MONTHLY CALENDAR. 637 



such positions than on the vine. In all cases where orange-trees or other plants 

 are compelled to be placed in houses containing ripe grapes, I would advise 

 that the latter be cut and thus stored away. I have kept grapes so for three 

 months ; Muscats keeping best, Hambro and West St. Peter's next ; and 

 Frontignacs worst of all. Grapes cut for this purpose must never be laid 

 tloa-n; cut them carefully, leaving all the leaves on the branch. Hand a couple 

 of bunches, one at a time, to an assistant, and proceed to hang them up. The 

 slightest bruise by laying them on their side, or allowing two bunches to be 

 carried in one hand, would prevent their keeping. The riper they are, the 

 more care is necessary in this respect. If slightly shrivelled, they keep all the 

 better. In fact, I believe shrivelled Muscats would hang in this way for six 

 months without injui-y. This mode of clearing a house at once is often of the 

 greatest consequence to the cultivator, and may be adopted with the utmost 

 confidence. 



1987. Pineries. — It is a good plan to cover the pots of succession and 

 other i^ines (say two inches thick) with partially decayed tan or leaves for 

 the wintei'. This obviates the necessity of watering through the winter 

 months, and maintains the roots in that medium state of dryness so favour- 

 able to the health of the plants during that period. Those planted out in 

 beds might be mulched over in a similar way. The less water that can be 

 given to pines in any stage during winter, consistent with their health, the 

 better : their peculiar structure renders them especially liable to injury from 

 the accumulation of moisture in the axils of the leaves. Whenever it is neces- 

 sary to water for the next four months, the water must be applied to the soit 

 onbj. It is often necessary to use a bent tube, with a funnel at one end, to 

 prevent it falling upon the leaves. If the atmosphere of the house, from the 

 continuance of bright sunshine, or any other cause, becomes too dry, it will be 

 better to secure the necessary humidity by evaporation from the surface of 

 the floor and heating apparatus, rather than by syringing overhead. After this 

 period maintain a temperature of from 60° to 70° to all pines,— the maximum 

 being applied to the fruiting plants. Th9 bottom-heat may range from five to 

 ten degrees in excess of the atmospheric temjoerature. Give a little air when 

 the external air is sufficiently genial ; guard against sudden changes, and 

 maintain a growing atmosphei'e to fruit swelling off. Cut pines in winter a 

 week before the}'' are ripe, and place them in a hot dry place (near the kitchen 

 tire will do), in a temperature of from 80° to 90°. This will prevent all risk 

 of the fruit decaying, and vastly improves the flavour. 



1988. Melons. — A second or third crop may occasionally be well ripened 

 during this month. If in pits, renew linings, &c., to maintain a brisk heat ; 

 if in houses, keejj the fires moving to secure a bottom-heat of 80°, and a sur- 

 face one of 70°. Beware of watering to excess, as less can be thrown off" by 

 the leaves now than earlier in the season ; consequently, more must be 

 absorbed by the fruit, which is apt to burst, and often becomes insipid in con- 

 se<iuencc. With care upon this point, melons may often be ripened as success- 

 fully in October as in August. 



