120 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICTJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ FebrnaiT 15, 1877. 



new situation will be any better. I much regret my failure, 

 as Tomatoes are much prized. In oonolueion I wiah it to be 

 distinctly understood that I only speak of these things as I 

 have found them, and only recommend them for soil and 

 situation like my own. How they may succeed elsewhere I 

 know not. — D., Deal. 



MESSRS. BOULTON & PAUL'S THREE-QUAETEK 

 SPAN-ROOF GARDEN FRAME. 

 This frame for growing Cucumbere, Melons, &a., and for 

 storing plants, with four lights, is 16 feet by C feet, is made to 

 give height and convenience. The front is 11 inches high, 

 without the light, 32 inches high at the ridge, and 22 inches 

 high at the back. The front lights can be turned back on to 

 the hghts behind, and back lights turned on to the front 

 lights, giving access to all the plants inside. The frames are 

 made of the best red deal, sides and ends 1| inch thick 2-iuch 

 lights; all are painted three times, and glazed with 21-oz., 



been in the habit of growing Muscat of Alexandria and other 

 Muscats in a mixed house for many years, and in a lower 

 night temperature than is generally adopted. Indeed, I may 

 say that throughout the growing season the house I allude to 

 has been kept on an average (during the night) 8' lower than 

 what is advised by many eminent Vine-growers, and I have 

 never been troubled with red spider on the Muscats. 



My belief is. that Muscats require more moisture than many 

 other Grapes, especially in the atmosphere. It a Vine border 

 has been allowed to become very dry in winter, or when the 

 Vines were at rest, it will be no easy matter to soak that 

 border in a manner suitable for future requirementa. Moisture, 

 it is true, may be applied to the border, but not prepared in 

 the best manner possible as food for the Vine. Anyone who 

 has used manure water must be aware that it is greatly im- 

 proved by standing, say, two months before using, hence my 

 reason for advocating a good soaking of manure water while 

 the Vines are at rest. The time that intervenes before the 

 Vines are ia growth is not best, but is employed as it were 

 preparing food for effective appropriition in due time. Many 



sheet glass. The illustration shows the lights to open with 

 gearing. Any of the lights can be lifted up when required 

 without altering the other lights. The back and front gearing 

 works separately. 



Only a glance is needed to satisfy that this is a highly useful 

 frame. It is recommended for " storing" plants, but it will 

 not only protect but will aid in growing to perfection during 

 the summer months many plants which are required for in- 

 door decoration. Such plants as Chrysanthemums in their 

 early stages, Primulas, Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Geraniums, 

 Fuchsias, Balsams, Celosias, and many others can be grown 

 much better in frames during the summer mouths, when sufti- 

 flient height is afforded, than they can be in houses. By 

 judicious ventilation, early closing, and damping, a genial 

 stove temperature may be provided in a frame during the 

 three principal summer months, and then such plants as 

 Poinsettias, Acbimenes, and Gloxinias may be provided for 

 furnishing the more ornamental plant structures. Daring the 

 winter light roomy frames are very valuable for protecting 

 half-hardy flowering plants and vegetables. Frames are, in 

 fact, indispensable in every garden where protective aids are 

 needed, and they are the gardener's best friends. — W. 



MUSCAT GRAPES AND RED SPIDER. 



Do MuEoatB require so much heat as is generally supposed ? 

 My reason for asking the question is, that I witnessed a few 

 years ago a large house of Muscats in a very bad state with 

 red spider. The cause of this was said to have been insuffi- 

 cient heating power. Now, in my opinion that was not the 

 sole oiuee. My reason for thinking that a too low tempera- 

 ture wai not the cause ol the red spider ia this— that I have 



are in the habit ol never watering their Vine borders from the 

 time the Grapes commence colouring until the Vines'are again 

 started in the spring — a much more likely oausa.of red spider 

 thiu a ioo low temperature. 



In growing Grapes why do we ignore the teaching of Dame 

 Nature? She is a good guide in these matters, and it is well 

 kaowu that soil in winter i? much heavier and carries more 

 moisture than at any othar season of the year, and yet many 

 Vine-growers act the very reverse of that, keeping their borders 

 so dry that cracks rauning in all directions miy have been 

 seen ia them. Surely that could not be good for the Vines 

 the following season. The soil may contain all necessary in- 

 gredients, but water must be present to prepare them for ap- 

 propriation by the Vines. Inattention to a due supply of 

 water at all seasons has no doubt been the cause of much 

 annoyance with red spider. I have always found great benefits 

 to accrue from liberal mulchings to all fruit trees in winter, 

 and I see no reason why Vmes should be starved and red 

 spider encouraged by a deficiency of water at any season of 

 the year. — J. Dickson. 



EARLY WRITERS ON ENaLISH GARDENING. 



No. 27. 



SIK JAMES EDWARD SMITH, M.D. 



Norwich has for many years been noted for being the biith- 



place of distinguished botanists and horticulturists ; we need 



only instance within the present century Sir W. Hooker, Dr. 



Lindley, and the subject of our present illustration. 



On the 17th of March, 1828, died at his house in Surrey 

 Street, in his native city of Norwich, aged sixty-eight. Sir 

 James Edward Smith, M.D., F.R.S., Member of the Academies 



