November  19,  1903. 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Nil 
Fruit  Forcing. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES:  EARLIEST  FORCED 
HOUSE. — The  tree.s  must  now  be  started  to  ripen  the  fruit  in 
May,  when  the  varieties  consist  of  Hale’s  Early,  Condor,  Dr. 
Hogg,  Stirling  Castle,  Royal  George,  and  Dymoiid  Peaches,  with 
Early  Rivers,  Lord  Napier,  Stanwick  Elruge,  Humboldt,  and 
Dryden  Nectarines.  The  very  early  varieties,  Alexander  or 
Waterloo,  Duchess  of  Cornwall,  and  Amsden  June  Peaches,  Avith 
Cardinal  Nectarines,  need  not  be  started  until  the'  new  year  to 
ripen  at  the  time  named.  The  trees  should  be  thoroughly 
examined  for  brown  aphis,  and  if  there  be  the  least  trace  of  the 
pests  the  affected  parts  should  be  brushed  over  the  same  way  as 
the  growths  Avith  tobacco  AAater,  and  the  house  fumigated  on  tAVo 
consecutive  eA'enings  Avith  tobacco  paper  or  vaporised  Avith  nico¬ 
tine.  If  the  roof  lights  haAm  been  draAvn  off,  the  border  Avill 
have  been  thoroughly  moistened  doAvn  to  the  drainage,  but  there 
must  not  be  any  mistake  about  this,  for  it  is  important  that  the 
trees  have  sufficient  Avater  at  the  roots,  therefore  if  any  doubt 
exists  on  that  point  give  a  thorough  Avatering,  or  apply  liquid 
manure  for  the  benefit  of  Aveakly  trees.  Fire  heat  need  only  be 
employed  at  night  to  exclude  frost,  and  by  day  te  ensure  a 
temperature  of  oOdeg.  Commence  ventilating  at  oOdeg,  and 
close  the.  house  at  that  temperature,  ventilating  fully  Avithout 
loAvering  the  temperature  beloAV  oOdeg  in  the  daytime. 
Syringe  the  trees  in  the  morning  and  early  afternoon  of  fiije 
days  until  the  buds  begin  to  shoAv  colour,  but  then  (and  on  dull 
days  prior  thereto)  discontinue  the  syringing,  yet  maintain  a 
genial  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  by  damping  the  paths  and 
borders  on  bright  mornings  and  fine  afternoons,  admitting  a 
little  air  constantly  at  the  top  of  the  house.  Aim  at  bringing 
the  trees  on  gradually  to  secure  Avell-developed  blossoms,  strong 
in  the  stamens,  Avith  anthers  laden  Avith  perfect  pollen,  and  the 
pi.stils  stout,  Avell  advanced  aboAm  the  ovaryq  and  perfect  for  fer¬ 
tilisation.  These,  hoAvcAmr,  Avill  be  perfect  or  imperfect  as  they 
are  formed  in  embryo  in  the  previou-s  season,  but  they  can  be 
enfeebled  by  bringing  them  on  too  rapidly,  and  made  thin  in 
the  petals,  Aveak  in  stamens,  and  slender  in  pi.stil,  with  ill- 
deA'eloped  oAmry,  by  not  affording  time  for  their  perfect  deA'elop- 
ment. 
HOUSES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.— Trees  started 
early  in  the  year,  and  of  the  old  forcing  A'arieties,  must  be  kept 
as  cool  as  possible.  This  is  best  effected  by  keeping  the  roof 
light  off  the  house  until  the  time  of  starting.  The  severest 
weather  does  not  injure  the  Avood  or  buds,  and  the  trees  are 
then  in  perfect  rest,  so  far  as  it  is  practicable  in  our  climate. 
