MARCH. 



39 



should become as strong as possible the first season. In bright weather, when 

 the trusses of bloom make their appearance, a slight shade will be necessary ; 

 increase it as the season advances, and occasionally the syringe may be 

 drawn over them on fine days before closing the hoxise. Before the flowers 

 expand, fumigate two or three nights in succession, this will destroy all green 

 fly, and keep the plants clean for the rest of the season. The cultivator will 

 now have little to do but to admire their beauties as they come into bloom. 



If you intend exhibiting, the treatment the second season must be slightly 

 vai'ied. As the plants go out of flower they should be watered sparingly, and 

 placed where they can have abundance of air and sun, so that they may 

 become ripe and hard before cutting down, which is generally performed about 

 the second or third week in July. Leave the shoots from 4 to 5 inches in 

 length, and cut them so that when completed the plants form half a globe. 

 They should now be watered and occasionally sprinkled, to induce them to 

 break freely. When the shoots are about half an inch in length they should 

 be shaken out, the roots shortened, and repotted into a size smaller pot. After 

 potting they may be placed in a pit ; keep them close, and shade, gradually 

 reducing this as they become established. They should be housed by the first 

 week in September, and encouraged to grow as much as possible. Those for 

 the May shows should receive their final shift into 8-inch pots not later than 

 the first week in October. Those for June and July, in November, Use the 

 same compost as before recommended, break it fine, but do not sift, and use 

 abundance of drainage. They will require great care to prevent their becoming 

 drawn, and train the shoots so as to form handsome round bushes. In January, 

 those intended for early flowering should be selected, and receive a little fire 

 heat, with a temperature of 45 w at night to 50° by day. Increase the tempe- 

 rature as the season advances. Give occasional supplies of weak liquid manure, 

 and attend strictly to fumigation. Those for June should not be excited at 

 present, and those for late flowering should be stopped about the middle of the 

 month. As the plants advance, they require increased attention ; and when 

 coming into flower carefully exclude all bees, and invariably water them in the 

 morning, so that they may become dry before night. If the house is closed 

 when damp the flowers decay, and soon fall off. They should now be from 

 ,2 to 3 feet through, and loaded with flowers of fine quality, and fit objects to 

 grace any of the metropolitan exhibitions. 



The following are a few of the best varieties in cultivation ; — Acme, Ara- 

 bella Goddard, Beauty, Bridesmaid, Captivator, Clara Novello, Cloth of Silver, 

 Celestial, Emperor of Morocco, Formosum, Lady Craven, Madam Sainton Dolby, 

 Madame Rougiere, Modestum, Negro, Omega, Princess Royal, Queen of the 

 Valley, Rosabelle, Sarah Turner, and Undine. 



Sharcleloes Gardens, Aniersham, Bucks. Henry Bailey, Juisr. 



RENOVATING ESTABLISHED OLD VINES WITHOUT THE 

 LOSS OF A SEASON'S CHOP. 



Ix is an old saying " Necessity is the Mother of Invention," and so it was 

 the case in this instance. I had five vineries at this place, and all were in need 

 of renewal on my entering upon charge of them ; but my employer would not 

 hear of any of them being renovated, although they were much run out, having 

 been in bearing for thirty years. 



The system I am about to detail I do not mean to say is the most practicable ; 

 nevertheless, some who may be placed in similar circumstances, or others who 

 cannot command every essential to meet their desired ends, may be glad to try 



