THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 49 



guests are seated, and they have a delightful appearance under arti- 

 ficial light. 



The way I treat them is to select good strong cuttings as early 

 in the spring as possible ; and when well established in small pots 

 they are shifted into 48's, kept in the greenhouse, and staked the 

 height I want the stem to grow, which is generally from two feet 

 six inches to three feet. After they have attained that growth, they 

 are then stopped ; the secret being to get as many breaks as possible 

 from the first stopping to form the framework of the head ; all side- 

 shoots on the stem must be removed, but not the foliage. I in- 

 variably shift them for the last time about the middle of June ; they 

 are then plunged like the others, secured at the neck of the plant, to 

 prevent the wind breaking them, and liberally supplied with manure- 

 water. The varieties best adapted for this purpose are the early 

 and free-flowering sorts, so that they can be stopped a fortnight 

 later than the others. As a long season of growth is desirable, the 

 amateur may be led to take autumn cuttings for the formation of 

 standards. I feel bound to say that experience has taught me that 

 spring cuttings are far preferable, as they can be kept growing from 

 the first, and they have such health and vigour, that if properly 

 cared for, they make fine free heads, which plants from autumn 

 cuttings will not always do. 



In the management of standards, as well as in the cultivation of 

 dwarf specimens, it is well to observe that the young buds are apt to 

 suifer much from the attacks of green-fly. Whenever this pest makes 

 its appearance, the tips of the shoots should be dipped in tobacco- 

 water, or what will perhaps have a more permanent efiect, be dusted 

 over with tobacco-powder. 



The compost I use is one-half rich loam and one-half well-rotted 

 dung, with a little leaf-mould, and a liberal sprinkling of sand added. 

 The pots are drained with oyster-shells, and pounded oyster-shells 

 may be advantageously mixed with the compost. 



The liquid manure used is made up in the following way: I have 

 a large tank, into which I put a sackful of soot and a barrowload of 

 cow or sheep's dung, or a half of each, it being filled with rain- 

 water ; the whole is stirred frequently for a few days, and then left 

 to settle before being used. 



Before drawing my remarks to a close, I wish to impress on 

 amateurs the necessity of avoiding exciting them with fire-heat, 

 more especially when the buds are bursting, because it takes the 

 colour out, and frequently makes a good incurved flower reflex. On 

 the other hand, they must be protected from frost and storms, and 

 hence a cool conservatory is the best of all places in which to flower 

 them. 



A New Grape, under the name of Gros Dore, lias been introduced to public 

 notice by M. N. Ganjard, of Ghent. It is figured and described in the last number 

 of the Bulletin d' Arboriculture, and is said to be a desirable variety. The berries 

 are round, of a rich amber colour, slightly perfumed, and rich. It attains maturity 

 about a fortnight earlier than the Black Hamburgh, when grown in the same house 

 with that well-known variety. 



Februarj-. * 



