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November  1?.  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
PLANTING  APPLES.— Apples  .sliould  be  planted  chiefly  as 
standards,  bushes,  and  cordons.  The  usual  size  of  orchard 
standards  is  usually  5ft  to  6ft  in  stem,  and  these  must  be 
planted  20ft  apart,  at  least.  '  Half-standards  .are  24ft'  to  4ft 
stems,  and  may  be  planted  12ft  to  15ft  apart.  Orchard  standards 
are  worked  on  selected  Crab  stocks.  Half-standards,  too,  are  on 
this  stock.  The  trees  gi’ow  vigorously,  hence  the  wider  distances 
apart  they  should  be  planted.  In  addition  some  bushes  and 
pyramids  Jiiay  be  grown  on  this  stock.  Trees,  however,  which 
must  be  grown  in  a  restricted  space  require  to  be  grown  on  a 
stock  which  grows  less  vigorously,  therefore  the  Paradise  stock 
is  the  best,  and  birshes,  pyramids,  and  cordons  ought  to  be 
grown  on  this.  The  trees  pos.se.ss  more  fibrous  roots,  oome  into 
bearing  early,  and  are  more  prolific.  The  soil  be.st  suiteel  to 
Apples  is  a  rich,  rather  adhesive  loam,  which  should,  previous 
to  planting,  be  prepared  to  a  depth  of  2ft  by  trenching  or  deep 
digging.  Add  no  manure  to  soil  of  this  character.  Should, 
however,  it  be  necessary  to  plant  where  the  soil  is  very  light  and 
poor  it  will  be  advisable  to  incorporate  a  little  decayed  material 
with  the  soil  placed  about  the  roots.  The  stations  or  holes  for 
the  reception  of  the  roots  ought  to  be  wide,  so  as  to,  admit  the 
roots  easily.  In  arranging  the  roots  spread  them  out  to  their 
full  extent,  previously,  of  cour.se,  pruning  back  the  injured 
parts.  A  prepared  compost  of  a  light  and  pliable  character 
mixed  wdth  wood  ashes  is  best  to  cover  immediately  over  the 
roots,  spreading  it  from  the  stem  outwards.  Spread  a  mulching 
of  strawy  material  over  the  roots,  and  stake  standard  trees 
immediately. 
PEARS. — Pears,  like  Apples,  are  j^lanted  as  standards,  half¬ 
standards,  bushes,  and  cordons.  Pears  are  worked  on  two  kinds 
of  stocks.  For  growing  as  standards  in  orchards,  and  as  bushes, 
pyramids,  and  trained  for  espaliers  and  walls,  the  Pear  stock  is 
suitable.  Trees  may  he  grown  larger  on  this  stock,  but  they  do 
not  come  into  bearing  quite  so  early.  For  growing  in  re.stricted 
gardens,  where  trees  can  have  less  room  allowed  them  than  in 
the  larger  area  of  the  orchard,  the  Quince  stock  is  the  best. 
All  the  varieties  of  form  may  be  procured  except  the  standard, 
which  is  only  to  be  had  on  the  Pear  stock.  Trees  on  the  Quince 
stock,  in  addition  to  being  adapted  for  restricted  space,  also 
come  into  bearing  earlier,  and  are  very  prolific.  Bushes  and 
pyramids  may  be  planted  as  closely  together  as  4ft  to  6ft,  occa¬ 
sionally  root-pruning  them  while  there  is  a  tendency  to  over¬ 
luxuriance.  If  on  Pear  stocks  and  not  root-pruned,  the  same 
sort  of  trees  will  require  8ft  to  10ft  distance  between  them. 
Standards  for  orchards  must  have  the  usual  distance  of  20ft. 
Fan  and  horizontal  trained  for  walls  on  Pear  stocks  15ft  apart; 
on  Quince  stocks  8ft  to  12ft  apart.  C'ordons  for  walls  and  fences 
should  be  18in  apart.  A  deep,  well-drained  loam,  lying  on  chalk, 
suits  Pears  well.  The  preparation  of  the  land  previous  to  plant¬ 
ing  should  be  thorough  in  regard  to  digging  and  trenching ; 
hut  no  manure  should  he  added  to  the  soil  that  is'*!fl'(jh  enough 
for  good  growth.  The  same  care  ought  to  be  obser'-tecl  in  the 
details  of  planting  as  with  Apples. 
