402 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  29,  1903. 
Autumnal  Strawberries. 
I  do  not  think  niy  friend  “  J.  H.  D.”  (page  350)  has  laid 
sufficient  stress  upon  wliat  I  believe  to  be  the  reason  of  mv 
Kuocess  with  St.  Joseph  Strawberry.  Tlie  secret  is,  after  the 
chosen  runners  are  selected  to  root  around  the  original  plant, 
to  allow  no  more  runners  to  appear  at  all  on  the  whole  bed. 
After  the  first  crop  of  fruit  is  over,  runners  appear  in  extra¬ 
ordinary  ahundancei,  and  should  be  suppressed  as  soon  as  they 
appear,*  the  bed  should  be  carefully  gone  over  at  least  every' 
other  day  during  August,  and  every'  runner  pinched  right  back 
as  soon  as  it  appears.  There  Avill  still  be  some  fruit,  a  small 
supply,  but  gradually  towards  the  end  of  August  more  and  more 
flower  trusses  will  appear  instead  of  xunners,  till  in  September 
hardly  anything  but  flower  trusses  are  formed.  The  September 
fruits  are  much  larger  as  well  as  much  more  numerous  than  the 
midsummer  crop,  but  I  have  not  yet  experienced  a  decent 
autumn  to  do  them  justice.  The  St.  Antoine  bed  was  burned 
twice  to  the  ground  in  the  second  week  in  June,  and  all  the 
ashes  were  clean  swept  away  ;  fresh  growth  was  obsei-^’ed  on  the 
third  day,  and  a  bloom  truss  in  a  fortnight.  It  is  my  belief 
that  if  ail  runners  were  suppressed  from  ordinary  Strawberries, 
the  plants  would  lasti  in  vigour  a  good  deal  longer  than  they 
generally  do. — W.  R.  Raillem. 
Notes  on  Pines. 
Early  Forced  Fig  Trees  in  Pots. 
■Figs  are  receiving  more  attention  now  than  for  some  time 
past,  which  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  as  ripe  Figs  are  very  whole¬ 
some,  and  early  Figs  are  very  much  i^rized  for  the  dessert.  Trees 
intended  for  affording  fruit  at  the  close  of  April  or  early  in  May 
will  now  need  dressing  with  an  insecticide,  all  those  advertised 
being  very  efficacious  when  properly  applied  by  implicitly  follow¬ 
ing  the  instructions.  Very  little  pruning  will  be  necessary,  the 
trees  having  been  regularly  stopped  during  the  growing  season  ; 
but  if  the  growths  are  too  crowded  and  irregular,  they  may  be 
thinned  to  render  the  trees  relatively  open  and  symmetrical. 
The  house  in  which  the  trees  are  forced  should  have  the 
woodwork  and  walls  washed  with  hot  water,  afterwards  lime¬ 
washing  the  latter  with  hot  lime  and  sulphur,  a  handful  of  the 
latter  to  each  pailful  of  limewash.  A  mild  bottom  heat  is  almost 
essential  to  a  successful  swelling  and  perfecting  of  the  earliest 
crop,  the  pots  being  raised  upon  loose  bricks,  pedestal  fashion, 
in  the  position  they  are  to  occupy  in  the  bed,  and  so  that  the 
rims  of  the  pots  will  be  slightly  above  the  level  of  the  pit  edges. 
The  depth  of  the  pit  should  be  about  three  feet,  and  filled  with 
Oak  or  Beech  leaves  pressed  firmly.  Care  should  be  taken  to 
avoid  overheating. — F.  K.  S. 
Late  Houses  of  Figs. 
Excessively  luxuriant  trees  should  be  attended  to  in  lifting 
and  root-pruning.  Fig  trees  can  hardly  have  the  roots  too  much 
restricted  for  fruitfulness,  being  also  more  under  control,  and 
can  be  fed  according  to  requirements.  Trees  in  unheated  honses 
should  have  free  ventilation,  and  when  the  leaves  fall  the  trees 
must  be  unloosed  from  the  trellis,  tied  together  in  convenient 
bundles,  and  made  safe  against  frost  with  some  straw  or  fern 
over  them,  encasing  the  bundles  in  mats.  In  heated  houses  this 
is  not  necessary,  but  the  trees  in  these  must  not  be  exposed  to 
severe  frost,  or  they  are  liable  to  be  injured  ;  therefore  a  little 
warmth  will  be  necessary  in  severe  weather.  Trees  in  cool  houses 
should  have  the  roots  protected  by  a  covering  of  dry  material, 
and  close  up  to  the  stems. — Grow'er. 
