Horticultural Memoranda. 335 



HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA 



FOR JULY. 



FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



Grape Vines, in the greenhouse, will now be coloring and maturing their 

 fruit, and will require abundant supplies of air, betimes in the morning, and 

 left on rather later than last month ; in very warm nights, when the 

 berries are evenly colored, the sashes may remain open both day and night. 

 For the first week or two, damping the house, both morning and evening, 

 may be continued, which will aid in swelling up the fruit, but, after that 

 lime, it may be discontinued altogether. All the laterals should be stopped 

 back as fast as they push, and any leaves which chafe the bunches should 

 be cut off so as not to injure the bloiim, — the greatest beauty of a well- 

 grown grape. If the weather should prove very dry, one good watering 

 now will be of great service to the vines. Grapes in the cold house will 

 require the same treatment as directed last month for grapes in the green- 

 house. If the red spider appears, fumigate immediately with sulphur. 

 New graperies may yet be planted with perfect success. Vines in the 

 open air should have all shoots not wanted for next year, stopped tioo eyes 

 beyond the fruit. 



Strawberry beds will now need some attention. As soon as the fruit is 

 all gathered, the spaces between the rows should be dug, and all the runners 

 laid in at regular distances, clipping off the weak ones. Old beds should 

 be cut through with the spade and the old plants turned under, in order 

 that the yonng runners may take their place. 



Summer pruning should still be continued ; in a previous page, we have 

 given the views of Mr. Thompson on this mode of pruning, so well known 

 among the French gardeners, but very little practised among our cultivators. 



Biiddinf^ may be commenced the last of this month, beginning with the 

 cherry, pear, and plum trees. 



FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 



Camellias now having ripened their wood, repotting may be performed 

 this month with the best success ; but, as we have given ample directions for 

 this in a previous page, we must refer the amateur to that article, page 301. 



Pelargoniums must be headed down this month, and the cuttings put in ; 

 cut well in or the plants will not break strong. Keep rather dry for two 

 weeks after they are headed down. 



Fuchsias, intended for fine specimens, should be shifted into ten-'mch pots, 

 and be liberally supplied with liquid guano. 



Roses, in pots, intended for early flowering in the autumn, should be 

 plunged in an open, airy situation, where they will ripen their wood, mulch- 

 ing the surface with coarse manure. Hardy roses may now be propagated 

 by layers, and by budding; the Chinese, teas and noisettes may be also 

 increased by layers and by cuttings. Prairie roses should have the old 

 wood cut away after they have done flowering, so as to encourage the new 

 shoots ; for the best flowers are produced on these ; they may be propa- 

 gated by layers. 