Pruning  will  have  been  attended  to,  Avhich  is  a  light  affair  Avhere 
proper  attention  ha.s  been  given  to  disbudding  and  cutting  out, 
after  the  fruit  is  gathered,  the  useless  wood.  The  trees,  hoAv- 
CA'er,  must  be  examined  to  remoA'e  Avood  not  required  and  that 
OA'erlooked  during  groAvth.  Brown  scale  is  sometimes  trouble¬ 
some,  and  it  is  impatient  of  extremes.  Syringing  Avith  Avater 
at  a  temperature  of  140deg  to  1.50deg  frees  the  branches  from  the 
pest,  but  the  AAater  must  not  be  used  excessivel.y,  it  sufficing 
to  rinse  every  part  Avith  hot  Avater.  Frost  also  has  a  decisive 
effect  on  broAvn  scale,  and  trees  exposed  in  the  rest-  season  are 
seldom  affected  with  it,  but  it  is  often  introduced  from  plant 
hou.ses  by  persons  in  charge  of  ventilation.  Trees  under  fixed 
roofs  may  be  cleansed  from  scale  by  Avashing  them  Avith  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  carbolic  or  paraffin  soap,  4ozs  to  a  gallon  of  Avater,  using 
a  stiffish  brush,  taking  care  not  to  di,slocate  the  buds.  Secure 
the  trees  to  the  trellis,  allowing  plenty  of  space  in  the  ties  for 
the  SAvelling  of  the  branches.  RemoAm  any  loo.se,  moist  soil  ; 
supply  fresh  loam,  not  more  than  2in  thick,  on  the  roots,  to 
which  add  a  quart  of  bonemeal,  a  similar  quantity  of  soot,  and 
double  the  amount  of  Avood  ashes  per  barroAvload,  the  AA’hole  Avell 
incorporated.  Mulching  the  surface  Avith  short  manure  should 
be  deferred  until  the  trees  are  someAvhat  adAmnced  in  groAvth. 
Houses  with  fixed  roofs  should  be  kept  as  cool  as  possible, 
ventilating  to  the  fullest  extent,  excepting  Avhen  severe  Aveatlicr 
prevails. 
HOUSES  STARTED  IN  FEBRUARY.— The  trees  started 
early  in  February  ripen  the  fruit  late  in  June  or  early  in  Jul.y, 
and  Avill  noAv  require  similar  treatment  to  that  advised  for  those 
in  the  hou.se  to  be  started  at  the  new  year.  The  roof  lights  are 
very  much  better  remoA^ed,  but  it  is  a  common  practice  to  use 
houses  of  the  kind  for  plants  requiring  protection  from  frost, 
especially  Chrysanthemums.  It  is  not  an  advisable  proceeding, 
for  the  Peach  trees  are  deprived  of  that  rest  so  essential  to 
success,  and  it  often  excites  them  prematurely,  being  then 
folloAved  by  a  check,  as  is  usually  caused  Avhen  the.  Chry.s- 
anthemums  are  over  by  throAving  the  house  open,  inducing  the 
buds  to  fall.  It  is  al'^o  a  bad  system  to  leave  houses  and  trees 
unattended  after  the  leaves  fall,  and  the  delay  is  taken  advan¬ 
tage  of  by  red  spider  and  other  pests  to  find  safe  retreats.  The 
house,  therefore,  should  be  thoroughl.y  cleansed,  the  trees 
pruned,  readjusted  to  the  trellis,  and  every  needful  operation 
performed,  so  that  a  start  may  confidently  be  made  Avhen  the 
proper  time  arrives. 
HOUSES  STARTED  IN  MARCH. — The  trees  in  these  stiuc- 
tures  Avill  ripen  the  fruit  in  July  if  brought  forward  by  arti¬ 
ficial  heat,  but  where  Avarmth  is  only  given  Avhen  the  trees  are 
in  bloom,  and  to  secure  the  safet.y  of  the  young  fruit  from  frost, 
the  fruit  Avill  not  ripen  until  August  or  September  if  kept  cool, 
and  the  Anarieties  are  the  usual  midseason  ones.  The  house  may 
bo  a  Peach  case,  or  glass-covered  Avail,  Avith  sufficient  hot-Avater 
piping  to  exclude  frost ;  afford  a  genial  Avarmth  Avhen  the  trees 
near  blossom,  accelerating  the  ripening  as  may  be  necessary, 
and  ripening  the  Avood  in  cold  districts.  The  trees  are  now  leaf¬ 
less  Avhere  they  have  been  subjected  to  artificial  heat  to  ripen 
the  fruit  in  August,  and  should  undergo  the  operation  advised 
for  those  in  the  early  houses,  the  roof  lights  should  be  removed, 
the  hot-Avater  pipes  emptied,  leaving  the  lights  off  until  the 
blo.ssoms  shoAV  colour,  unless  it  is  desired  to  start  the  tree.s 
before.  If  the  lights  are  fixed,  the  ventilators  should  be  thrown 
open  to  the  fullest  extent,  except  when  fro.st  prevails. 
LATEST  HOUSES. — Late  Peaches  are  quite  as  valuable  as 
early  ones,  considering  that  they  are  had  at  much  less  cost,  for 
all  that  is  required  for  late  houses  is  a  gentle  Avarmth  in  the  hot- 
Avater  pipes  in  spring  and  autumn,  and  not  ahvays  heat  at  those 
times.  The  fruit  are  noble  at  dessert,  and,  when  Avell  done, 
good  in  quality.  Make  no  attempt  to  remove  the  leaves  until 
they  part  readily  from  the  trees  by  shaking  the  trellis.  Cut 
out  all  the  wood  that  has  borne  fruit,  and  all  superfluous 
groAvths.  Do  not  alloAV  the  soil  to  become  very  dry,  but,  if 
necessary,  give  Avater  to  moisten  the  soil  down  to  the  drainage. 
