  immensely  popular.  Of  course  they  have  not 
the  flavour  of  the  Black  Currant ;  .still,  they  are  rising  in  favour. 
This  is  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  fact  that  the  fruit  arrives 
in  excellent  condition.  The  time  occupied  in  shipment  to 
Grimsby  is  short,  and  distribution  soon  follows  its  .sale  by  the 
auctioneers. 
The  new  Apples  in  cases  are  Spanish,  and  the  new  season’s 
fruit  is  coming  to  hand  in  large  quantities.  La.st  week  we 
received  about  6,000  boxes,  out  of  which  5,568  were  unloaded  at 
Liverpool,  for  distribution  in  the  Midlands.  Cherries  are  arriv¬ 
ing  from  France,  Germany,  and  Holland  at  the  rate  of  from 
5.000cwt  to  lO.OOOcwt  a  week.  The  foreign  Cherry  crop  is, 
therefore,  a  heavy  one.  The  Bananas  are  sent  by  Jamaica  and 
Canary  shippers,  and  the  receipts  are  enormous.  Last  week, 
31,650  bunches  were  consigned  to  Manchester  from  Jamaica, 
28,426  to  Liverpool  from  the  Canaries,  and  28,4.52  to  London  from 
the  latter  centre,  with  170  from  Madeira.  Tliese  imports  beat 
all  previous  records. 
The  Orange  arrivals  from  Italy,  Spain,  and  Jamaica  have  in 
the  aggregate  been  heavy  for  the  time  of  the  year.  The  past 
week’s  imports  exceeded  15,000  cases.  Nearly  all  of  this  total 
came  from  Spain.  The  Tomato  is  now  classed  as  a  fruit,  and 
from  25,000  to  30,000  boxes  of  them  came  in  from  Ita'y,  Spain, 
