873-] 



CALENDAR. 



145 



well through the winter. This especi- 

 ally applies to localities which are cold, 

 and the seasons short. If there is a 

 portion of the latest Grapes still hang- 

 ing on the Vines, they may now be cut 

 and bottled, or put in wadding in tin 

 boxes, and kept in a cool dry room. 

 This will allow of the Vines being 

 pruned and the house thoroughly 

 cleansed. All cuts made in pruning 

 should now be dressed twice over with 

 styptic the day after the pruning, 

 to prevent any chance of their bleed- 

 ing. Where the earliest crop of fruit 

 is from jiot-Vines, pay great attention 

 to the matter of watering, and feed 

 them with manure-water up to the 

 commencement of the colouring pro- 

 cess^ after which give clear soft water 

 only ; gradually withdraw moisture 

 from the air as the colouring process 

 goes on, and give a more liberal supply 

 . of air on fine days, leaving a little on 

 all night. Inspect the foliage minute- 

 ly, and if there is any red- spider, sponge 

 it off at once, or with a drier atmos- 

 phere it will increase and work mis- 

 chief. Succession-houses now stoning, 

 and that are intended to succeed those 

 in pots, had better not be forced hard 

 till they take their second swelling, 

 when, if necessary, to bring them on 

 in succession they may be pushed 

 along, especially on fine days. The 

 night temperature may range to 70", 

 unless when the weather is cold. Take 

 every advantage of sun to raise the 

 heat on bright afternoons to 80° or 85° 

 for a time, with a corresponding amount 

 of atmospheric moisture. When the 

 morning gives evidence of bright 

 weather, keep the fires low and let 

 the sun do the work. Hot pipes and 

 a bright svm with a full flood of air, are 

 a combination of circumstances by all 

 means to be avoided. If the roots of 

 these Vines are chiefly in inside bor- 

 ders, see that they do not become over- 

 dry, especially near the pipes, where it 

 is better to mulch them than to be too 

 frequently applying water. Thin 

 bunches and berries in succession- 

 houses as soon as it can be seen which 

 are the most desirable to leave; the 

 compact bunches always to be pre- 

 ferred to the long and loose. Stop 

 progressing Vines as soon as they 

 extend to two leaves beyond the last 

 bunch; and in the case of Hamburgs 

 and all certain setting varieties, thin 

 off aU but one bunch to a shoot. Do 



not be in a hurry to tie down the 

 growths to the wires. To prevent in- 

 jury from their coming in contact with 

 the glass, partially tie them down and 

 allow them to stiffen before finally 

 tying them down, as strong Vines 

 especially are very apt to break off at 

 the junction of the young wood with 

 the old. The end of the month is a 

 good time to plant young Vines that 

 were raised from eyes last season. 

 Shake them entirely out of the soil; 

 well wash their roots and spread them 

 regularly out in planting ; and when 

 planted, water with tepid water, fix 

 them to the wires, and allow them to 

 break into growth in a low tempera- 

 ture. 



Peaches.— If the trees in late houses 

 have not been pruned, let the opera- 

 tion be completed without delay. 

 Where trees are under unheated glass, 

 give plenty of air to keep the trees as 

 backward as possible, for if pushed on 

 now they may suffer much from late 

 frosts. Until the fruit have stoned 

 and begun to swell a second time 

 in early houses, do not raise the night 

 temperature in very cold nights above 

 55°, and 60° degrees when mild. 

 When they have begun to swell, again 

 increase the heat 5°, with 10° or 15° 

 more with sun after shutting up on 

 bright days. Give air early by degrees, 

 and shut up early. Syringe freely all 

 trees not in bloom at shutting-up time. 

 The Peach is a moisture-loving plant, 

 and a dry atmosphere it much dislikes. 

 If the crop of fruit exceed more than 

 one fruit to every square foot on aged 

 trees that are not growing grossly, 

 thin off all superfluous fruit imme- 

 diately the stoning process is completed. 

 Young trees may be allowed a heavier 

 crop. Keep a watchful eye on the in- 

 side border, and do not let the soil 

 become dry. A good plan is to mulch 

 with rotten manure after a good water- 

 ing. Where the fruit are set very 

 thickly on succession-trees, thin them 

 partially when the size of Marrow 

 Peas, Where they are in clusters re- 

 duce them to one, always leaving the 

 largest. Disbud superfluous growths 

 by degrees also, always leaving a good 

 bud at the base of each fruit-bearing 

 shoot, and thinning them partially 

 along the whole shoots, completing the 

 operation at three intervals of eight or 

 ten days. Wherever green- fly appears, 

 fumigate with tobacco -smoke. 



