592 
JOVnXAL  OB'  HORTICULTURE  AED  COTTAGE  GARDEXER. 
December  24,  1903. 
ecf'diiig  .summer.  Established  quaidei's  be  greatly  beneBted 
bv  a  liberal  mulching  ot  manure. 
JAPANESE  WINEBERHIES.— A  jdantation  of  this  hardv 
fruit-bearing  shrub  may  be  treated  in  pruning  similar  to  Black 
Cun-ants,  cutting  out  shoots  that  have  borne  fruit,  and  leaving 
the  current  year’s  growths.  To  increase  the  stock  divide  some 
of  the  old  roots,  and  plant  in  good,  rich  soil  in  a  sunny 
position  in  rows  3ft  apart.  Mulch  with  littery  manure  for  the 
winter,  and  in  summei-  afford  a  lit)eral  dressing  of  rotten 
manure,  and  apply  lirjuid  manure  freely  when  the  fruit  is 
swelling.  —  E.vst  Kent. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
PEACHES  AND  XECTABIXES:  EARLIEST  HOUSE.— 
Tim  trees  must  not  be  syringed  after  the  blossoms  show  colour. 
Damp  the  borders  in  the  morning  and  in  the  eaily  part  of  the 
afternoon  of  fine  days.  ^Maintain  the  temperature  at  oOdeg  to 
o.'deg  bv  dav.  with  an  advance  from  sun  heat  to  OOdeg  to  Oodeg, 
but  not  without  ventilation  at  top  and  in  front,  oOdeg  being 
sufficiently  high  for  tho  night.  The  hourse  should  be  freelv' 
ventilated  when  the  weatlier  is  favoui-able.  Avoid  cold 
draughts,  however,  but  admit  a  little  air  by  the  top  lights. 
Hou.ses  that  have  innumei-able  “chinks”  ot  air  may  remain 
clo.sed  in  stormy  weather.  Tho  temperature  must  be  raised 
early  in  the  morning  to  oOdeg,  and  then  kept  between  that  and 
oodeg  through  the  day,  but  oodeg  mu.st  not  l)e  exceeded  l)y 
artificial  means,  nor  an  advance  allowed  above  it  without  a 
free  circulation  of  air,  and  it  is  not  a  good  plan  to  close  early 
in  the  afternoon  at  this  stage.  A  close,  moist  atmosphero 
favours  growth  more  than  sturdy  blossom,  and  is  bad  for  the 
setting  of  the  fruit.  Under  favourable  conditions  of  tlie  atmo¬ 
sphere  the  pollen  is  dispersed  in  a  golden  .shower  when  the  day 
is  bright  and  ventilation  has  been  attended  to  early  ;  the  .setting 
of  the  fruit  is  then  generallv  satisfactorv,  even  without 
artificial  fertilisation.  Tlie  trees  or  trellises,  however,  may 
b>e  shaken  evei-y  day  from  the  fiist  ])ollen  on  a  tree  becoming 
ripe  until  the  late.st  flowers  thereon  have  cast  their  petals.  A 
plume  of  Pampas  Gi-a.ss  drawn  over  the  blossoms  lightly  .scat tens 
the  pollen,  or  a  rabbit’s  tail  mounted  on  a  stick  may  be  Tised 
similarly.  A  camel-hair  brush  pa.ssed  over  pollen-laden  anthers 
and  applied  to  the  stigma  of  each  flower  is,  however,  the  most 
certain  method  of  artificial  fertilisation,  operating  after  the 
hou.se  has  been  ventilated  some  little  time.  ^ 
SECOXD  EARL\  HOL  SE.  —  This  may  lie  the  first  in  some 
e.stabli.shments,  but  in  any  case  the  tree.s,  to  afford  ripe  fruit 
in  May  or  early  in  June,  accoi'diug  to  the  vai’iety,  must  Ijp 
started  without  delay.  Alexander,  ^Duche.ss  of  Cornwall,  and 
Early  Rivers  Peaches  started  from  nov'  to  the  nev'  year  vill 
ripen  the  fruit  in  Mav,  Hales’  Earlv  and  Earlv  Grosso 
Mignonne  following  closelv  ;  but  Stirling  Castle,  Royal  George. 