As  growth  advances  more  or  less  in  these  plants  during  the 
winter  months,  and  doe.s  no  harm  provided  it  is  effected  by 
natural  means,  only  sufficient  fire  heat  being  employed  to 
sustain  the  plants  in  health  and  maintain  the  progress  made, 
they  should  be  placed  near  the  glass;  this  Avill  enable  them  to 
make  the  best  of  every  ray  of  light  and  sunshine  whenever  it 
prevails.  Though  the  plants  may  not  perceptibly  grow,  they 
store  essential  matter  in  spells  of  bright  weather,  and  become 
stouter  where  due  attention  is  given  to  keeping  the  glass  clean 
and  admitting  air  when  necessary.  The  sturdy  plant  throws  up 
a  large,  well  developed  fruit  in  due  season ;  but  the  drawn,  weakly 
plant,  though  large  in  leaf,  furnishes  a  much  smaller  fniit  on  a 
lanky  stem  at  an  uncertain  and  irregular  time.  To  give  the 
plants  the  benefit  of  clean  gla.ss,  therefore,  and  proximity  to  it 
without  touching,  is  to  grow  with  a  view  to  fruit ;  and  to  keep 
them  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  glass  and  covered,  or 
beneath  glass  more  or  less  opaque  through  dirt,  is  to  produce 
foliage  instead  of  fruit.  The  beds  of  fermenting  materials  sub¬ 
side  considerably  through  decomposition,  and  freshly  made  up 
ones  settle  rapidly  unless  well  trodden  down.  In  either  case 
prompt  attention  should  be  given  to  raising  the  plants,  so  that 
they  may  have  the  full  benefit  of  the  light,  and  in  doing  so  take 
care  not  to  chill  or  allow  them  to  become  overheated  at  the 
roots. 
New  beds  should  be  made  as  necessary.  The  best  plan  is  to 
remove  the  plants  to  a  structure  with  the  suitable  temperature, 
clear  out  the  old  fermenting  material,  supply  fresh,  and  not 
return  the  plants  until  the  beds  are  in  a  proper  condition.  To 
take  Pine  plants  from  a  warm  house  and  keep  them  in  a  cold  iflace 
chills  them,  and  returning  to  warm  beds  from  cool  quarters  acts 
in  the  opposite  direction,  sometimes  causing  them  to  “  bolt  ’’ — 
that  is,  throw  up  fruit  prematurely.  Oak,  Beech,  and  Spanish 
Chestnut  leaves  are  much  the  best,  as  they  are  more  durable 
than  others,  and  the  heat  is  consequently  niilder  and  lasts  longer. 
Tan,  of  course,  is  best  where  it  can  be  easily  secured,  and  about 
half  the  quantity  suffices;  but  leaves,  in  many  cases,  are  pro¬ 
curable  for  nothing  beyond  the  labour. 
It  is  a  good  and  necessary  practice  to  assist  the  plants  accord¬ 
ing  to  their  re.spective  requirements  before  Avinter.  If  not  done 
earlier,  it  should  be  attended  to  without  delay.  Fruiting  plants 
require  the  be.st  places,  to  SAvell  off  the  fruits  properly,  particu¬ 
larly  at  this  season  Avhen  natural  aid  is  at  a  minimunn  These 
plants  must  have  a  night  temperature  of  G5deg,  and  70deg  to 
75deg  by  day.  SAiccessional  plants  only  require  a  night  tempera¬ 
ture  of  60deg,  and  65deg  by  day,  AA'ith  an  advance  from  sun  heat — 
but  not  without  qir— to  76deg  to  75deg.  Young  plants  must  not 
be  brought  forward  too  rapidly,  because  they  are  not  prepared, 
nor  is  the  AA'inter  season  an  adA’isable  time  to  cause  them  to  make 
much  groAA'th,  and  they  Avill  progress  quite  fast  enough  and 
.satisfactorily  in  a  temperature  of  .55deg  to  60deg  at  night,  and 
GOdeg  to  Godeg  in  the  daytime,  above  AA'hich  A'entilate  freely, 
t.Akini:  carp  to  aA'oid  chills.-  Practice. 
Grapes  at  Pitcullen,  Perth. 
