recitnber 27, 1383. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
distance it is desirable to have them secured to the board about 
the middle of the bunch. Two small holes should be made in 
the board under each bunch, and by means of a small packing 
needle carefully pass a piece of narrow tape up from below 
through the bunch and down again on the opposite side of the 
mam stem of the bunch, using a pencil to guide the needle 
amongst the berries, which must not be touched with the hands. 
I his should be tied just tight enough to steady the bunch. The 
figures added to fig. 110 are the measurements of stand fig. 108 in 
section. If some such standard were given in our fruit schedules 
it would be better than leaving everyone to make their own 
standards. 
Keeping Late Grapes. —Mr. Barker has given sound and 
seasonable advice as to the setting in order and management of 
Fig. no. 
the Grape-room. Several gardeners will be found who have a 
few bunches of Grapes hanging but have no Grape-room to take 
them to. It is our practice to cut all that remains after 
Christmas, and place them at the driest end of the fruit-room, 
where they keep fairly well for sis or seven weeks. Instead of a 
proper Grape rack as described by Mr. Barker, we suspend 
the bottles from the front of the fruit shelves as shown in 
the annexed sketch (fig. 112). The bottles are placed about 
Fig. 111. 
7 inches apart. Two ordinary carpet tacks are driven into the 
front of the shelf (1 inch apart) for each bottle. A piece of 
ordinary binding wire is fixed to one tack, a bottle is placed in 
the desired position, and the wire pulled tight round the neck 
and round the other tack; it is then passed along without cutting 
it to the next bottle, twisting it round the necks in the same 
way. The tacks are then driven home, so that the wire does not 
slip. In a similar manner another wire is fixed so as to form a 
sort of “ sling ” to pass over the bottom end of each bottle and 
support it at the desired angle. These should be fixed on the 
top and passed down between the openings of the fruit shelves. 
The wires are not the least in the way when the bottles are 
removed.— R. Inglis. 
Words to Young Gardeners. —I read with much pleasure the 
article “ A Word to Young Gardeners ” in your issue of the Journal 
for December 13th, and I think it but just that “ A Working Gardener ’’ 
should receive the thanks of all young gardeners for his kind advice, 
which I am sure will, if followed, be of great benefit to them, myself 
for one. I shall be much obliged by full paiticulars respecting the 
CT. H. B. S., as I have not heard of it before, and am desirous of 
joining the Society that offers the greatest advantages to gardeners.— 
J. P., Under Gardener. 
[Send 3 \d. in stamps to the publisher and ask him to send you 
No. 171 of the Journal, the issue of October 25th of the present 
volume.] 
AURICULAS. 
Truly, as Mr. Douglas has said, “ there is always something to 
admire and interest in these very charming flowers,” and another 
equally important fact, there is always something to be done fer 
them, as constant attention is the only road to success. I have not 
half so much time to bestow uptn those under my care as I could wish, 
but every time I look at them something wants doing—dead leaves 
require removing, green fly is showing itself, and owing to the very 
mild autumn this pest is active late this eeuson. I do not notice that 
the cultivator above named often refers to the mealy pest which 
attacks the root ; perhaps it is because he is not troubled with it. A 
most enthusiastic grower recently infoimed me that every grower had 
their share of it except Mr. Douglas, and long may he be spared the 
vexation it causes to those whose plants r alt icks. I am not sure 
that it does much harm to the plants unless it gels at the neck and 
punish all the young roots as fast as they show. As soon as the insects 
get a foothold there the plants sicken ; they are easily removed 
from that position, and the sooner the better. Take a” brush and 
remove them, and well saturate the parts with a strong solution of 
soft soap. The difficulty is to remove them from the roots, for they 
are firmly embedded even to the very centre ; but very frequently we 
find them quite outside the ball, feeding upon the extremities of the 
rootlets, from which positions they are easily dislodged ; and although 
we may fancy they are not very injurious to the plant, yet it is tar 
from pleasurable to see even one of them, and I am glad to say by 
'persistent effort they are becoming much less numerous. When the 
plants are potted a good opportunity is afforded of checking them 
materially. The plants should be well shaken out and dipped in soap 
solution, and the parts brushed if needful, for it is surprising how 
rapidly even the weakest of them regain strength and position, and 
their mealy covering greatly protects them from superficial treatment. 
From this time onward till the beginning of February the plants 
should be kept moderately dry, so as not to induce growth. Especially 
is it desirable to attend to this if we experience a mild winter, 
for after the slightest excitement they start into growth, and the 
flower spikes appear before they are required, especially if they are 
required for an exhibition. Look well after any drips from the 
lights, for it is most prejudicial for any moisture to rest in the hearts 
of the plants, speedy decay following. Ventilate on all suitable 
occasions, and if the plants are in a cold pit do not cover more than 
is absolutely necessary, for they will endure much cold without injury, 
especially if kept dry. With these items of attention and removing 
all decaying leaves as soon as they are functionless the plants will 
pass the winter happily until it is time to top-dress them, Avhen a few 
more notes may be serviceable. In the compost I use for top¬ 
dressing, cow manure is an important item ; mine is already col¬ 
lected, kept under cover in an open airy place, spread out thinly, 
often turned over so as to become thoroughly frosted and sweetened, 
and moderately dry before it is required.— Auricula. 
BOTHY LIFE—BOOMS AT KEW. 
Of late some letters have appeared in the Journal relative to the 
want of bothy accommodation at Kew, as if this were an almost 
unendurable hardship. But when the subject is considered in all its 
