HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 85 



this cheap and easy mode of instruction, is no .Solomon : and he who over- 

 looks and neglects it, is far from being a sage. Show me the men, who 

 sweep your premiums ; and nine out of ten of them, I venture to assert, are 

 the reading and thinking farmers. Show me the farmer, w T hose purse has 

 grown weighty with coin, — whose pocket-book is plethoric,— to whom the 

 rustling of bank notes is familiar music ; and, ten to one, he is a reader and 

 a thinker. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS, 



FRUIT. 



Grapes in houses will start into growth towards the end of the month ; 

 keep them in a horizontal position until the bottom buds burst, and rub out 

 all extra buds, so that the best is retained at each eye. When they are spur- 

 pruned close, a congeries of buds will make their appearance, and it is impor- 

 tant that all superfluous ones should be taken off before leaves are formed; if 

 they are allowed to grow until five or six inches in length, and then reduced, 

 it causes an injurious check to the plant's growth. If not done in autumn, 

 a slight top dressing may be given. If the soil is well drained, as it ought 

 to be, and the roots spreading near the surface, a mixture of fresh loam, 

 horse droppings and small charcoal may be spread to a depth of two inches 

 over the border. This applies to hardy grapes as well as to the tender sorts, 

 The house should be kept as open and well ventilated as possible, and shut 

 close up only on the appearance of frost ; we have seen the temperature re- 

 duced to 33° on two successive nights, while the vines were in flower, with- 

 out any apparent injury. There is less danger from a low night tempera- 

 ture than is generally supposed, provided the day temperature is kept to a 

 proper standard. There is undoubtedly much yet to be learned in the forc- 

 ing of fruits and flowers during winter. From observations recently made, 

 we are convinced that low (comparatively speaking) night temperature is 

 beneficial. Physiologists tell us that low temperature is favorable to the al- 

 tered functions of vegetation in the absence of light ; and if we look to na- 

 ture, we find that even in tropical climates absence of light is also followed 

 by diminution of temperature. The purity of the atmosphere consequent 

 upon a low night temperature is also conducive to health, It is considered a 

 good sign of health to see the " pearly dew " on the edges of leaves in the 

 morning ; this is never seen after a hard night's firing, the heated air carry- 

 ing off the moisture in the air which is condensed in contact with the cold 



