196 THE FLORIST. 



the early forced Grapes are ripe. There can be no doubt that after 

 Grapes are once ripe they will keep better when cut in the manner 

 described and hung in a dry dark room where a uniform temperature 

 of something like 40° can be maintained, than when allowed to 

 remain on the Vines. The great drawback to keeping Grapes 

 through the winter is damp and the action of the sun's rays, 

 which, by exciting a circulation in the sap of the Vines, tends to 

 produce decay in the ripe fruit. We were ourselves forcibly reminded 

 of this at the end of last February with a house of the St. Peter's. 

 The mild warm weather of that month put the sap in rapid motion, 

 and we found it even exude from the berries, which rapidly decayed in 

 consequence. Now, had these Grapes been cut previously, and kept 

 according to the plan of Mr. Sandars, this would not have happened, 

 and the Grapes would, we doubt not, have kept till the end of ]\Iarch. 

 The economy of the system must be obvious to all ; the expense of 

 firing houses with retarded Grapes is great, particularly in wet weather, 

 as air must be given largely at the same time, and this expense is 

 increased when, as often is the case, only a few Grapes are left, as 

 they are just the same trouble. We need not say, as an additional 

 recommendation, that when the fruit is cut the house can be used for a 

 variety of purposes, which would be impossible when it contained the 

 fruit. As the best plan for fruit rooms is now often discussed, we hope 

 a dry compartment for the above and other similar purposes will be 

 connected with it, as one of the most useful garden structures which 

 could be built where fruit has to be kept, and which no good garden 

 should be without. 



The Peach houses are of the usual lean-to form, the trees being 

 trained close under the glass. We found fine crops, and were pleased 

 to see the White Nectarine successfully grown with others. On one 

 side of the Melon ground is the range devoted to Cherries, &c. ; this is 

 likewise a lean-to erection ; Cherries occupy the back wall. A semi- 

 circular trellis runs along in front, on which are trained Plums, 

 Cherries, and Apricots ; one division had been cleared of the Cherries, 

 while the Plums and Apricots were progressing ; the trees are all 

 planted permanently, and nothing could exceed their health, and we 

 never saw finer fruit ; the Royal Duke, Churchill's Heart, Bigarreau, 

 and Elton were particularly fine. We have purposely noticed the 

 forcing houses being of the common lean-to form, as we are convinced 

 that for early forcing they are much superior ; and as Mr. Sandars' 

 Cherries, &c., have been hard forced for several years, and the trees are 

 now as healthy and productive as they can possibly be, we think the 

 planting the above fruits permanently to remain in the houses much 

 preferable and far less trouble than growing them in pots, as is usually 

 done. The Pinery was well filled with plants ; many of the fruit had 

 been cut, as Pines are chiefly in demand here during the season from 

 November to April, but a number were swelling off for the summer. 



Forced Asparagus is in great demand here throughout the winter ; 

 the beds are planted in the open ground, with a trench three feet wide 

 between each ; these are filled with a mixture of leaves and stable dung 

 a month or so before the crop is wanted, which excites the roots to 

 action, and the beds at the same time are covered with a span-roofed 



