General Notices. 545 



Thinning and pruning the G?-apes. — Thinning should be 

 commenced as soon as the grapes are the size of peas. They 

 should be thinned so as not to press too much against each 

 other when ripe. If not sufficiently thinned, they will not 

 swell properly, and many of them will rot, especially if a 

 damp season. The great secret in preserving grapes is, to 

 keep the house thoroughly dry, and as cool as possible, so 

 that frost is excluded ; therefore give air abundantly. In no 

 case should artificial heat be applied when the house is shut, 

 unless during severe frost and the roof of the house unpro- 

 tected. It is evident that the more heat is introduced to the 

 house, the more rapid is the ascent of moisture from the 

 lower to the upper parts of the house ; and, as heat and 

 moisture are the chief agents in decomposition, the common 

 method of applying artificial heat, when the house is shut, 

 for the purpose of preserving grapes, only hastens their decay. 



It is not to be expected that so large a crop of grapes can 

 be obtained from a greenhouse, as from a late vinehouse, 

 pruned on the long system ; but if the system is pursued 

 which I have recommended, the produce of grapes in a green- 

 house will be superior to a vinehouse of the same extent, 

 whose management is conducted without regard to the recent 

 improvements in horticultural science. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Notices. 



Rare Coniferce and Improvemejits at the Cairnies, Perthshire, the property 

 of George Pat ton, Esq. — ( Continued from page 509.) — The following have 

 leaves in fives, rarely /burs in a sheath. 



Pinus Devoniana, — native name, Pino bianco, — is an inhabitant of the 

 mountain Ocotillo, in Mexico, between Real del Monte and Regla. Judging 

 from the cones, this should be a stupendous species, as these are a foot in 

 length ; yet it is set down as attaining only a height of 80 feet by EndUcher. 

 An undoubtedly valuable kind, quite hardy, yet new, and high priced. It 

 is, of course, quite young here. 



Pinus macrophylla. — Inhabits the same mountainous district in Mexico, 

 with thalast, where Hartweg found only one tree, which had attained to 

 no great height, though it is believed to be, when fully grown, a very large 

 VOL. XV. — NO. XII. 69 