It  is  ahvays  interesting  to  have  a  AA'alk  through  the  fine 
gardens  at  Pitcullen,  but  more  e.specially  AA'hen  the  vineries  are 
at  their  best.  Mr.  Leslie,  the  gardener,  has  had  charge  here 
for  seA'enteen  or  eighteen  years,  and  is  AA'ell  knoAAn  as  a  Grape 
groAA'er  who  long  ago  aaoii  his  degree  in  open  competition.  There 
are  seven  houses  in  all  devoted  to  the  culth-ation  of  the  Vine 
at  Pitcullen,  and  each  of  these  has  its  interesting  features.  The 
earliest  house  at  the  time  of  my  A'isit  had  all  the  fruit  cut,  and 
the  Vines  Avere  making  preparation  for  next  year’s  crop.  Mr. 
Le.slie  does  not  believe  in  leai'ing  anything  to  chance,  but  uses 
every  means  to  get  the  wood  thoroughly  well  ripened,  as  only 
such  AA'ood  AA'ill  produce  first-class  bunches.  Hamburghs  are 
chiefly  groAA’n  in  this  house,  and  the  Vines  (lA-hich  are  only  a  fcAA' 
yeai's  old)  annually  yield  excellent  crops.  In  the  next  house  Ave 
find  Hamburghs,  Madresfield  Court,  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  and  one 
or  tAA'o  others.  Madresfield  Court  does  splendidly,  producing 
beautiful  bunches  and  invariably  colouring  Avell.  A  small  rod 
of  Diamond  Jubilee  Avas  also  here,  and  this  is  a  very  handsome 
Grape,  beautiful  in  bunch  and  berry,  but  unfortunately  its 
quality  is  only  second-rate.  GroAiing  side  by  side  Avas  a  cane  of 
Duke  of  Buccleuch,  equally  handsome  in  appearance  and  first-rate 
in  quality.  In  ta.sting  this  variety  I  Aias  forcibly  reminded  of 
my  first  acquaintance  AAuth  this  noble  Grape,  something  like 
tAventy-tAA'o  years  ago,- AA'hen  I  tasted  it  for  the  first  time  in  the 
vinery  at  Arkleton,  Avhen  on  a  A'isit  to  itiy  much  esteemed  friend, 
the  late  Mr.  James  Dickson.  Another  fine  variety  is  groAA'ing  in 
this  house,  viz.,  Dr.  Hogg,  AA’hich  AA’as  a  great  faA'ourite  AA'ith  the 
late  Mr.  Coates,  Avho  much  appreciated  it.s  rich  flavour.  Its 
appearance,  hoAA’CA'er.  is  not  such  as  to  commend  it  to  exhibitors, 
as  it  is  small  in  the  berry  and  someiA’liat  apt  to  be  irregular  in 
size.  To  those,  however,  Avho  appreciate  flaA’our  before  hand¬ 
some  appearance.  Dr.  Hoeg  should  find  faA'our.  Alicantes  .are 
beautifully  “  finished  ”  at  Pitcullen,  and  at  the  time  of  my  visit 
scores  of  splendid  bunches  were  to  be  seen.  These  Avere  really 
grand  clusters,  AAeighing  six  or  .scA'en  pounds,  sloe-black  in 
colour,  and  carrying  a  beautiful  bloom. 
Appley  ToAvers  finds  favour  AA’ith  Mr.  Leslie.  It  produces 
medium  sized  bunches,  sets  well,  and,  as  a  rule,  finishes  beau¬ 
tifully  ;  the  quality  is  also  good.  Lady  Hutt,  AA’hich  originated 
from  the  same  source,  is  also  repre.sented.  The  colour  is  a  trifle 
against  it,  but  it  hangs  Avell,  and  consequently  it  is  found  useful. 
Gros  Maroc  is  also  represented  by  huge  bunches  of  symmetrical 
form — a  truly  grand  .sIioaa’  variety.  A  Avhole  house  is  devoted  to 
Gros  Colman,  and  grand  both  in  bunch  and  benw  they  were. 
Once  they  are  thoroughly  ripe,  the  Grapes  in  this  house  AA’ill  be 
a  perfect  picture.  Another  house,  in  AA’hich  Peaches  AAere  for¬ 
merly  groAA’n,  was  recently  planted  AA’ith  Colmans.  and  these  are 
noAA’  in  full  bearing.  They  are  in  great  demand  for  Avinter  use. 
Muscats  also  haA'e  a  house  devoted  to  them,  and,  like  the  others 
already  noticed,  they  annually  yield  heaA’y  crops  of  excellent 
