Horticultural Operations for July. 335 



mon — it is better to have 20 fine clusters than 40 small ones. Keep the 

 house well dampened until the dark grapes are nearly colored, when it 

 should be mostly withheld. Prune off the laterals one eye beyond the last 

 stopping, and tie in the spurs to prevent their being broken off. Vines in 

 coldhouses will need considerable attention now, as it is just the season 

 when mildew is most likely to attack them. Give moderate quantities of air, 

 avoiding cold draughts, and damp over the house two or three times daily : 

 finish thinning and shouldering as soon as possible ; stop all laterals, and 

 keep all shoots firmly tied to the trellis. 



Peach Trees in pots would be greatly benefited now, just as they are 

 swelling, by a good mulching of fresh cow manure. Set them in an open 

 sunny place, as little exposed to the wind as possible. 



Fio Trees in pots should now be liberally watered — occasionally Avith 

 liquid manure. 



Strawberries will now require to be overlooked ; new beds should be 

 carefully weeded out, and all the new runners laid in, so as to fill up 

 the beds or rows in whichever way it is intended to grow them. Old beds 

 should be renovated by digging in alternate rows, to give place for fresh 

 runners. Dig in a good quantity of old stable manure. 



Plum Trees may be budded the last of the month. 



Summer Pruning will now occupy a good deal of time : this kind of 

 work cannot be done hastily; all side shoots should be pinched or cut 

 off to the second eye, and the main shoots just topped to check the growth. 



Mulching should be attended to, where fine large specimens of fruit are 

 desired ; and an occasional Avatcring should be given, unless the situation 

 is very wet. Nothing benefits the pear, especially, more than this. 



floaver department. 



The bedding out all completed, and the plants all arranged in their sum- 

 mer quarters, attention should now be given to the decoration of the green- 

 house and conservatory. They may both be made ahnost as interesting as 

 in winter. Fuchsias, Japan lilies. Gloxinias, Achimenes, Gardenias, &c., 

 in their endless varieties, are enough to stock a house. Achimenes in par- 

 ticular, should have a prominent place ; and if the plants are well groAvn, 

 they Avill make a superb appearance till the house is Avanted for the winter. 

 A pretty AA'ay to grow them, is to have tliem in good pans, or if pans are not 

 to be had, in large pots, one-half filled up Avith potsherds and lumpy-peat ; 

 stake out the shoots carefully, and they may be made to reach a diameter of 

 two or more feet. 



All Avinter floAvering stock should liavc careful attention; such as re- 

 quire it should be repotted ; others top dressed, pruned, &c. It should be 

 remembered tliat all winter flowering plants must be avcU established. 

 Starkias, Eupatoriums, Heliotropes, and similar things, must be large and 

 fine plants to give a good bloom. 



Secure now a good lot of soil for fall and spring potting, unless there is 

 plenty on hand. Old hotbed manure, coav manure, loam, peat, sand, &c., 

 should be got in, noAv that there is a little leisure. 