PLUMS. — Plums  are  grown  as  standards  in  gardens  and 
orchards,  also  as  dwarf  bushes  and  pyramids,  fan  trained,  hori¬ 
zontal  trained,  and  as  cordons  for  walls  and  fences.  The  dwarf 
trees  are  worked  on  the  common  Plum  stock,  standards  and 
pyramids  on  the  Mussle  Plum.  Plums  should  he  grown  in  open, 
sunny  position.s-,  whether  in  gardens,  orchards,  or  on  walls  or 
fences.  A  deep  soil  is  not  required,  but  it  should  he  a  mode¬ 
rately  moist,  sandy  loam,  and  will  he  improved  if  intermixed  with 
old  mortar.  The  distances  for  planting  stan^rds  jshquld  be 
15ft  to  20ft  apart  each  way,  pyramids  Oft  to  .l,Qft,  f^n,/drained 
15ft,  bush  trained  6ft,  to  9ft,  cordons  to  18in.  Plums  are  usually 
well  furnished  with  fibrous  roots,  and  on  this  account  they  should 
be  kept  well  covered  from  the  time  of  lifting  until  the  planting 
is  accomplished,  or  the  tender. fibrcjs  may  be  destroyed.  Do  not 
plant  too  deeply,  not  more  than  will  suffice  tO' cover  the  roots  a 
few  inches.  Stake  promptly  all  the  standard  trees  immediately 
after  planting. 
CHERRIES. — As  standard.s  in  orchards,  and  as  bushes, 
pyramids,  and  trained  for  espaliers,  C'herries  are  usually  worked 
on  Cherry  stocks,  but  some  varieties,  including  the  Kentish  and 
IMorello,  do  well  on  the  Mahaleb  stock,  which  is  a  dwarfing 
stock  for  Cherries.  In  orchards,  standards  and  half-standards 
the  best  adapted,  planting  them  20ft  to  25ft  apart.  Pyramids 
in  gardens  may  be  15ft  apart,  bushes  5ft  to  8ft,  horizontal,  or 
fan  trained,  15ft,  and  cordons  18in.  A  rich,  sandy  soil  is  be.st 
for  Cherries,  and  the  trees  generally  should  have  an  open,  sunny 
position.  The  Morello  will  do  well  on  north  and  east  walls. 
The  restricted  trees  on  walls  should  be  grown  with  a  limited 
number  of  branches,  and  the  side  shoots  shortened  to  form  spurs, 
but  the  ^torellos  will  be  most  profilic  if  old  and  weak  shoots  only 
arc  removed,  and  young  growths  kept  from  croAvding. — East 
Kent. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES:  EARLIEST  FORCED  IN  POTS.— Vines  started 
now  will  afford  Grapes  fit  for  table  in  April,  or  a  little  earlier 
with  sharp'  forcing.  For  early  work  not  any  are  better  than 
Black  Hamburgh  and  Foster’s  Seedling,  or  for  quality.  White 
Frontignan  and  Madresfield  Court.  Stout,  Avell-ripened  canes, 
with  plump  buds,  and  given  a  short  rest,  answer  for  early  forcing. 
The  Vines  require  a  light,  airy,  efficiently  heated  structure,  which 
may  be  a  lean-to  facing  south,  or  a  three-quarter  span-roof  having 
the  same  aspect,  or  a  span-roof  with  ends  east  and  west.  If  the 
hot-water  pipes  are  at  the  front  of  the  lean-to  or  three-quarter, 
also  at  the  sides  of  the  span-roof,  the  Vines  may  be  stood  upon 
them,  placing  tiles  or  slate®  on  the  pipes,  and  standing  the  pots 
on  them.  The  tiles  or  slates  become  warmed  and  transmit  the 
heat  to  the  pots,  which  are i more  or  less  ivarmed  at  their  base, 
and  the  roots  are  not  prejudiced  by  the  heat.  The  tiles  or 
slates  also  throw  off  much  of  the  water  or  liqqid  manure  escaping 
from  the  pots,  so  that  there  is  no  risk  of  a  surfeit  of  steam. 
Pedestals  of  loose  bricks  should  be  formed  for  Vines  in  beds  to 
stand  upon,  thus  raising  them  to  the  required  height  and  pre¬ 
venting  sucking.  Vines  in  pots,  and  restricted  thereto,  afford 
excellent  fruit  with  judicious  feeding.  Oak  or  Beech  leaves  are 
the  best  for  affording  bottom  heat,  they  supply: a  genial  warmth 
and  regular  moisture  in  the  early  stages,  and  rich,  stimulating 
food  Avhen  the  demands  of  the  Vines  are  greatest.  The  house 
should  now  be  ready,  and  the  plants  placed  in  position.  The 
canes  should  be  kept  horizontally,  or  have  the;  ends  depressed, 
if  necessarj',  to  insure  their  breaking  evenly  from  the  base  up- 
Avards.  Damp  the  Vines  and  house  two  or  three  times  a  day, 
and  maintain  a  temperature  of  55deg,  on  fine  days  65deg,  the 
heat  about  the  pots  not  exceeding  60deg  to  65deg.  Only  afford 
Avater  to  render  the  soil  evenly  moist,  as  a.  Avet  medium  letards 
root  action,  and  in  no  wise  contributes  to  a  good  break,  but  the 
reverse. 
