July 6, 1876. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



15 



characteristic of a good Grape with fine flavour. I like to regu- 

 late the growth of Vines, so that when or just before they com- 

 mence colouring the shoots may grow and be kept growing all 

 through the colouring process. 



In the case of the Vines referred to I would advise that they 

 receive a very gradual thinning of the lateral shoots, and when 

 that is done, say at two or three times, then the points of the 

 leading shoots may be pinched-out. This will stop rapid growth, 

 yet it will secure ample foliage for the perfection of the crop. 

 Vines neglected in this way are subject to mildew through the 

 condensed moisture settling continually on the leaves and 

 berries. 



I am an advocate for allowing Vines to become dry once in 

 every twenty-four hours ; after that, when they receive moisture, 

 they can absorb it for the purposes of growth instead of its 

 induoing a stagnant atmosphere from which something injurious 

 is sure to arise. Let there be a circulation of air night and 

 day in these small places, and if the house is placed in a hot 

 sunny position water must be thrown on the floor and over the 

 stages of the house three or four times in the day. 



Fires may be dispensed with unless the atmosphere outside 

 is dull and very close, when a little fire heat sufficient to put 

 the inside air in circulation will be necessary. While the 

 berries are stoning they seldom swell much, but as soon as that 

 is over the last swelling before that of colouring takes place, and 

 if the Vines are in a healthy state through that swelling the 

 colouring process may be expected to progress satisfactorily. 



Outdoor Vines are now in bloom, and as their season is short 

 and the weather uncontrollable there must be no neglect now. 

 Let all the bunches have full exposure to the sun, so as to in- 

 duce them as much as possible to come into bloom all at once. 

 In the case of an individual bunch it often happens that if one 

 part of the bunch blooms and sets its fruit before the other part 

 tb.it bunoh is irregular, many of the berries not swelling into a 

 size worth having, so that there are two crops in different stages, 

 one of which is fit to use and the other is not. 



Early thinning is a great advantage, and it should be done 

 well — I mean that the most promising berries must be left, and 

 all of about one size, and they may be expected to do well. — 

 Thomas Recokd. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST AND WORK FOR 

 THE PRESENT WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Our ground is still dusty dry. Rain has fallen south, north, 

 and west of us, and within little more than a mile, but we have 

 not had enough to lay the dust. Allusion was made in the 

 " Doings " at page 495 to the advantages of deep trenching, and 

 the rainfall on Jane 15th was Btated as 6.5 inches, it should be 

 0.65 inches, or the 65100 part of an inch. The crops are coming 

 in far too quickly ; spring and autumu-sown Cauliflowers are 

 nearly together, and the first and second sowing of Peas are the 

 same. The new variety, Dr. Hogg, is bearing an abundant crop 

 of its large curved pods. William I. is slightly before Alpha, 

 and has the advantage of it for show, the pods being larger and 

 of a much darker green. Alpha being a wrinkled Marrow is 

 more eBteemed in the kitchen. All the pods are gathered as 

 soon as they are ready, as if they are left on till they are too old 

 they exhaust the plant and prevent fresh young pods from fill- 

 ing out. We have not yet watered the Peas, but those who find 

 it necessary to do so should not pour the water down upon the 

 stalks, but should draw shallow drills on each Bide of the rows 

 about 5 or 6 inches from the plants ; these should be filled twice 

 with water, and the ground may be hoed over, mulching it with 

 litter if possible. The new Seville Longpod Bean is bearing 

 an enormous crop of large handsome pods. It is now ready for 

 gathering, and is earlier than the Windsor ; it seems to be the 

 best sort for exhibition purposes. As the early crops are cleared 

 off the ground is immediately trenched for other crops. The 

 quarter of early Peas is devoted to Strawberries. They will be 

 planted out this year about the middle of July. A good crop to 

 succeed the exhausted Strawberry plants is Broccoli, and as the 

 beds were well trenched and richly manured about twelve 

 months ago the Broccoli may be let into the hard soil with a 

 crowbar after the ground haB been cleared from weeds. We have 

 placed stout long sticks to the Scarlet Runners, as we depend 

 on them to supply us with gatherings until the frost comes, and 

 it is_ astonishing for how long a period they will continue to bear 

 in rich deep soil when the rows are well supplied with water. 

 It is not absolutely necessary to place sticks to this crop. The 

 farmers who grow for the London market do not stick them ; 

 they pinch the leading points out, and the plants naturally form 

 a ridge about 2 feet in height. We are planting out in trenches 

 the main crop of Celery. In dry seasons this crop is frequently 

 injured through becoming too dry. From the time the plants 

 appear above ground until they are ready to dig out of the 

 trenches for use they ought not to suffer from drought in any way. 

 The Celery maggot is doing considerable injury to the leaves. 

