Keeping ajvne Bloom on Cucumbers. 709 



horticulture in my time for fruits and flowers ; as they are not 

 only light and durable, but the advantages that can be taken of 

 sun heat to swell off the finer kinds of grapes are very great. 

 With respect to pruning, my practice is to spur the com- 

 mon kinds, or cut them to one eye ; the muscat and others of 

 the finer sorts I find succeed best when the shoots are laid 

 in at four or five : if left longer, they only break a few eyes at 

 the extreme part of the vine ; and if cut to one or two, they 

 generally shoot strong without much fruit. This particularity 

 observable in the above kinds, no doubt, proceeds from their 

 being greatly excited by heat, water, and other causes, where 

 so many artificial means are used to vines kept constantly in 

 a pinery. 



Much has been said and written upon the shrivelling of 

 grapes in hot-houses and vineries : I am of opinion that it pro- 

 ceeds from a combination of causes. 



The first is evidently too great a crop, as there is only a 

 certain number of bunches, or proportional weight of fruit, the 

 vine can sustain or bring to perfection ; and this can only be 

 known from long practice, and a study of the natural habits 

 of the different kinds. 



Secondly, a deficiency of heat, when the berries are swell- 

 ing, particularly checks the Frontignac kinds both in fruit and 

 wood. A difference of opinion still exists among practical men 

 respecting wintering or taking out vines in forcing-houses. 

 My practice is, to take out only the branches of those which 

 are planted outside, and let them remain out from November 

 until March : if put in sooner than the returning warmth of 

 spring, it cannot be expected that they will bear good crops, 

 and this is, in my opinion, one great cause of the frequent 

 failures of fruit. 



Where very early crops are wanted, such kinds as the sweet- 

 water, muscadine, &c, should be planted within the house. 

 A proper selection is too seldom made : hence the cause of 

 failures of fruit, and disappointments to all parties connected 

 with the cultivation of grapes. 



Art. XXIX. On keeping a fine Bloom on Cucumbers. By Mr. 

 Geo. Fulton, Gardener to Lord Northwick. Read at the Meet- 

 ing of the Vale of Evesham Horticultural Society, June 24. 1828. 



The art of producing and keeping a fine natural bloom on 

 cucumbers, either for a gentleman's table, for show, or for the 

 market, merits great attention, both as to the perfect appear- 

 ance of the fruit, and also to the general culture of the plant 



z z 3 



