162 



I 



Straight stick as a trellis, and generally do better 

 '( ever}' v^slj. 



\ Where extra fine bunches of grapes are desired, 

 pinch back the shoot bearing it to about four or five 

 leaves above the bunch. This should not be done 

 indiscriminately with all the buncbos. Too much 

 pinching and stopping injures the production of 

 good wood for next season. These hints are for 

 amateurs, who have a few vines on trellisses ; for 

 large vineyard culture, though the same principles 

 hold good so far as they go, they will vary in their 

 application. Many persons take layers from bear- 

 ing grape vines for increasing stock, a few plants 

 taken this way does not hurt much, but when a vine 

 is severely layered it injures the vitality of the vine. 

 Now is the time to look after the Black Knot in 



I I Plum and Cherry trees^ cut out and burn the first 



I I green excrescence seen. 



The Curcuho still baffles any feasible plan to out- 

 match him, the only good thing is the jarring pro- 

 cess, but unfortunately in most gardens there are 

 so many things to do in regular order every day that 

 these "incidentals" get overlooked until too late ; 

 those who have large orchards, and can thus afford 

 a man to look specially after these thing, find plums 

 a very successful crop. 



VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



Cabbage and Brocoli may still be set out for fall 

 crops, also requiring an abundance of manure to in- 

 sure success. 



Lettuce, where salads are in much request, may 

 yet be sown. The Curled Indian is a favorite sum- 

 ! mer kind ; but the varieties of Co?, or Plain-leaved 

 ! kinds, are good. They take more trouble, having 

 i to be tied up to blanch well. Many should not be 

 ; sown at a time, as they soon run to seed in hot 

 i weather. 



I Endive is becoming very popular as a winter salad, 

 j Now is the time to sow. The Curl-leaved is the 

 i most desirable. Sow it like Lettuce, 

 j Peas for a fall crop may be sown. It is, however, 

 j useless to try them, unless in a deeply trenched soil, 

 i and one that is comparatively cool in the hottest 

 i weather overhead, or they will certainly mildew and 

 ! ■ prove worthless. In England, where the atmos- 

 ! phere is so much more humid than ours, they nev- 

 I ertheless, have great difficulty in getting fall peas to 

 j get through free from mildew ; and to obviate these 

 I drying and mildew-producing influences, they often 

 plant them in deep trenches, made as for celery, 

 r and are then much more successful with them. 

 - ^ Celery for early use is often planted out this 

 ^) I month, though for winter use July or August will 



be early enough. It is best to set out in shallow 

 trenches, for convenience in watering, the celery 

 being fond of hydropathic appliances. If the ground 

 has been deeply subsoiled, and the subsoil well en- 

 riched, the trenches may be near a foot in depth, i 

 for convenience in blanching ; but beware of plant- 

 ing down in poor, barren subsoil. Many plant in 

 double rows. Where very superior celery is not an 

 object, this will do, but the single row system is the 

 best for excellency. The season is now arriving 

 when the advantages of subsoiled ground will be 

 apparent. In such soil plants will grow freely 

 though there be no rain for many weeks. Some of 

 our best growers now plant entirely on the surface, 

 and depend on drawing up the soil, or the em- 

 plojmient of boards or other artificial methods of 

 blanching. 



Cucumber for pickling may be sown this month. 



Parsley for winter use may be sown now in boxes 

 of rich soil, and set in a cool, shady place till it 

 germinates. 



Asparagus beds should not be cut after the stalks 

 seem to come up strong, or there will be but a poor 

 crop the next season, and the beds will "run out," 

 in a few years. 



The Swede Turnip or Buta Baga should be sown 

 about the end of the month. A well-enriched piece 

 of ground is essential, as by growing fast they get 

 ahead of the ravages of the fly. Manures abound- 

 ing in the phosphates — bone-dust, for instance, — 

 are superior for the Turnip, 



Sweet Potatoes must be watched, that the vines 

 do not root in the ground as they run, which will 

 weaken the main crop of roots. They should be 

 gone over about once a month, and with a rake or 

 pole, the vines disturbed somewhat from their po- 

 sition. 



dEsiiieiiiretieiis. 



BOTANY Am HORTICULTURE BRIEFLY 

 CONSIDEKBD IN THEIR RELATION AND 

 USES TO MANKIND. 

 BY WILLIAM BULL, F. L. S. , F. R. H. S,, F. R. B. S. 



Socc. Hort. Berol.^ Bruxdl. et Paris, et Soc. 



Agri.c. et Bot. Gartdav. Socius. New Plant 



Alerchant, Ki'ugs road, Chelsea, London. 



The subject I have selected on which to offer some 

 observations in your journal, is so wide an one, that 

 to treat it completely, would far exceed, the limits 

 of the few remarks I now purpose making. Its in- 

 terest however is so absorbing, that I venture to 

 believe my general reflections may, however imper- 

 fect in their character, be acceptable, because they 



