430 Horticultural Operations for September. 



liams, Williams apples, and Jargonelle pears, fine. From I. Fay, Jargonelle 

 pears and nectarines. From A. Wales, Black Hamburgh, Victoria, and 

 Muscat of Alexandria grapes. From J. F. Allen, Bouker grapes, very fine ; 

 also, Late Admirable and Early Violet peaches, superior. From J. Rich- 

 ardson, blackberries, fine, also nectarines. Blackberries, from C. E. Grant, 

 fine. Blackberries, from G. Merriam and J. Lovett, both superior. From 

 E. M. Richards, Christiana melons. From N. Carruth, extra fine peaches. 

 Apricots, from H. Vandine, G. L. Baxter, and Messrs. Burr. Plums and 

 apricots, from Wm. Page. 



HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS 



FOR SEPTEMBER. 

 FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



To make up for the dry weather of June and July, we are now surfeited 

 with rain. Up to the present time, (August 20) about eight inches of rain 

 has fallen in the vicinity of Boston, and wherever the drought was expe- 

 rienced, which was pretty general throughout New England, refreshing 

 rains have fallen and relieved the suffering crops. 



Fruit trees in a bearing state will now be swelling up their fruit very 

 rapidly ; it is the most growing month ; it having been proved that nearly 

 every fall or winter fruit fully doubles its weight in September. Culti- 

 vators, therefore, who wish to have fine specimens, must give them their 

 attention. The most important thing is to thin out the fruit, — and by thin- 

 ning out we don't mean picking off three or four knurly, wormy fruits, — 

 but take off from one quarter to one half, according to the crop, always, of 

 course, taking the wormy ones first, then the ill shaped ones, and last, finer 

 looking fruits, if the tree is overloaded ; a peck of fine large pears is worth 

 a bushel of small ones. Next, water freely, if the weather proves dry, using 

 liquid manure occasionally. Continue to pinch in any shoots which show a 

 tendency to grow too much ; this does not oflen happen on old bearing 

 trees, but on young ones it will be necessary to stop tliem, or they will get 

 out of shape. 



Attend to the preparation of graperies and other forcing houses for the 

 winter, if not already done, and employ all the leisure time now to trench 

 and prepare all ground intended to be planted this fall. 



Grape Vines in the earliest houses will now be ripening their wood, 

 and they should be thrown open as much as possible, both day and night, in 

 good weather, so as to get the vines in readiness for pruning by October. Vines 

 in the greenhouse will now have their fruit fully ripe, which should be cut 

 so as to ripen off the wood. Keep the laterals cut in, if the house is filled 

 with plants. Cold houses will now begin to color the crop ; air well in all 

 good weather, as on this much depends. Discontinue watering the walks 



