1879.] GARDENS ENCLOSED WITH GLASS. 513 



comes to them. Probably the reason for this practice is, that after 

 the separation of the fruit from the tree or plant, in hot weather a 

 few days, and in the case of the Strawberry a few hours, suffice to 

 decompose the sugar and form the alcohol and ether, which is 

 the rlavourer, while our Pear takes a much longer time. It is no 

 argument against this view that fruit is often better flavoured when 

 gathered fresh from the tree or plant. If this be so, it is because the 

 fruit has already hung on the tree or plant so long that the desired 

 chemical changes have already taken place before its separation. 



It is hardly necessary to add that Apples and Pears, when stored 

 away, should rest on the stalk with their eyes visible, and not on 

 the apex, as sometimes practised, with the stalk uppermost and the 

 eyes downwards — a most uncomfortable position for any fruit. 



Laboke Vinces. 



GARDENS ENCLOSED WITH GLASS. 



If the experience of the past season will only awaken gardeners and 

 their employers to the gravity of future prospects of what are commonly 

 called hardy-fruit crops, and cause them to inquire into the reason of 

 the present dearth of fruit for ordinary supply, the empty fruit-rooms 

 of this season, and the insipid and wretched appearance of what little 

 they contain, will not have occurred in vain. 



Clearly it is the duty of every gardener who is intrusted with the 

 charge and management of any garden establishment of importance 

 where the outlay is heavy, to bring all the experience of practical 

 observation to bear upon the subject. The agricultural depression 

 is being inquired into by practical agriculturists, assisted by gentlemen 

 of great commercial knowledge and experience, and all the details of 

 cropping, as well as the whole machinery of the system, are to be thor- 

 oughly sifted. 



Is the practical gardener less intelligent than the majority of farmers 1 

 and are gardeners less capable of propounding schemes for the better 

 management of gardens under the altered climatal conditions of Great 

 Britain 1 I might almost say of Continental Europe, with little excep- 

 tion, during the present year. 



I wish I could define the position as clearly in words as I fancy I 

 understand it in thought ; the matter would be easily accomplished. 



At present most kitchen-gardens are enclosed by four brick walls, 

 the cost of which was no inconsiderable item of expenditure. The 

 south wall is generally occupied with forcing-houses, which answer the 

 purposes for which they are intended admirably, and from a commer- 

 cial point of view, when successfully managed, leave a very handsome 

 profit on the right side of the balance-sheet. 



