JUNE. 



looked upon by all practical and theoretical men the only sound sustaining- 

 principle. Without doubt we attribute too much to the interior atmospherical 

 treatment of our houses. 



From March till October our supply is chiefly Hamburghs ; November and 

 December, Hamburghs and Muscats ; January and February, Muscats, Bar- 

 barossa, Lady Downe's, and White Tokay. The two latter I believe are the 

 best for February and early in March. I cut this year on the 8th of March 

 beautiful Grapes of the latter two varieties. The White Tokay when well 

 coloured is capable of producing a Muscat flavour. They were such that I 

 had the credit of their being new Grapes. I do think that old Grapes should 

 all be cut by the end of February, as their demands on the Vine are at the 

 expense of the following crop. • If in good condition when cut I cannot see 

 any reason, in a cool shady fruit-room, why they should not remain so for ten 

 days or a fortnight, Hanging Grapes 'on the Vine in March is only a secondary 

 evil to extreme early forcing ; but of the two evils I choose the least. 



It is taking us by surpx*ise when we read, u June and July are better 

 wintering months for Vines than August and September." Mr. Thomson will, 

 no doubt, confer a favour on myself and many others with humble capacities, 

 who cannot sink to such depths of reasoning. 



I can quite understand Grapes ripened under the influence of a moderate 

 December sun being thinner-skinned than under the influence of an autumn sun. 

 Nothing can seem more reasonable than that result. Neither am I surprised 

 at Grapes colouring well with comparatively little sun when there is abun- 

 dance of light. But I must confess I am astonished to hear of their colouring 

 so extraordinarily when, during the process of colouring, they must have been 

 something like two-thirds of their time in total darkness in December of the 

 past year. I hope no one will try the further experiment of growing Grapes 

 in a dark cellar, to prove also that light is unnecessary as well as sun to produce 

 Grapes in perfection. Such an event may occur and cause some sensation. 

 But for my own part I will be satisfied with turning autumn into winter for 

 my early Grapes, and delight in having as much sun and light as the winter 

 months will afford; I have on several occasions seen great gardeners allow a 

 vinery now and again to turn summer into winter and other extraordinary 

 things, such as two crops of Grapes in nine months, and ultimately lose all 

 control over the Vines, until they have the satisfaction of seeing both Vines and 

 border on their way to the rubbish-heap. 



I hope to give in some future Number, a few remarks on the thinning of 

 Grapes which in my opinion stands second only to colour and bloom. 



Trentham Gardens. A. Henderson". 



POINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA. 



As I intend giving your readers a few practical remarks on winter-flowering 

 plants suitable for decorating rooms and dinner-tables, as well as general show- 

 house and conservatory display, in the dark months of winter, I think the above 

 plant worthy of a first place ; for neither among stove nor greenhouse plants is 

 there any other that can compare with this in brilliancy of colour ; and flowering, 

 as it does, at the most dreary time of the year, and also lasting, if kept in a mode- 

 rately warm temperature, for at least two months, it is quite worth all the atten- 

 tion required, which is not much. Although an old and very common plant, 

 there is no plant we see so many wretched specimens of, either in a small or a 

 large state. Although within these few years the growers of plants for sale in 

 Covent Garden Market have done them well in a small state, and probably 



