546 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  10,  1903. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
C’FCrZvIBERS.— Fo<'«;y,  wet,  dull  and  cold  weather,  with 
windy  and  bright  intervals,  tax  the  plants  severely,  growth  being 
very  unsatisfactory.  As  every  ray  of  light  is  valuable,  the  glass 
should  be  kept  as  clean  as  possible,  both  outside  and  inside. 
Not  to  give  a  check  use  warm  sweet  soil  and  not  very  wet,  for 
earthing  up  the  roots,  covering  them  lightly  as  showing  at  the 
sides  of  the  ridges  or  hillocks.  A  few  sweetened  horse  dropiDings 
with  an  occasional  sprinkling  of  soot  spread  oil  the  surface  will 
attract  the  roots  and  afford  nourishment  to  the  plants  when 
watered.  This  is  preferable  to  liquid  manure,  unless  the  plants 
are  growing  in  very  small  beds,  or  confined  to  boxes  or  pots ; 
then  copious  supplies  will  be  necessary.  Always  apply  it  weak 
and  teiiid,  and  not  too  often,  suffice  that  the  soil  be  so  moist  as 
to  prevent  flagging.  Sufficient  atmospheric  moisture  will  be 
secured  by  damping  the  paths  and  walls  in  the  morning  and 
afternoon  of  bright  days ;  but  avoid  an  excess,  and  avoid 
an  arid  condition  by  damping  occasionally  as  tlie  surfaces  become 
dry.  Look  over  the  plants  at  least  once  a  week  for  stopping  or 
removing  bad  leaves,  thinning  the  growths  as  required,  but 
neither  pinching  the  shoots  nor  reducing  the  growths  will  be 
much  needed,  yet  these  must  not  be  neglected,  as  crov.ding  is 
one  of  the  greatest  evils  in  the  culture  of  winter  Cucumbers. 
MILDEW  is  sometimes  troublesome  at  this  time  of  the  year. 
It  may  be  combated  by  dusting  the  affected  parts  with  flowers, 
of  sulphur,  and  the'  atmosphere  should  be  kept  drier.  A  light 
brushing  over  the  hot  water  pipes  v  ith  a  cream  of  sulphur  and 
.skim  milk  is  useful  against  mildew,  red  spider,  and  whitei  fly., 
Aphides  and  thrips  are  be.st  destroyed  by  fumigation  with 
tobacco  paper  or  vapourisation  with  nicotine  es.sence.  Tobacco 
powder  dusted  on  green  and  black  fly  or  aphides  destroys  them, 
and  fumigation  on  two  or  three  consecutive  evenings  eradicates 
these  pe.sts. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES;  EARLIEST  FORCED 
TREES  IN  POTS. — To  have  fruit  riiie  at  the  earlie.st  possible 
time,  and  without  overtaxing  the  trees  by  very  hard  forcing, 
they  .should  be  started  without  loss  of  time  to  ripen  the  fruit  at 
the  end  of  April  or  beginning  of  Mav.  Only  the  very  early 
varieties  will  do  that,  such  as  Alexander,  Waterloo,  Duchess  of 
Cornwall,  Anrsden  June,  and  Early  Rivers  Peaches;  Cardinal, 
Early  Rivers,  and  Lord  Najiier  Nectarines.  These  embrace  a 
good  succession  for  about  a  month,  and  all  are  of  good  size,  fairly 
grown,  or  not  overcropped  ;  of  good  colourandof  first-class  quality. 
The  trees  do  admirably  in  a  three-quarter  span-roofed  house 
facing  south,  quarter,  half,  and  full  standard  trees  being  grown 
so  as  to  have  the  heads  near  the  glass.  Tomatoes  can  be  grown 
against  the  back  wall  for  an  early  supply  of  fruit,  and  when  tlie 
Peach  and  Nectarine  trees  go  outside,  the  house  will  be  at 
liberty  for  plants  in  pots.  The  trees  require  the  same  treatment 
as  trees  in  borders. 
