HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 343 



grometrical state in the atmosphere ; should any symptoms of damp or mil- 

 dew appear, it should be removed by ventilation-. Care should be taken in 

 the admission of external air whenever its temperature is much above that 

 of the room. When this is the case a deposition of dew will take place and 

 the evil be increased rather thanv lessened. 



Frequent and careful examination will be necessary to remove all that 

 shows symptoms of decay, such should be promptly removed and every- 

 thing kept as sweet and clean as possible. The late keeping pears as 

 Easter Beurre require to be removed into a warmer temperature, say about 

 6o° for a week or ten days before eating. This has a tendency to remove 

 all grittiness, and heightens the flavor of many varieties. So much depend® 

 upon the keeping and ripening of winter fruit, that many kinds of the high- 

 est repute in Europe have been considered here unworthy of notice, simply 

 from want of proper treatment in this respect. 



Planting, trees should be proceeded with without delay, the past month 

 has been peculiarly favorable for trenching and preparing soil. The ad- 

 vantages of preparing soil when in a dry state are very great, as it crumbles 

 and mixes better, lays* open and permeable to the atmosphere, and retains- 

 more heat. It is very hurtful -to clayey soils to work them in a wet state* 

 The effects may be traced in years afterwards in the hard cemented lump* 

 which nothing but lengthened exposure to rain and frost can pulverize. 

 Where trees are to be permanently planted the should be put in the best 

 condition, and left as light and friable as possible, since it cannot afterwards- 

 be remedied without injuring the roots. Should the weather continue fa- 

 vorable planting may be continued until the end of the month, after that^ 

 except on very dry soil, and elevated locations, it will perhaps be as well to* 

 defer it until spring. We must again urge the advantages of autumn planting, 

 Not only on account of there being more leisure to attend to it at this time, 

 and the soil in the best possible condition for its performance, but princi- 

 pally because of the additional certainty that the trees will make a good 

 growth the following season, consequent upon the increase and establish- 

 ment of roots daring winter, and the diminished risk- of losing them should 

 a dry summer occur. 



G-rapes — both in and out doors should be winter pruned towards the end 

 of the month. Whatever mode of pruning is practised should be strictly 

 carried out. A continued change of systems will be unsatisfactory. Nor 

 indeed is this the proper season to commence a change, even should one be' 

 contemplated. The management of the plant during summer must be con- 

 ducted with reference to the winter pruning, so that the present will only 

 be the completion of the years labor so far as pruning is concerned. The- 

 borders should be slightly forked over, adding a topdressing of woodashesy 



