JUNE. 169 



collected on each occasion show how much benefit the institution derives 

 from them. The committee therefore appeal to those gentlemen and 

 gardeners who have it in their power to present donations of fruit and 

 flowers, to assist them as much as possible at the ensuing anniversary 

 meeting, feeling that on such an occasion there should be such a supply 

 of Howers and truit as would do honour to the cause, and show to the 

 friends of gardeners what gardeners can do. We are sure that many 

 have it in their power to assist the institution in the manner alluded to, 

 and we are empowered to state that such donations will be gladly received 

 by ]\Ir. E. R. (Jutler, the Secretary, 14, Tavistock Row, Covent Garden, 

 London. 



HINTS ON GRAPE GROWING.— No. X. 

 By a Couktry Gardener. 



By November the Vines will have their wood ripened to a brown 

 colour throughout their entire length, and by this time the leaves will 

 be changing to a brownish yellow, or red colour, according to the kind 

 of Vines grown, and ready to fall when touched. When this is the 

 case, the lateral or side shoots should at once be cut out, and the Vines 

 may have about 12 or 18 inches cut off the top, leaving the rod that 

 distance from the back of the house ; the two spurs likewise at the 

 bottom of the cane should be shortened back, leaving only one clear 

 joint from the old wood. The Vines may now be more fully exposed, 

 by permitting the ventilation to remain open day and night, merely 

 excluding rain. By following this treatment till the beginning of 

 January the wood will get well hardened, after which the Vines may 

 either be fully exposed, if it is desirable for any purpose to remove the 

 sashes enthely ; or, as the house may be rendered useful in various 

 ways, for wintering plants, vegetables, &c., the sashes may remain on, 

 giving air very liberally in mild weather, and never using the fires, 

 except for keeping out fi'ost. Notwithstanding that the Vine is per- 

 fectly hardy under ordinary circumstances, and will withstand the 

 severest frosts without injury when growing in the open air in Vine 

 countries, yet, under their previous artificial treatment, it will be safer, 

 more especially with young Vines, to give them some protection, should 

 severe weather set in during the time they are exposed ; this may be 

 done by tying two or three of the canes together, and wrapping them 

 round with a hay band, straw, or fern. This precaution will be the 

 safest plan, for I have many times seen young, strong-growing Vines 

 destroyed by being exposed (or wintered, as some call it) to severe 

 frosts during winter. As the buds will commence swelling early in 

 ]\Iarch, the sashes, if removed, should then be put on the house ; and 

 if the Grapes are wanted to ripen in August, or early in September, 

 the house may be kept closed on the afternoons of warm, sunny days, 

 to bring them on gradually. 



By way of preventing attacks from red spider, which may hereafter 