EARLY  FORCED  PLANTED-OUT  TREES.— Trees  started 
in  December,  or  at  an  early  date  in  previous  years,  swell  their 
buds  promptly  without  excitement  from  artificial  heat,  but  those 
forced  for  the  first  time  are  slower  in  starting  into  flower.  To 
have  fruit  ripe  in  May,  and  the  trees  being  of  the  second  early 
and  midseason  varieties^  and  not  before  earl^^  forced,  the  house 
nimst  noAV  be  .started.  They  must  not  be  hurried,  but  given  time 
to  advance  .steadily  and  develop  a  strong  flower,  perfect  in  all 
Its  parts.  The  proper  procedure  is  to  admit  a  little  air  con¬ 
stantly  at  the  top  of  the  house,  and  above  SOdeg  it  should  be 
advanced  correspondingly  with  the  temperature.  Do  not  allow 
a  decline  below  SOdeg  in  the  daytime,  sufficient  artificial  heat 
being  employed  for  that  purpose,  and  with  sun  heat  an  advance 
may  be  allowed  to  GSdeg,  closing  for  the  day  before  the  heat  has 
receded  to  below  SSdeg.  A  temperature  of  40deg  to  ISdeo-  is 
ample  at  night  or  in  mild  weather  SOdeg.  ” 
WHEN  THE  FLOWERS  ARE  ADVANCED  so  as  to  .show 
the  anthers  cease  syringing,  but  afford  a  moderate  amount  of 
air-moisture  by  damping  the  borders,  paths,  and  walls  in  the 
morning  and  afternoon  on  fine  days.  Avoid  a  close  moist  atmo¬ 
sphere  at  any  time,  especially  at  night.  Examine  the  inside 
borderj  making  sure  that  tliere  is  no  deficiency  of  moisture.  If 
necessary  afford  a  thorough  supply  of  water  or  liquid  manure  to 
weakly  trees.  The  surface  soil  is  often  deceptive,  being  kept 
morst  by  .syringing,  therefore  supjily  enough  to  moi,sten  the  soil 
through  to  the  drainage,  for  surface  moistening  does  little  good, 
frees  often  have  weakly  blossoms,  and  fail  to  set  in  consequence 
of  water  being  given  to  the  tops  of  the  trees  instead  of  to  the 
roots.  Remember,  a  sodden  soil  is  .just  as  bad,  or  worse,  than  a 
dry  one,  therefore  guard  against  extremes  either  way.  If  there 
i.s  a  superabundance  of  blossom  buds  remove  those  on  the  under 
side  of  the  trellis  or  shoots  by  drawing  the  hand  the  reverse 
way  of  the  growths.  This  will  materially  assi.st  the  swelling  of 
the  remaining  buds.  If  there  be  any  trace  of  aphides  fumigate 
the  house  on  two  or  three  consecutive  evenings.  Protect  the 
outside  border  with  leaves  and  a  little  litter,  but  not  so  as  heat, 
in  order  to  keep  the  soil  from  freezing,  for  in  such  condition  the 
roots  can  only  imbibe  soil-moisture. 
SLCCESSION  HOUSES. — Where  the  roof  lights  are  move- 
*>hle  it  IS  much  the  best  plan  to  remove  them,  and  expose  the 
trees  to  the  elements  for  the  winter,  the  wood  being  thoroughly 
ripe.  This  is  inimical  to  many  insects,  especially  brown  .scale, 
and  the  trees  are  insured  rest  and  thorough  moistening  of  the 
border.  Even  latest  and  unheated  houses  are  best  treated  in 
this  way,  often  having  the  effect  of  causing  the  trees  to  retain 
their  buds,  which  cast  them  under  fixed  roofs,  and  the  blossoms 
are  generally  finer  than  on  trees  that  are  kept  constantly  evapo¬ 
rating  from  the  young  wood  through  the  time  they  are  at  re.st 
under  fixed  roofs,  or  when  tiiev  are  subject  to  alternating  rests 
and  excitements  where  plants  are  grown  in  the  house.  The 
fogs  and  damp  of  winter,  with  the  drenching  rains  and  .snow  suit 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  in  well-drained  soil,  the  trees  being 
invigorated  and  the  soil  nourished.  If  the  houses  have  fixed 
roofs,  ventilate  the  house  to  the  fulle.st  extent  in  all  but  very 
severe  weather.  Proceed  with  the  pruning,  bringing  matters  to 
a  close  in  respect  of  cleansing  the  house  and  trees  as  soon  as 
pos.sible. — St.  Alb.\nS. 
Weather  Notes. 
Sussex  Weather. 
