228 



THE GARDENER. 



[May 



shading from bright sun until they have taken with the fresh soil, 

 when more light and air should be given : they will then require 

 copious waterings, with frequent syringings, until about the beginning 

 of September, when the heat should be gradually withheld, and they 

 may stand in a light airy house, or be placed in the greenhouse 

 amongst Fuchsias and Geraniums, where they look well, and they can 

 be withdrawn for room- decoration when necessary. Many of those 

 that are considered tender when treated in this way stand house 

 work very well, but I have not tried them out'of doors. After having 

 done duty for a short time in the house, let all have a good sponging 

 and syringing with clean water; this will be found beneficial, as 

 quantities of dust will have lodged on the leaves. The following list 

 are all good and stand this treatment admirably 



Areca Baueri. 

 M lutesceus. 

 .1 sapida. 

 Chamoeropes excelsa. 



II fortuni. 



II humilis. 



II palmetto. 



II toinentosa. 



Corypha Avistralis. 

 Cycas revoluta. 



Lantania Borbonica. 

 Phoenix sylvestris. 



II reclinata. 



M tenuis. 

 Livistonia altissima. 

 Dicksonia squarrosa. 

 Seaforthia elegans. 

 Livistonia svibglobosa. 

 Thrinax elegans, fine for house only. 



II tunicata. 



A. H. T. 



— ^-^j^^^s-s^s-s- 



GRAPE THINNING. 



It may appear out of place to call attention to a process which has been iu 

 practical operation ever since Grape cultivation was attempted. Grape thinning, 

 though not reqviiring great muscular exertions, is work that requires much 

 mental calculation, as bearing a direct influence on the ultimate perfection of 

 produce. Large vigorous bunches may be produced, the finest flavour, colour, 

 &c., gained, that nature and art combined are capable of accomplishing; yet 

 where is the symmetrical beauty so desirable, and absolutely necessary, to 

 approach an ideal in Grape-growing when all the rules of right thinning are 

 flagrantly violated ? What is more unsightly than the result thereof on our 

 exhibition tables : those lank and disordered masses of Grapes, which, if 

 thinned with a judicious application of forethought, would have formed praise- 

 worthy, handsome, proportionate bunches ? The bare shanks and loose form of 

 such are rendered still more obviously defective when associated and contrasted 

 with one of those rigid examples whose crowded berries are so ofl'ensively clus- 

 tered together as to give the impression that the principal aim is an individual 

 test of skins. The most essential requirement, and a sure guide against such 

 extremes, is a thorough knowledge of the one size that different varieties of 

 Grapes attain. Varieties with short foot-stalks, of which the Black Alicante 

 is the type, require most thinning, while such as Hamburgs, and those with 

 longer foot-stalks, are not so liable to become compressed, though they may 

 appear a little crowded at first. As swelling proceeds they are pressed upwards, 



