292 



THE GARDENER. 



[June 



to do so. They shoultl have a bottom- 

 heat of from 85° to 90°, and a moii-t 

 atmosphere and higher temperature 

 applied to them immediately, and such 

 conditions will cause them to throw 

 up their fruit, if all others be favour- 

 able. Stock intended for winter supply 

 should now be kept rather cooler and 

 drier to cause them to rest for a 

 few weeks previously to their being 

 forced into fruiting a month hence. 

 Those that are swelling off iheir fruit 

 should now be encouraged with a high 

 temperature and a plentiful supply of 

 moisture, both in the soil and in the 

 air. Shut them up as early in the 

 afternoon of fine days as it is safe to do 

 so, running up the heat from 90° to 

 100° for a short time. See last month's 

 directions regarding those that are col- 

 ouring and ripe. Look over all plants 

 that are in fruit, and which are throwing 

 up suckers, and remove them all but 

 two or three on each plant ; and wher- 

 ever gills are discovered on the fruit- 

 stems, remove them at once. Liquid 

 manure, in the way of guano, soot- 

 water, or dung-water, may now be ap- 

 plied in a weak state every time Pines 

 are watered. We prefer this to giving 

 stronger doses every second or third 

 watering. 



Vines. — Where established Vines 

 are now swelling off full crops, pay 

 careful attention to the state of the 

 borders, particularly inside. An excel- 

 lent plan is to mulch them lightly with 

 old Mushroom-bed dung, and give a 

 heavy watering of soft tepid water 

 about the time they are stoning, and 

 again just as they show the first signs 

 of colouring. The outside border, if 

 the season be dry and hot, should be 

 treated in the same way if possible. 

 We believe we should have far less 

 annoyance from red-spider and shank- 

 ing and shrivelling, were more water 

 applied to Vine-bordei'S in the heat of 

 dry summers, always presuming that 

 the drainage and border are, as they 

 ought to be, sufficiently open. In 

 calm hot weather it will now be neces- 

 sary to give front ventilation to all 

 Vines, but not to such an extent as to 

 create violent draughts on windy days. 

 The front ventilation should be shut 

 up entirely as soon as the sun begins to 

 decline in power. Put air on at the 

 top of the houses early in the morning, 

 to prevent moisture from condensing 

 overmuch about the foliage. Indeed 

 a little should be left on all night ; and, 



as recommended in the case of Pines, 

 the ventilation should be increased by 

 degrees to the maxiujum by 12 o'clock, 

 and again gradually reduced, but always 

 shutting with a high temperature from 

 sun-heat to prevent much llring at 

 night. Let Vines from which the fruit 

 is all cut be kept cool, and their foliage 

 well syringed occasionally, to keep 

 them fi'ee from red-spider, and their 

 foliage in health as long as possible. 

 Thin all Grapes immediately they are 

 fit for the scissors, as fruit advance so 

 quickly at this season that they soon 

 get larger and thicker than they ought 

 to be when thinned. See last month's 

 directions regarding Grapes that are 

 colouring, newly planted Vines, &c. 

 If not already done, pot Vines intended 

 for fruiting early next year should be 

 shifted into their fruiting-pots — 11 and 

 12 inch pots are large enough. Three 

 parts loam and one part horse-drop- 

 pings, and a little bone-meal, is an ex- 

 cellent compost for them. 



Peaches. — Where the early crop is 

 all gathered, give the trees a thorough 

 washing with clean water through the 

 engine, and continue to syringe or en- 

 gine them two or three times a-week, 

 to keep the foliage fresh and free from 

 insects throughout the heat of summer. 

 If the border is dry, let it also have a 

 good watering, and keep everything 

 connected with them tidy and clean. 

 The starving of early-forced trees with 

 the idea of ripening them is injurious 

 to them. Keep them cool by giving 

 an abundant supply of air at front and 

 top. Where fruit are swelling off, con- 

 tinue to syringe the trees on the after- 

 noons of fine days, shutting them up 

 early and keeping the tempex'ature to 

 65°, as a minimum, with as little fire- 

 heat as possible. See last month's 

 directions regarding fruit that are ripen- 

 ing. Tie in the growths and thin the 

 fruit of later houses, and wherever fire- 

 heat is applied, keep up atmospheric 

 moisture in pi^oportion. 



Figs. — So soon as the first crop is 

 gathered from early trees, give them a 

 heavy watering with liquid manure and 

 mulch with short dung, so as to sup- 

 port the second crop now showing. 

 Avoid cropping too heavily, for two 

 heavy crops in the season, to say no- 

 thing of some third, are hard work for 

 them. Syringe freely on fine after- 

 noons, and sprinkle the border and 

 paths frequently in course of bright 

 days, for the Figs delight in a moist at- 



