May Lilac Time 



growths, as they so often do, and the task of pruning 

 would be lightened. 



Fruit Trees in Pots. Probably comparatively few 

 amateurs grow hardy fruits in pots because of the 

 considerable amount of labour involved. Yet those 

 having a light and airy glasshouse, whether heated or 

 not, would find their cultivation full of interest and not 

 without profit. They must be kept as cool as possible 

 until the fruits have formed, and, especially while the 

 trees are in bloom, air should be admitted freely. Dis- 

 budding is one of the most important items in the care of 

 Peach, Plum, Nectarine and Cherry trees grown in pots. 

 It is far better to rub off superfluous shoots while they 

 are small than to allow them to make unnecessary growth. 



Thinning Grapes. The task of thinning is essential 

 to the production of fine grapes, and a certain skill is 

 required to perform it satisfactorily. A pair of grape 

 scissors which have long, narrow blades and a slender 

 forked stick are required ; the latter is held in the left 

 hand for the purpose of keeping the bunch steady, the 

 central stem of the bunch being in the fork of the stick. 

 All small, seedless berries are removed first, particularly 

 those in the centre of the bunch, then ill-placed ones, 

 those that spoil the symmetry of the bunch, are cut 

 out. 



Thinning ought not to be completed on one occasion. In 

 three or four weeks the bunches should be looked over 

 again, further superfluous grapes then being cut out. 

 Each berry of a variety like Black Hamburgh will be 

 about half an inch wide when ripe ; those of Alicante and 

 other larger varieties need even more space. In thinning 

 special care must be taken not to cut off the terminal 

 berries of the branches that make up the bunch, for the 

 proper outline of the latter depends upon them. 



The side shoots of the vine must be " stopped " imme- 

 diately beyond the first or second leaf that develops behind 



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