338 



THE GARDENER. 



[July 



and the latter the bottom half of 

 the roof next year, where one Vine 22 

 feet long would not do so satisfactorily. 

 It would break very strong at the top, 

 and very weakly at the bottom ; but 

 by planting two, as described, the 

 whole length of roof can be cropped 

 without planting in the centre of 

 the house, as is common, and where 

 Vines are in the way more or less. 

 Vines planted last year, and to be 

 fruited next, should not be allowed to 

 make a rambling lateral growth, or the 

 fruiting-buds will be defective. Two 

 leaves to a lateral is sufficient. Pot- 

 Vines intended to be fruited next 

 spring should now be strong, and 

 changing to brown at the bottom. Do 

 not allow these to make lateral growths, 

 except a few at the top, to prevent 

 the main eyes from starting. Give 

 them a good supply of manure-water, 

 and full exposure to light, so as to make 

 sure of strong, well-matured canes. :i 



Peaches. — Fruit that are ripening 

 should have an abundant sujjply of air 

 night and day. If any are shaded by 

 the leaves, push the latter aside so 

 that light can reach the fruit, or it v/ill 

 not colour properly. If to be packed 

 and sent to a distance, the fruit should 

 he picked a day before it is quite ripe. 

 They carry more safely, and can be 

 kept a longer time when such is neces- 

 sary. All trees from which the crop 

 is gathered syringe freely every line 

 day to keep the foliage healthy to the 

 last, and give to old trees a good soak- 

 ing of manure-water immediately the 

 crop is all gathered — i.e., if the border 

 is dry — and cut out at once all wood 

 not required for next year's crop. If 

 the house reqiures painting or any re- 

 pairs, now is a good time to see to such, 

 when the lights, if movable, can be 

 removed with impunity. Crops swell- 

 ing off should be encouraged with 

 waterings and mulchings of manure, 

 and daily syringings when the house is 

 shut up. Any amount of attention 

 should not be considered too much to 

 keep red-spider at bay, and the foliage 

 healthy to the last. Avoid crowding 

 in too much wood in the cool houses 

 which generally have the worst chance 

 of gettiug well-ripened wood. 



Figs. — Where the fruit are showing 

 signs of ripening, cease syringing, and 

 keep the house airy and dry. A well- 

 ripened Fig is a splendid fruit, but a 

 watery insipid one is the very reverse. 

 Do not gather them till they have 



cracked and the juice begins to ooze from 

 them, unless, indeed, when they have 

 to be packed and sent to a distance, 

 when it is necessary to gather earlier. 

 When the first crop is all gathered, 

 give the trees a liberal w^ateiing of 

 dung- water, and resume the syringing 

 and a moist warm atmosphere, so as to 

 encourage the swelling of the second 

 crop, in the case of young trees in- 

 clined to make a too gross growth, do 

 not apply' any manure, and give less 

 water at the root than to old free-bear- 

 ing trees. Plants in pots shoidd be 

 mulched with strong manure and turfy 

 loam, and freely watered and syringed. 



Melons. — Much more water will 

 now be required by those swelling their 

 fruit than is necessary early in the sea- 

 son. Give thorough soakings at longer 

 intervals instead of frequent surface- 

 dribblets. The surface of the beds in 

 Melon -houses, where the plants are 

 trained up the roof, w^ill benefit much 

 by a top-dressing of horse-droppings. 

 Syringe every fine afternoon until the 

 fruit begins to ripen, after which give 

 more air and less moisture; but avoid 

 starving the plants. Plant out for late 

 crops, and attend to such as are in 

 bloom by daily impregnating them. 



Cucumbers. — Syringe regularly at 

 shutting - up time, and see that^ all 

 plants in full bearing are well supplied 

 with moisture at the root. Give those 

 which have been bearing freely for a 

 length of time a rich top-dressing, and 

 do not allow them to bear very heavi- 

 ly for a week or two, and they will 

 soon renew their vigour and bear fine 

 fruit again. Impregnate a few fruit 

 for seed, choosing fruit that show- 

 signs of being fine. Look over all free- 

 growing plants every two or three 

 days, and stop and regulate the young 

 growths, allowing no more foliage than 

 is just sufficient to occu2)y the space 

 without crowding. 



Strawberries in pots. — All young 

 layers that are well rooted should be 

 shifted into their fruiting-pots without 

 delay. For early forcing these are the 

 better of being in their fruiting-pots 

 the first week of this month ; 5 and 6 

 inch pots are large enough. Use a rather 

 strong loam, with about a third of well- 

 decayed manure. After potting them, 

 place them in a warm, sheltered place, 

 on coal-ashes or boards, so that worms 

 cannot molest them. In warm dry 

 localities it is a good plan to plunge the 

 pots of those in smaller pots. Give 