The  tota,l  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh,  Haywards  Heath,  for  the  past 
month  was  2.03in.,  being  1.57in.  below  the  average.  The  heaviest 
■  fall  was  l.lOin.  on  the  27th.  Rain  fell  on  thirteen  clays.  The 
qixaxiinum  temperature  was  57deg  on  the  9th,  the  minimum  27deg  on 
the  26th..  Mean  maximum,  SO.Oldeg,  mean  minimum,  37.02dcg;  mean 
tomperature,  43.51deg — a  little  above  the  average. — R.  Ct. 
November  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle,  1903. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  W. ;  totalTen  days.  The 
total  rainfall  Avas  1.89in. ;  this  fell  on  tAventy-Uvo  days,  and  is  O.Slin. 
below  the  average  for  the  month  ;  the  greatest  daily  fall  Avas  0.56in.  on 
the  27th.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced) :  highest  reading, 
30.649in.  on  the  5th,  at  9  a.m.;  loAvest  reading,  29.076in.  on  the  27th, 
at  9  p.m.  Thermometer:  highest  in  the  shade,  65deg  on  the  12th  and 
24th;  loAvest,  23deg  on  the  19th;  mean  of  daily  maxima,  48.30deg ; 
mean  of  daily  minima,  36.20deg  ;  meau  temperature  of  the  month, 
42.25deg;  loAvest  on  the  grass,  19deg  on  the  19th  ;  highest  in  the  sun, 
89deg  on  the  23rd ;  mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3  feet,  47.10deg. 
Total  sunshine,  89  hours  20  min.,  Avhich  is  27  hours  28  min.  aboAU  the 
average  for  the  month ;  there  were  six  sunless  days. — W.  H.  Dia'ER.S 
Notes  from  NeAwton  Mearns,  N.B. 
During  the  past  week  exceptionally  sev'ere  Aveather  has  been 
experienced.  On  Sunday  frost  set  in  Avith  much  intensity,  and 
overnight  15  degrees  were  recorded.  On  Tuesday  and  Wednesday 
similar  readings  of  frost  Avere  registered,  and  curling  Avas  engaged  in 
in  most  places.  On  Thursday  there  AA'as  a  slight  fall  of  snoAV,  but  at 
night  a  a’Ciw  decided  thaev  set  in,  and  snoAv  gave  place  to  a  heavy 
rainfall.  On  Friday  and  Saturday  Ave  had  a  mixture  of  Aveather;  suoav, 
I’ain,  sleet,  and  frost,  alternately;  and  in  many  places  the  roads  are  a 
perfect  sheet  of  ice,  making  traffic  a  difficulty.  Although  at  present 
there  is  CA'cry  sign  of  keen  frost  again,  yet  the  barometer  is  Ioav,  and 
unsettled  Aveather  may  be  looked  tor  for  some  days  to  come.  Outdoor 
labour  is  at  present  at  a  standstill.  So  far  as  the  garden  is  eoneeimed, 
nothing  can  be  done  under  such  climatic  conditions,  but  the  covering 
of  herbaceous  plants,  Roses,  &e.,  should  be  attended  to  Avithout 
delay.^ — N.  R. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Rain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
!  Lowest 
Temperature 
1  on  Grass. 
November 
and 
December. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Drv 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
•*a 
0 
hO 
a 
4a 
OQ 
<u 
0 
Aeg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Ins. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Sundav  ...29 
N.E. 
41.2 
37 '9 
46-3 
390 
— 
45-7 
47-5 
500 
32  8 
Monday  ...30 
N.E, 
33-8 
32  7 
35'7 
31-8 
— 
43-9 
47-5 
500 
27-3 
Tuesday...  1 
N.E. 
33-7 
326 
38  0 
31-4 
— 
42-2 
46-8 
49  9 
26-5 
Wed’sday  2 
N.W. 
32'6 
30  6 
39-3 
29  0 
— 
40-9 
46-0 
49-8 
19-0 
Thursday  3 
S.W. 
37T 
32-9 
45-6 
23-8 
0-16 
39-2 
45-3 
495 
16-3 
Friday  ...  4 
S.W. 
43-5 
42-5 
46-3 
37-0 
— 
40'8 
44  5 
49-3 
32-3 
Saturday  5 
S.E. 
27-0 
26  5 
34  0 
26-8 
39-9 
44-5 
48-9 
19-5 
Total. 
Means  ... 
35  6 
337 
40-7 
31-3 
0T6 
418 
460 
496 
24  8 
The  Aveather  has  been  dull  and  misty,  with  sharp  frosty  mornings, 
and  a  thick  fog  on  the  5th  inst. 