EARLY  FORCED  PLANTED-OUT  VINES.— When  young 
and  vigorous  Vines  have  to  be  started  for  the  first  time,  to  afford 
ripe  Grapes  at  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May,  the  house  should 
be  closed  by  the  middle  of  the  month,  for  they  do  not,  as  a  tule, 
break  so  quickly  as  Vines  that  have  been  forced  for  a  number 
of  years.  The  older  Vines  that  have  previously  been  forced  need 
not  be  started  until  the  beginning  of  December.  To  produce  a 
soft  humid  atmosphere,  and  to  economise  fuel,  a  good  ridge  of 
fermenting  material  may  be  placed  upon  the  floor  or  border,  and 
be  turned  at  short  intervals,  additions  of  fresh  being  made  as  the 
heat  declines.  The  temperature  of  the  house  .should  range  about 
50deg  at  night,  55deg  by  day,  and  65deg  on  bright  days.  The 
outside  border  must  b©  protected  from  frost  by  a  covering  of 
leaves,  Avith  a  little  litter  over  them  to  prevent  their  bloAving 
about.  If  spare  , 'lights  are  at  command  by  all  means  use  them 
to  tliroAV  off  heavy  rains  and  snow. 
HOUSES  CLEARED  OF  GRAPES.— When  the  Vines  are 
leafless,  and  the  Grapes  cut,  attend  to  the, pruning  Avithout  delay, 
for  nothing  contributes  more  to  health  and  a  good  break  than 
thorough  cleanliness,  and  an  early  and  complete  period  of  rest. 
Vines  in  good  condition,  having  stout,  short-jointed  wood 
thoroughly  ripened,  may  safely  be  pruned  to  a  couple  of  buds. 
The  latter,  hoAvever,  are  not  alAvays  sufficiently  developed  at  the 
base  of  the  annual  groAvths  to  give  as  large  bunches  as  desired, 
and  in  that  case  the  laterals  may- be  left  a  little  longer,  say,  near 
tAvo  more  eyes.  It  is  necessary  that  a  plump,  round  (not  largo 
and  flat),  AWll-developed  ,bud  on  stout,  hard,  thoroughly  ripe 
Avood  be  selected  for  pruning  to,  as  such  usually  produces  a  close, 
Avell-set,  compact  bunch.  When  the  Avood  has  not  thoso  charac¬ 
teristics  the  basal  buds  are  often  small,  Avhich  arises  from  various 
causes — sometimes  from  overcropping,  frequently  .from  excessive 
vigour,  at  others  through  overcrowding,  and  oftentimes  fpm 
AvSikness.  The  result  is  small  bunches  when  hard  and  fast  lines 
are  practised.  Wash  the  Vines  Avith  tepid  soapy  Avater,  such  a.s 
paraffin  softsoap,  4oz  to  a  gallon  of  Avater,  using  a  brush,  yet 
Avith  car©  and  judgment,  so  as  to  reach  and  dislodge  any  hiber¬ 
nating  pests.  Remove  the  remains,  of  the  mulchings,  also  the 
surface  material,  down  to  the  roots,  especially  near  the  collar, 
and  supply  a  top-dressing  of  turfy  loam  chopped  up  moderatelj^ 
small,  and  to  a  barroAV-load  (about  three  bushels)  add  a  pint  of 
steamed  bonemeal,  a  quart  of  soot,  and  half  a  gallon  of  a.oou 
ashes’,  incorporating  thoroughly.  M  here  the  houses  must  be 
used  for  plants  they  should  be  kept  cool,  not  exceeding  40(ieg 
to  45deg,  ventilating  freely  above  that  temperature. 
HOUSES  OF  THIN-SKINNED  GRAPES.— The  soil  and 
atmosphere  having  been  .saturated  by  rain,  these  haArn.  caused 
Grapes  that  have  been  ripe  since  August,  particularly  Black 
Hamburghs,  to  damp  considerably  in  spite  of  free  ventilation  and 
a  genial  Avarmth  in  the  hot-Avater  pipes.  The  Vines  that  ripened 
their  crops  in  September  are  still  in  foliage,  and  must  bear  more 
