HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 131 



at the time we indicate, and in the manner described, the next 

 season will show that man}' of the trees have formed fruit buds on 

 this year's wood. We object to summer pruning during the heat of 

 the season, unless it be an occasional exuberant shoot. The tree 

 at that period requires all the foliage and growth to keep the bole 

 of the tree cool and the sap in active circulation. Some trees, 

 however judicious our management, are tardy in producing fruit 

 buis. We have often, and do now every July and August, twist a 

 piece of wire or cord tight round a limb, which checks the returning 

 sap and causes it to be elaborated in the limb instead of the root. 

 Another method, and a very old one too, is to cut out a ring of the 

 bark about one-quarter of an inch in width, disturbing the sap on 

 the surface of the wood as little as possible. From this old practice 

 it will not surprise us to see a new one arise, that instead of scrap- 

 ing the outer bark off during early spring, the trees will yet be en- 

 tirely denuded of their bark about the end of June, when a new 

 bark will be male in 48 hours, and a iiqw life, and new energies 

 given to the tree. We are not thorough arborists until we can take 

 a growing branch of a tree and unite it to its kindred species at 

 any period of the year, and when that time arrives, planting will 

 not be confined to two short periods of the year. When attending 

 to summer pruning, attend at the same time to thinning out the 

 fruit ; one dozen first rate in size and fairness will bring more 

 money than two dozen of inferior, or even mediocre size. Such is 

 the opinion of yours truly, 



R. Ruist. 



THE CAUSE OF BAD COLORED GRAPES. 



There was a curious discussion a few months since in the London journals 

 about a grape exhibited there as the "Red Hamburg." One party calling 

 it a badly colored "Black," the other stoutly maintaining its distinctness. 

 Dr. Ltudley, while adhering to the former party, thought it would be inter- 

 esting to know whether grapes colored badly in warm climates — intimating 

 that the real cause of bad coloring was not yet clearly understood. Having 

 paid much attention to the subject, and having been fortunate in having a 