Xoblease,  and  Gro.sse  Mignonne,  started  at  the  same  time,  will 
not  ripen  the  fruit  until  June  unless  very  hard  forced,  which 
is  inadvisable.  Fire  heat  should  only  be  employed  to  keep  oiit 
frost  at  night,  and  to  insure  50deg  I)y  dav.  above  which  venti¬ 
late  freely,  and  close  the  house  at  that  temperature,  except 
that  a  little  air  .should  be  admitted  constantlv  by.  the  top 
ventilators  in  close-fitting  houses.  Bring  the  trees  'on  .slowlv,  ' 
not  hurrying  them  in  swelling  the  buds,  and  if  these  are  abuVir 
dant,  rub  off  tho.se  on  the  under  side  or  at  the  back  , of,  the:, 
growths.  Sprinkle  the  ti-ees  in  the  morning  and  early  after¬ 
noon  of  bright  days  only,  damping  the  flobV  sufficing  whb’i 
the  weather  is  dull,  and  onlv  then  when  drv.  Apply  water  ’ 
if  nece.ssarv  to  bring  the  soil  into  a  thorouglilv  moist  .state. 
Outeide  borders  mu.st  be  covered  with  about"  3in  thickness  of 
leave.s  and  litter  to  prevent  the  soil  freezing,  but  avoid  thick 
and  rich  coverings. 
SI  CCESSIOX’  HOUSES. — The.se  cannot  be  kept  too  cool 
after  the  leaves  are  all  down,  and  the  trees  have  been  pruned 
and  dressed.  If  the  roof  lights  are  movable  they  shoulcl  be 
removed  whilst  the  trees  are  at  rest.  The  fro.sts  are  never  .^o 
severe  as  to  injure  the  wood  of  tree.s  in  good  health  and  profit- 
alne  use,  and  the  borders  become  thoroughly  moistened  bv  th? 
winter  rains  and  snow,  so  that  they  seldom  require  water  until 
the  fruit  IS  taking  the  first  swelling  and  entering  bn  the  stonino- 
proce.ss.  Trees  under  fixed  roofs  seldom  have  the  .soil 
thoroughly  moistened,  therefore  the  buds  are  imperfectlv 
toi  nied,  and  are  cast  when  they  should  be  develojiino-  into 
blo.s.som.  If  the  roof  lights  are  fixed,  the  borders  mu.st  be 
carefully  examined,  and  water  supplied  to  keep  the  .soil 
tliorough  y  moist.  Dryne.ss  at  the  roots  during  the  rest  period 
IS  a  rertile  source  of  the  })uds  falliu.^,  and  thorough  watering 
will  not  do  any  harm  provided  the  drainage  is  effective. 
t  ^'HEA  TED  HOUSES. — When  the  roof  lights  are  removed 
directly  the  leaves  are  all  down,  and  they  remain 
off  until  the  beginning  of  March,  the  trees  enjoy  a  ’complete 
season  of  rest  as  far  as  possible  in  our  climate.  Up  to  that 
time,  or  the  .swelling  of  the  buds,  they  are  simply  frost-proof, 
tor  it  IS  not  these  that  suffer  from  severe  frost,  but  the  unripe 
vood.  and  that  is  worse  than  useless,  as  it  falls  a  prey  to  disease. 
Danger  to  the  buds  begins  when  they  commence  swelling,  and 
having  burst  their  scales,  .show  the  downy  integuments  that 
protect  the  blo.s.som.s.  The  pruning  in  such  cases  is  usually 
deferred  until  the  spring,  which  is  a  light  affair  when  the 
trees  are  grown  on  the  long-pruning  sy.stem,  and  the  useless 
parts  cut  out  directly  the  fruit  is  gathered,  so  that  the  wouncls 
heal  at  once,  and  the  winter  pruning  is  rendered  almo.st  nil. 
Where  the  roof  light.s  are  fixed,  the  house  must  be  freely  venti¬ 
lated  in  mild  weather,  and  even  on  frosty  or  fine  days.'  Above 
all  things  see  that  there  is  no  deficiency  of  moisture  in  tho 
border,  affording  a  thorough  supply  of  water  when  necessary. 
— St.  Albans. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “The  Editoii,”12,  Mitre  Court  Chamber.s,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifi¬ 
able  trouble  and  expense.  In  naming  plants  we  only  undertake 
to  name  species,  or  well-marked  varieties,  and  only  six  on  any 
one  occasion.  Florists’  flowers  we  do  not  name. 
XATIOXAL  FRUIT  GROWERS’  FEDERATIOX.-The 
secretary  is  Mr.  H.  T.  Matthews,  and  his  address  28,  Eato.ii 
Ri.se,  Ealing,  W’. 
DOZLX  SELECT  HOLLIES  (F.I.y— The  common  Holly  (Ilex 
Aquifolium)  is  the  most  generally  serviceable  of  all  Hollies. 
