s 79 .; 



CALENDAR. 



535 



Grapes. — Look frequently to all 

 Grapes now hanging, and remove every 

 berry that shows signs of decay before 

 it spreads. There should not be a 

 plant under the Vines that requires 

 watering ; and everything about the 

 Vinery should be kept dry. To this 

 end put some extra heat into the pipes 

 on fine days when the houses can be 

 freely ventilated. At other times range 

 the temperature about 50°, unless when 

 forsty, when a few degrees less will 

 suffice. On damp foggy days, keep 

 the ventilators shut. Kemove all 

 leaves that are ready to drop, so that 

 they do not cause damp and impede 

 the free circulation of air about the 

 branches. All Vines intended to be 

 started before the end of February 

 should now have a covering put on 

 whatever portion of their roots is out- 

 side, if this has not already been at- 

 tended to. It is, however, undesirable 

 to have any portion of the roots of 

 such Vines as are started before the 

 New Year in outside borders at all. 

 The earliest Vinery should now have 

 a bed of leaves and stable - litter 

 put over the inside border, a portion 

 to be turned daily as it heats. There 

 is no more certain way of maturing a 

 strong regular start at so early a sea- 

 son. It is not, however, now so neces- 

 sary to start Vines before the 1st 

 December as it used to be. The fine 

 late-keeping varieties and the Grape 

 rooms render this early start less neces- 

 sary. Prune all Vines from which the 

 leaves have fallen and from which the 

 fruit is all cut, and clean the Vines 

 and Vineries, and put everything in 

 readiness for starting them when the 

 time comes. All Vines that have 

 shown signs of exhaustion should have 

 the top soil removed down to the roots, 

 replacing that which is removed with 

 fresh open loam, liberally mixed with 

 bone-meal, to the depth of 6 or 8 

 inches, and then lay over all 4 inches 

 of rich half-decomposed litter from a 

 horse loose -box or cow -yard. The 

 drainage being good, this will very 

 much stimulate the Vines, not so much 

 next summer, but the year after. If 

 soil for new Vine -borders has not 

 been collected, let it be done at once, 

 and in as dry a state as possible, and 

 protect it from rains till it is watered. 



Peaches. — Trees in late houses on 

 which leaves are hanging should have 

 a whisk twice a- week with a broom 

 to bring off such leaves as are ready 

 to drop. Those that are to be started 

 next month should be pruned and tied, 

 and everything about the house and 

 border prepared for starting. Any 

 trees showing a retrograde tendency 

 should be treated as directed for 

 Vines. Where new borders have to 

 be made and young trees planted, 

 such work should be completed with- 

 out delay ; and any young trees that 

 have grown too strong last season 

 should be carefully lifted and replant- 

 ed, if this has not been attended to 

 previously. All trees in unheated 

 houses are late, and it will be later 

 than usual before they drop their 

 leaves. 



Figs. — If any Figs are yet to ripen 

 on the latest trees bearing their second 

 crop, the atmosphere should be kept 

 rather dry and the temperature at 60° 

 at night. Prune and tie the early 

 trees ; and if they are old free-bearing 

 trees, apply a rich top-dressing to the 

 border ; and if the root-run be limited, 

 so much the richer should the dressing 

 be. Any young trees that are growing 

 too vigorously should be partially 

 lifted and root-pruned, and have no- 

 thing richer than pure loam laid on 

 the border. 



Cucumbers. — The days being now 

 short and dull, the temperature at 

 night should recede to 70° when mild, 

 and 65° when cold, with a rise of a 

 few degrees by day, especially when 

 there is any sunshine. Water in the 

 soil and moisture in the air must be 

 regulated by the brightness or reverse 

 of the weather. Give a little air on 

 all fine days. Remove all deformed 

 fruit, and do not allow the plants to 

 bear many at once. Stop young shoots, 

 and keep a look - out for thrip and 

 greenfly, and keep them down by the 

 usual means. If mildew appears, dust 

 the affected parts with sulphur, and 

 keep the air drier till it is conquered. 



Strawberries in Pots. — These 

 should no longer be exposed to heavy 

 rains, and if possible should be plung- 

 ed in cold frames where they will 

 not get dry at the root, and need but 

 little attention in the way of watering. 



