1873.] TEMPERATURE OF FORCING-HOUSES. 425 



attaining to anything like perfection. The pruning they generally 

 receive is done with the hedge-shears, clipping them close in to keep 

 the wall tidy. This is what one might term a rough style of pruning 

 on the spur system, of course allowing the terminal shoots to grow on 

 and cover the wall. On these shoots I have seen a few flowers, but 

 very rarely on any other part of the plant. This plainly shows that 

 it is on the previous year's growth that the flowers are produced ; 

 thus it is obvious that spur-pruning is not the style. Of course that 

 principle will suit some plants, such as Jasmine, Honeysuckle, and 

 Clematis, which bear flowers on the same year's growth, but with 

 shrubs such as Escallonia, Ceanothus, and Deutzia, I would say, nail 

 in a fair amount of young wood each year and cut out the old, which 

 would insure a return in the shape of flowers, for which purpose the 

 shrubs were planted. In fact one will generally find them filling the 

 place of evergreen shrubs. If flowering-shrubs are wanted, let them be 

 managed so as to produce flowers; if not. Ivy will cover a wall to more 

 purpose, and besides can be kept tidy with less trouble. 



In concluding, I would say this is not to instruct my readers how to 

 manage these shrubs, but simply to bring the subject before your 

 notice ; and I would pray some one who has had more practice to give 

 us a few hints as to their management, which I am sure would gratify 

 the readers of the ' Gardener.' D. K. 



TEMPEKATURE OF FORCING -HOUSES. 



"We gardeners are very apt to make the most of a theory with which 

 w^e may happen to have fallen in love : circumstances and events, which 

 would have either been passed unnoticed, or otherwise been set down 

 to another cause, are brought to the support of an espoused theory. 

 "A. R. C.'s " method of reasoning on his Muscats setting, may be classed* 

 under this head. It is a fact, which I have proved entirely to my 

 own satisfaction, that Muscats will set as freely subjected to a mini- 

 mum temperature of 75°, as they will in any other down to 45° ; only, 

 in each and every degree that may be chosen, artificial help to imj^reg- 

 nation 7nust be given. Muscat — Cannon Hall being the worst setter, 

 and Mrs Pince the best — Buckland Sweetwater, Golden Champion, 

 and Black Morocco, are all liable to set badly, on account of the cap — 

 if I may be permitted so to call it — which enveloiDS the anthers and 

 stigma, unless some means are taken to dislodge it. This " A. R. C." 

 accomplished by syringing. I attain the same end by shaking the 

 Vines gently, and, in stubborn cases, going over the bunches individu- 

 ally and removing them by hand. 



There seems to be a very wide meaning attached to Mr Simpson's re- 



