THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
343 
over tlie glass and the sides of the frame left quite unprotected 
The safest course, and one that can be higlily recommended is, to 
pack a liberal quantity of litter against the wall about the first week 
in December, and allow it to remain until the end of February. On 
the appearance of frost the lights should be shut down rather early 
in the afternoon, and the glass covered before the moisture on the 
underside commences to freeze. 
A very large number of tender plants will not receive material 
injury if they are frozen, provided they are thawed before being 
exposed to the light. Therefore if the frost finds its waj into the 
frames, let the covering remain on, and the lights closed until the 
plants are thawed again, and then uncover by removing a portion 
of the protecting material at a time. 
In the case of frames filled with reputed hardy plants, such as 
pansies, pentstemons, and auriculas, a moderately light covering 
will suffice, excepting in very severe weather : its chief value con- 
sists in protecting the plants from the sun until they are thawed. 
It will therefore be seen that in severe weather there should be no 
hurry in removing the protecting materials in the morning. 
A most essential point in the winter management of the cold 
pit is to remove all decaying leaves or plants with promptitude to 
prevent those in a healthy state being injured by coming in contact 
with them. 
EIPE GRAPES AT CHRISTMAS. 
BX J. W. MEREDITH. 
TTHIN a comparatively short period it was supposed that 
to have a dish of good grapes during the Christmas 
festivities it was necessary to have what is designated 
an “ early” vinery, and to start the vines into growth in 
the autumn, and push them on through the months of 
October, November, and December, with artificial heat. This it 
need hardly be said could be only done at an immense cost ; the 
grapes at that season were therefore placed quite beyond the reach 
of those with limited means, for, independent of the cost of fuel, a 
very considerable amount of skill is necessary to ensure satisfactory 
results. Now the practice has changed, and instead of forcing sorts 
which attain early maturity, tliose which can be kept for a consider- 
able period after they are ripe are grown instead. 
The advantage of growing late instead of early grapes is immense, 
for they are produced with less difficulty and expense, and are more- 
over of a much finer flavour; they are in fact as easily produced as 
an ordinary crop of Sweetwater or Black Hamburghs, for autumn 
use. It therefore appears to me that it would be well for those who 
have only limited accommodation for grape-growing to consider 
whether it would not be to their advantage to grow grapes that may 
be kept until the supplies of out-door fruit, such as peaches, nec- 
tarines, and plums, are exhausted, instead of those which have to be 
November. 