 By a little patience the pest may be destroyed by crushing it 



between the fiDger and thumb. A full crop of Savoys should 

 now be planted in good soil. Crops of Coleworts and early 

 Cabbages should be planted on all vacant ground as soon as it 

 is cleared of Potatoes, or indeed any crops. There are but few 

 gardens where the ground can be allowed to lie vacant ; it must 

 produce at least two crops in one season if cleared by the end of 

 this month. Broccoli should be planted in different situations, 

 and we advise all who have the opportunity to try a plantation 

 under the shelter of a north wall. Broccoli suffers more from 

 alternate sunshine and frost than if it is exposed to frost and the 

 sun is not allowed to shine upon it. 



Carrots sown now come in very useful in October and No- 

 vember. Artichokes are now ready for use, and as soon as the 

 heads are cut the stalks should be cut off as close to the ground 

 as possible. We have also made the last sowing of Dwarf 

 Kidney Beans. As this sowing is intended to last until the frost 

 cutB down the plants, the sowing is made in a sheltered 

 position. Under a wall facing west is very good, as here the 

 crop is sheltered from the east winds and the sun does not act 

 upon the plants very early in the day. The crop should be 

 gathered as soon as it is ready, for the plants are soon exhausted 

 if the podB are allowed to hang too long. The plants will some- 

 times produce gatherings well into October. It is necessary to 

 water the drills well before sowing. 



This is also a good time to make a sowing of Turnips for 

 autumn use. The plants come in with us in September and 

 onwards. A later sowiDg continues the supply until they run 

 to seed in spring. Small salading must be regularly sown in a 

 shady position. A north wall is best for this. 



PINES. 



In ordinary seasons the earliest QueenB would be nearly over 

 by this time ; so far only two or three fruits have been cut in our 

 house, but the suckers are very strong, and will be potted when 

 the plants are ready to te removed from the bed. It is no use 

 potting them sooner, as the bed will not be ready for them until 

 the succession plants are removed from the bed intended for the 

 suckers. Most likely the suckers will not be potted for a month, 

 and they are not expected to bear fruit until 1878. Fire heat 

 has beea dispensed with in all the houses, as the weather is 

 very mild at present. The succession plants are rather back- 

 ward, but the house is not sufficiently heated, and it has not 

 been possible to hurry them on. We are careful to see that 

 none of the plants suffer for want of water at the roots, as over- 

 dryness is very apt to throw Pine plants prematurely into fruit. 

 There are a few Cayennes and Charlotte Rothschilds throwing 

 up fruit which will ripen in autumn and winter. These plants 

 are aided by a little guano dropped in the water at every alter- 

 nate watering. 



ORCHARD HOUSE. 



Except one tree of Early Rivers Peach, which ha3 the fruit 

 stoned and taking the second swelling, all the other trees have 

 the fruit passing through the stoning period. All the trees are 

 in pots, and they require very large supplies of water at leaBfc 

 twice daily. The pots have also been mulched with decayed 

 manure and turfy loam in equal proportions. The material is 

 pressed down upon the Burface quite firmly with the fingers. 

 We syringe the trees at 6 a.m. and about 5 p.m. daily. All the 

 Strawberry pots have now been cleared out of the house. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Show Pelargoniums are getting past their best, but they still 

 make a tolerably good show. Zonal Pelargoniums ought now 

 to be at their beBt, and the many different shades of colour 

 — white, pink, salmon, scarlet, crimson, &c, can be arranged so 

 that a fine effect is produced from this class of plants alone. 

 Primulas, Cinerarias, and Calceolarias require to be kept clean, 

 and the plants suffer if exposed directly to bright sunshine. A 

 house with a north aspect suits them best, but if this is not to 

 be obtained the plants must be shaded when the sun strikes 

 directly upon them. Cyclamens are at rest at present, and the 

 plants have just as much water as keeps the foliage from flagging. 

 Hyacinth and Tulip bulbs are quite ripe, and have been turned 

 out of the pots. These roots are always potted, and they flower 

 tolerably well the second year. About three Hyacinths and six 

 Tulip roots are placed in a 6-inch pot. Tying and training 

 Chrysanthemums. All the specimen plants are now in their 

 flowering pots, and the shoots have been pinched for the last 

 time, at least the late-flowering sorts. Aphis has been very 

 troublesome, and as it is difficult to dip the growths in the usual 

 solution the points have been dusted with snuff. We syringe 

 frequently in hot dry weather. 



Specimen hardwooded plants are better for being placed out 

 of doors at this season, but the sun muBt not be allowed to act 

 upon the sides of the pots, else the roots may be destroyed. A 

 slate or board may be placed against the pots to prevent this. 

 All plants subject to be attacked by red spider or thnpB should 

 be freely syringed. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



The Dutch hoe has been kept at work amongst the bedded-out 

 plants, and so far nothing seems as yet to have suffered from the 

 drought except the old yellow shrubby Calceolaria rugosa. lhis 