The.  following  green  forms  are  good.  Grecian  Holly  (I.  A.  costata.T, 
distinct  and  free-growing:  Donnington’s  (I.  A.  Doningtoniensi.s), 
distinct,  of  free  pyramidal  habit  ;  Hender, son’s  (I.  A.  Hendensonl ; 
Hodgins’  (I.  A.  Hodginsi),  a  handsome  form  ;  X'oble  (I.  A.  nobili.s), 
a  vigorous-growing  form  ;  W^hittington’s  (I.  A.  W’hittingtoniensis), 
an  elegant  and  distinct  form,  variegated;  silver-edged  (I.  A. 
argentea  marginata) ;  Handsworth’s  (I.  A.  Handworthien.sis), 
handsome  free-growing;  silver-striped  (I.  A.  argentea  elegantis- 
sima) ;  Golden  Queen  (I.  A.  aurea  regina) ;  Hodgins’s  Golde:n 
(I.  A.  Hodginsi  aurea) ;  Waterer’s  Golden  (I.  A.  Wmteriana), 
a  beautiful  dense  dwarf  plant. 
FIXDIXG  CUBIC  -MEASUREIMEXTS  (Working  Gardener). 
— For  the  lean-to  multiply  the  length  of  the  house  by  the  width, 
the  product  by  the  height  of  the  front  of  the  hou.se,  and  this 
will  give  the  cubical  contents  of  the  lower  part.  Then  take  the, 
height  of  the  back  of  the  hou.se,  deducting  from  it  the  front 
height  and  multiplying  the  length  by  the  breadth,  and  this  by 
the  height,  divide  the  product  by  two,  and  the  remainder,  added 
to  the  product  of  the  lower  part,  is  the  contents  of  the  whole. 
For  a  three-quarter  span  proceed  in  the  same  way  for  the  lower 
part,  and  also  for  the  upper  part,  but  measuring  from  the  level 
of  the  front  to  the  ridge  of  the  house.  The.se  matters  are 
difficult  to  explain  without  diagrams,  which  we  hope  to  give 
shortly,  and  as  for  piping  required  for  bottom  heat  to  a  pro¬ 
pagating  house,  that  depends  entirely  on  the  width  of  the  pro¬ 
pagating  bed,  upon  which  point  you  give  no  particulars.  Please 
do  so,  .so  that  we  may  assist  vou. 
ROOTS  FROM  '  A  BLACK  HAiMBURGH  VIXE 
(Gardener). — The  roots  are  infested  by  the  white  root-rot 
fungus,  Ro.sellinia  necatrix,  which,  fortunately,  is  somewhat 
rare  in  Britain,  althou,gh  well  known  on  the  Continent,  where 
it  attacks  vineyards  and  orchards  in  a  wholesale  manner.  The 
fungus  is  naturallv  a  sapi-ojiliyte,  but  acquires  para.sitic  pro¬ 
clivities  under  certain  conditions.  Preventive  means  and 
remedial  measures  are  but  little  understood  and  of  no  use,  and 
when  the  mycelium  is  established  in  the  roots  cure  is  out  of 
the  question.  The  root  fungi,  however,  succumbs  to  ti-eating 
the  soil  with  soluble  creosote  solution,  such  as  the  preparations 
known  as  Little’s  soluble  phen.yle  and  Jeyes’  fluid — one  fluid 
ounce  to  a  gallon  of  water,  and  treatment  with  a  solution  of 
formaldehyde — loz  (fluid)  to  a  gallon  of  water — certainly 
destroys  all  the  mycelium  reached,  as  well  as  any  root  mites 
and  eelworms  that  are  not  unfrequently  associated  with  th? 
decaying  roots.  If  taken  in  time,  this  procedure  would  pro¬ 
bably  be  effective,  the  soil  being  thoroughly  satur.ated  with 
the  .solution.  The  only  injury  likely  to  result  is  that  of  the 
destruction  of  the  young  rootlets.  The  attack  of  the  Rosel- 
linia  is  probably  induced  by  the  border  consisting  of  too  rich 
and  -close  materials,  resulting  in  soddenness  and  decay  of  the 
roots,  hence  the  fungus  is  encouraged  as  a  saprophyte.  We 
know  of  no  better  procedure  than  that  you  are  pursuing, 
namely,  lifting  the  Vines,  removing  all  the  old  .soil,  cutting 
away  all  the  decayed  and  affected  parts  of  the  roots,  promptly 
burning  them,  and  relaying  the  roots  retained  in  sound 
material  of  a  calcareous  and  ferrugineous  nature. 
