436 



THE GARDENER. 



[Sept. 



noons of fine clear days. Avoid as 

 much as possible a fox-cing-beat on dull 

 days and at night, and take advantage 

 of sun-heat when it can be had. All 

 syringing of growing stock overhead 

 should now cease, as it has a tendency 

 to produce a soft, unfruitful growth. 



Grapes. — Late Grapes intended to 

 hang through the winter phould be 

 quite ripe by the middle of the month, 

 for if ripened later in the season with 

 less sun, they do not keep so well. 

 Assist the process, when necessary, 

 with a little fire-heat and a circulation 

 of warm dry air, leaving a little air on 

 all night, so as to prevent any moisture 

 settling on the bunches. In keeping 

 Grapes successfully, it is of great im- 

 portance that the foliage be healthy as 

 long as possible. And if there be any 

 red-spider about the Vines in patches, 

 as is not unfrequent, get rid of it at 

 once ; and it is questionable if there be 

 any more effectual as well as speedy 

 way of doing this, as by sponging with 

 clean water. In wet localities, where 

 heavy autumn rains prevail, cover the 

 outside border with shutters or tarpaul- 

 ing so as to throw off the superabund- 

 ant wet. And as it is now desirable to 

 keep the inside of the vineries drier, let 

 the surface of the border be gently 

 forked up, and a sprinkling of old 

 mushroom - bed manure be sprinkled 

 over it to the depth of an inch, first 

 sifting it rather finely. This will pre- 

 vent the evaporation of moisture, and 

 prevent the border from cracking. 

 Look over-ripe crops, and cut out all 

 berries that show any signs of decay. 

 Keep the Vines free from lateral growths, 

 and the main foliage healthy to the last. 

 The early part of this month is a good 

 time to remove the inert surface-soil 

 from borders down to the roots, replac- 

 ing it with fresh turfy loam mixed with 

 horse-droppings, and a little old lime- 

 rubbish or charcoal. There is no better 

 way of attracting and keeping roots 

 near the surface than this. As this 

 summer has been moist and sunless in 

 many districts, it may be necessary 

 to fire vineries from which the fruit 

 has just been cut in order to assist 

 in more thoroughly ripening the 

 wood. A circulation of warm dry air 

 should be kept up till the wood is 

 thoroughly ripened and hard. Vines 

 from which fruit was cut in April and 

 May, will be ready to prune by the end 

 of the month ; and if intended for 

 early forcing again, it should be no 



I longer delayed. After pruning, they 

 should be kci)t as cool as possible, and 



j all repairs or painting requisite should 

 be done before the weather becomes 

 unfavourable for such work. Young 

 vigorous - growing Vines that were 

 planted last and this year must be fired 

 and kept warm till the wood is perfectly 

 brown and matured. The stronger they 

 are, the more of this treatment they 

 will require to thoroughly ripen them, 

 without which condition they will show 

 loose unsatisfactory bunches next sea- 

 son. Remove all young growths as they 

 appear, and if they have been allowed 

 to make anything of a rambling lateral 

 growth, remove as much of it as will 

 admit a free play of light and air about 

 all the foliage and wood, but by all 

 means avoid the too common practice 

 of removing foliage wholesale and sud- 

 denly. See last month's directions re- 

 garding Pot- Vines. 



Peaches. — See last month's direc- 

 tions i-egarding trees from which the 

 crops have been gathered ; and in 

 addition to the directions there given, 

 let trees that are strong and have their 

 wood not so solid and ripe as is desir- 

 able, have fire heat and a circulation 

 of air in order to ripen them. If any 

 vestige of red-spider remains or appears 

 aboiit them, give them a few vigorous 

 washings on fine afternoons with the 

 engine. Remove all shoots that may 

 not be needed next year, and so allow 

 a free circulation of air about all parts 

 of the trees. Late crops in cool houses 

 will now be ripening, and will require 

 to be carefully guarded from flies and 

 wasps, which will, now that the nights 

 are cooler, seek refuge under glass. 

 Push aside all leaves that in any way 

 interfere with a full exposure of every 

 part to sun and air, for a colourless 

 Peach or Nectarine is an insipid-looking 

 fruit. Look over the crop carefully, 

 and gather all that are ripe, so as to 

 prevent as much as possible a quantity 

 of them from dropping into the nets, 

 which should be fixed so as to catch 

 any that may drop off. Hexagon net- 

 ting is an excellent material for this 

 purpose. 



Figs. — Encourage trees that are swell- 

 ing off a crop with waterings of liquid 

 manure, and keep a circulation of 

 air about them as the fruit ripens. 

 Figs should not be gathered till they 

 have cracked their skin, and the juice 

 begins to drop out of them, unless, of 

 course, they are required to pack and 



