120 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Febnmry G, 1873. 



more elastic thau either Hemp or Flax ; takes colour ar, well 

 as a good ijuality of silk ; and, when properly prepared from 

 the raw material, may be spun into tine yams suitable for 

 mixing with wool in the manufacture of delaines, worsteds, 

 and other light fabrics. Without admixture it can be woven 

 into fabrics which, it is said, will surpass the finest linens in 

 beauty, strength, and durability. The Eamie fibre has also 

 the felting quality superior to either fur or wool. 



OBNAMENTAL GLASS CASE. 

 The Wardiau case was so called after its inventor, N. Ward, 

 Esq., who, living in the city of Loudon, was enabled by the 

 aid of this ease to culti- 

 vate amidfct the dutt ml 

 smoke of the metropolis some 

 of the rarest of our green- 

 house and stove plants. He 

 published a very useful pam- 

 phlet upon this mode of cul- 

 tivating them. To prevent 

 the dew which is occasionaDy 

 deposited inside the glass, it 

 is only necessary to open the 

 case frequently, for a few 

 minutes, to render the tem- 

 perature within similar to 

 that outside. They ai-e not 

 intended to exclude the air, 

 and the engraving annexed 

 is one of the most orna- 

 mental. 



Mr. M'Intosh thus describes 

 the construction: "Thesides 

 of the box are of mahogany, 

 IJinch in thickness, and the 

 bottom of deal, 1 J inch thick, 

 well framed and dovetailed 

 together, and strengthened 

 with brass bands, aud with 

 two cross-bars beneath. The 

 upper edge of the box is fur- 

 nished with a groove for the 

 reception of the glass roof, 

 and this groove is lined with 

 brass, to prevent the wood 

 from rotting. The roof is 

 composed of brass, and glazed 

 with the very best flattened 

 crown glass. The brass as- 

 tragals are grooved for the 

 reception of the glass, and 

 not rebated, as in ordinary 

 glazing. Eyed studs are cast 

 on the inner side of the ridge 

 astragal, about half an inch 

 in length, for the purpose of 

 suspending small Orchids or Ferns from the roof. The inside 

 of the box is Imed with zinc, and at one of the corners an 

 aperture is formed into which a copper tube, 2 inches long, is 

 inserted, and furnished with a cock for withdrawing any super- 

 fluous water that may at any time accumulate within the 

 box. One of the panes is made to take out — this provision 

 is necessary for the occasional arrangement and airing of the 

 plants, but the general arrangement is made by Ufling the top 

 off entirely." 



HIGHER TEMPERATURE FOR LATE GRAPES 



I WOULD recommend the growing all late Grapes in a higher, 

 temperature than they are generally grown in, and also that' 

 they should be started earlier than is usual, so that they may 

 get the benefit of the sun before its power begins to wane in 

 autumn, so as to bring up all the properties which constitute 

 high flavour, .lud which is not to be effected without plenty of 

 bright sun. And now that it is proved beyond a doubt that 

 Grapes cut and bottled will keep for a long time without any 

 detriment to the flavour, they can all be cut by the second 

 week in .January, the Vines pruned, and got ready to start by 

 the first week in March, so that the ripening process may 

 be completed before the end of August, when the sun has 

 still great power; and, in my opinion, the last two months' 



treatment goes a long way towards the high finish of Grapes, 

 if all other things have been going on right through the early 

 part of the season. Some may object to ripening Grapes so 

 early that have to hang so long ; but they will keep as long, 

 if not longer, thau those ripened six weeks later. What has 

 caused the complaint this winter of Grapes not keeping well ? 

 The want of sun and heat to finish them properly the past 

 cold, wet, sunless autumn. All the fire he.it that could be 

 given did not make up for the rays of the sun. Our late house 

 was quite ripe by the beginning of September, and I have 

 scarcely lost a berry ; and they are as fresh and plump now 

 (the middle of January) as need be. All those sorts that have 

 been subjected to a high temperature are also high iu quality, 



even Muscats, Frontignans, 

 etc. ; and what can be worse 

 than green Muscats? How 

 often do we see at exhibitions 

 early in the season Muscats 

 quite green, which have, per- 

 haps, been grown along with 

 Hamburghs for this special 

 object, but which, if the 

 fr.amers of many of the sche- 

 dules of flower shows were to 

 adhere to their rules, would 

 be discarded as unfit for ex- 

 hibition, far less competition ? 

 And rightly so! Even the 

 Hamburgh is not so high in 

 flavour when grown iu what 

 is termed a cool house. What 

 has more particularly led me 

 to call attention to this is, 

 that I have a Barbarossa and 

 Trebbiauo in a Muscat house, 

 which is generally smarted 

 about the rci Idle of February, 

 and ripens in August. The 

 Muscats have that fine am- 

 ber colour which invariably 

 proves that high flavour is 

 not wanting. Trebbiano was 

 this last season even higher- 

 coloured than usual, and the 

 flavour much appreciated by 

 some. This variety we cut 

 earlier than Barbarossa. The 

 latter was allowed to hang 

 until December, although, as 

 far as ripening is concerned, 

 it could have been out in Sep- 

 tember. AVhen sent to table, 

 there being a large party, one 

 of the gentlemen, being a 

 great connoisseur of Grapes, 

 could not make out what 

 Grapeitwas. When told the 

 treatment it had received, his answer was, " From the quality 

 and flavour of the fruit, I can uphold evei-y word you say." 

 Having sent a few to the editor of the " Gardener " from the same 

 Vine, hiii verdict was the same. If Lady Downe's, Alicante, 

 Seaclilfe Black, Madresfleld Court, and Mrs. Pince were all, 

 say, started in March, and treated with a Muscat-house tempe- 

 rature all through the season, I feel perfectly satisfied that 

 the flavour would be higher ; also there would not be the so 

 common complaiuts against their thick skins. Mrs. Pince, 

 treated thus, will rise higher iu estimation than it stands at 

 present, for it has then a decided smack of the Muscat, but 

 not when newly ripened. Then there is Raisin de Calabre, 

 often seen in late houses similar to the green Muscats spoken of. 

 This I have at present as fine in colour as the finest finished 

 Muscat, and at this season it is most useful when a quantity 

 of dishes are required. 



There is another point that I think well worthy of considera- 

 tion — namely, allowing the fruit to hang so long on the Vines. 

 I believe it to be as injurious to them, if not more so, as early 

 forcing ; for a large crop hanging up to the mouth of February 

 and March must, to a certain extent, always be drawing nourish- 

 ment at a time when everything should be dormant. 



The above simple statements I do not propound as new, but 

 haWng proved them by the superior quality of the fruit grown, 

 I am so convinced of the good results of this mode of treatment 