Keep  the  house  cool  by  free  ventilation,  clearing  away  the  leaves 
as  they  fall.  Trees  that  groAv  too  luxuriantly  should  be  rooU 
prunecl  and  lifted  Avhilst  the  leaves  are  upon  them ;  but  the 
Avood  being  unripe,  they  must  not  be  lifted  until  the  leaves 
have  for  the  most  part  fallen,  or  the  unripe  Avood  Avill  shrivel 
and  die.  If  the  Avood  does  not  ripen  Avell,  turn  the  heat  on  by 
day  Avith  moderate  ventilation,  and  shut  it  off  in  the  afternoon, 
so  as  to  have  the  pipes  cool  by  night,  and  then  open  all  the  ven¬ 
tilators,  unless  frost  prevails,  Avhen  ventilate  according  to  cir¬ 
cumstances,  for  a  sudden  collapse  of  the  foliage  is  detrimental 
to  the  tree’s  health. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
CELERY. — Further  groAvth  Avill  not  be  made  by  the  main 
crops  of  Celery,  espe'cially  those  Avhich  are  noAv  of  large  size, 
hence  the  final  earthing  should  be  carried  out,  if  not  already 
done.  Plenty  of  soil  should  be  Avorked  round  the  plants,  draw¬ 
ing  the  stems  closely  together  to  prevent  it  entering  the  hearts. 
Bank  the  soil  well  up  towards  the  top.s,  leaving  about  6in  of 
leaves  or  tops  visible.  The  later  roAvs  of  Celery  should  be  earthed 
in  proportion  to  their  size.  For  the  present  it  Ls  not  advisable 
to  carry  the  soil  aboA^e  the  heart  leaves.  In  mild  Aveather  the 
plants  will  advance  in  size,  but  growth  is  very  sIoav  noAv,  and 
small  plants  Avill  never  become  large;  but  if  short  and  sturdy 
plants  are  Avell  blanched  the  quality  is  good. 
SEAKALE. — The  foliage  of  Seakalo  having  noAV  all  died 
doAvn,  it  is  necessary  to  rake  it  off  the  beds.  Then  lift  a  portion 
of  the  roots,  and  select  the  best  and  strongest  central  main 
rO'Ots  with  a  Avell  developed  croAvn  to  each,  and  lay  in  moist 
soil  for  the  purpose  of  u.sing  them  for  forcing  in  a  short  time. 
This  is  better  than  Avaiting  until  they  are  actually  required. 
In  trimming  the  roots  for  forcing  purposes  there  will  be  a 
number  of  the  slenderer  portions  Avhich  are  of  no  present  use. 
They  may,  lioAvever,  be  prepared  as  planting  roots.  Cut  them 
to  a  uniform  lengtli  of  Gin,  utilising  all  those  of  the  thickness  of 
the  little  finger.  In  order  to  distinguish  the  top  froni  the 
bottom,  cut  the  former  straight  across  and  the  latter  slantingly. 
Lay  them  in  a  moist  soil,  or  sand,  in  a  sheltered  place  outdoors, 
and  by  April  a  ring  of  groAvth  Avill  be  forming,  and  they  may  bo 
planted. 
C’AULIFLOWERS  AND  EARLY  BROCCOLI.- If  any  heads 
of  CaulifloAver  still  remain  it  Avill  be  advisable  to  lift  the  plants 
and  place  under  shelter.  Pull  up  and  destroy  the  old  stumps. 
Early  Broccoli  Avhich  may  be  just  beginning  to  form  heads,  must 
have  these  protected  from  heavy  damp  and  frost.  This  may  best 
be  done  by  breaking  some  leaves  OAmr  them,  though  plants  Avith 
finely  developed  heads,  or  promising  such,  may  be  lifted  and 
laid  in  under  coAmr. 
BEET. — Recently  lifted  Beetroots,  having  noAV  become  dried, 
tliey  may  be  stored  in  a  cool  dry  place,  betAveen  layers  of  dry 
soil  or  ashes.  Ai-range  the  croAvns  outAvards.  When  stored  in 
damp  material  young  rootlets  are  encouraged,  Avhich  in  time 
become  ver>'  strong,  and  are  detrimental  to  the  quality  of  the 
roots.  In  the  event  of  all  the  roots  not  being  lifted,  it  is  advis¬ 
able  to  do  so  before  seA’ere  frosts  occur. 
