162 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 23, 1893. 
tions were supervised and discussed by the Rev. T. A. Preston until 1888, 
since which time they have been under the direction of Mr. E. Mawley. 
The year 1892 was on the whole very cold and backward. The frequent 
frosts and dry weather during the first five months greatly retarded 
vegetation, and consequently all the early wild flowers were very late 
in coming into blossom. Bush fruits and Strawberries were, as a rule, 
good and fairly plentiful. Plums and Pears were almost everywhere a 
failure, and Apples were considerably under the average. The Wheat 
crop was a very light one, owing in part to the attacks of blight brought 
on in many places by the frost in June. Oats, Beans, and Peas were 
much under the average, while Barley was the chief crop of the year. 
Potatoes, Turnips, and Mangolds were above the average. During 
August butterflies were very numerous, the clouded yellow butterfly 
being exceptionally abundant. 
2. “ Relation between the Duration of Sunshine, the amount of 
Cloud, and the height of the Barometer; ” by Mr. W. Ellis, F.R.A.S. 
This was a discussion of the observations made at the Royal Observatory, 
Greenwich, during the fifteen years 1877-91, from which it appears that 
in the months from February to October there is, on the whole, a distinct 
probability of increased sunshine and correspondingly less cloud with 
increase of barometer reading. The winter in all conditions of the 
barometer is uniformly dull. Mr. Ellis says that it is evident that high 
barometer in summer presages increased sunshine, that the effect is 
less pronounced in early spring and late autumn, and that it becomes 
slightly reversed in winter. 
3. “Winter Temperatures on Mountain Summits,” by Mr. W. Piffe 
Brown. In this paper the author gives the lowest winter temperature 
on the summit of Y Glyder fach, four miles E.N.E. from Snowdon and 
3262 feet above sea level, as recorded by a minimum thermometer 
during the last twenty-five years. The lowest temperature registered 
was 9° during the winter 1891-2. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Scientific Committee.— February 14th. Present : Prof. M. 
Foster, in the chair; Dr. Masters, Sir J T. D. Llewelyn, Mr. 
McLachlan, Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. Michael, Prof. Church, Prof. Oliver, 
Prof. Farmer, and Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Soil ivith Mites, c^’e. —Mr. Michael reported upon a sample of earth 
sent from Jura Forest, and found that it contained wireworms, some 
Thysanuridae and mites (Gamasidm). The mites were in this case 
not injurious to plant life, but rather “ friends,” as they were predatory 
on other animals. In another sample sent there were Thjsanuridae and 
wireworms, but no mites. The soil being in a bad condition should be 
treated with gas-lime, or other usual remedies for wireworm. Mr. 
McLachlan observed on the importance of such investigations as the 
present, as they revealed what creatures were “ friends ” to the cultivator, 
such being very often regarded unwittingly as “ foes.” 
Turnip Devoured hy a Vole. —Dr. Masters exhibited a specimen from 
Bagshot, in which the whole of the interior had been consumed, nothing 
but a thin shell of cortex being left. He also showed a drawing of a 
monstrous Turnip which had grown not unlike a Mandrake in form. 
Burr Knot on Apple Roots. —Dr. Masters also showed a specimen 
from a “ Burr Knot ” Apple tree, a feature characteristic of certain 
varieties of Apples, such being used for propagating purposes. It was 
referred to Prof. Farmer for examination. 
Fog Report, —Prof. Oliver presented the second report on his investi¬ 
gations upon “ The Effects of Urban Fog on Cultivated Plants,” which 
will be printed and circulated for discussion at the next meeting. The 
following is a brief abstract:—“The report deals especially with the 
physiological aspect of the question, matters of more purely local 
interest being reserved for a forthcoming communication. The observed 
action of fog upon plants is described in detail, and the share taken in 
this action, by the reduction of light on the one hand and by atmo¬ 
spheric impurities on the other, is critically discussed in the light of the 
writer’s experimental results. The position taken up by the author is 
that ‘ fog ’ is, physiologically speaking, a much more complex affair 
than has been suspected. In presenting his report. Prof. Oliver explained 
that the present contribution could only be regarded as a very imperfect 
statement of the subject, and that he was busily employed in following 
up some of the more novel lines which he has indicated.” Prof. 
M. Foster moved, and Mr. McLachlan seconded the motion, that the 
report should be presented to the Council. 
Arum with Two Spathes. —Dr. Masters exhibited a specimen of this 
common phenomenon, and remarked that no florist had made any 
attempt to fix it. The question was raised whether it was deeirable to 
do so, as some thought that two spathes were no improvement to the 
flower. 
African Produce. —Messrs. J. Wrench & Sons forwarded samples of 
leguminous and other seeds raised in S. Africa from English origin. As 
a general result they had remained constant in character. The Committee 
expressed their thanks to the exhibitors. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Dickson & Robinson, Manchester— Agricultural Seeds. 
Ellwanger & Barry, Mount Hope Nurseries, Rochester, New York, 
U.S.A.— Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Roses, &c. 
Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle.— Farm Seeds. 
J. C. Schmidt, Erfurt.— Agricultural and Garden Seeds. 
Charles Van Geert, Anvers.— Fruit, Trees, Shruhs, Roses, Hardy 
Plants, J^'C. 
m 
WKK.foa.theWEEK.. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. — Early Forced in Pots. —The state of the crops depends on 
the management and the condition of the Vines at the time of starting. 
Those started last October or early in November, and being strong, well- 
ripened canes from cut-backs, have, under proper management, the 
Grapes in an advanced stage for colouring. During this stage the berries 
swell more than at any other, therefore supply fresh top-dressings of 
rich material, as turfy loam or lumpy well-decayed manure, with a 
sprinkling every ten days or a fortnight of dissolved bones three parts, 
powdered saltpetre two parts, and gypsum one part, by weight, mixed 
and kept dry. This not only feeds, but encourages root formation, and 
the new rootlets absorb liquid manure, which should be supplied 
copiously in a tepid state, and not too strong. Maintain a genial condition 
of the atmosphere by damping available surfaces two or three times a 
day, especially at closing time, which should be sufficiently early to run 
up the temperature to 85° or 90°. The floor may also be sprinkled 
occasionally in the evening with liquid manure, but not too strong, 
and the ammonia given off will invigorate the Vines and prove inimical 
to red spider. 
Stopping, Tying, and Regulating the Shoots. —In houses that were 
started a few weeks ago the growths will be in a sufficiently forward 
state for disbudding, but it should not be attempted before the best 
breaks can be discerned. The operation should be performed gradually, 
removing the weakest and worst placed shoots first, and ultimately 
leaving no more than there is room for the full exposure of the foliage 
to light, always retaining the most promising for fruit. In very vigorous 
Vines and under close pruning the weakest shoots often show the best, 
the others being fruitless, or the bunches are loose and badly set. Then 
it is best to allow two shoots to a spur, one for growth and to give the 
next year’s crop, and the other for bearing in the current year, these 
precocious shoots being so enfeebled by the current crop as not to be 
able to form good buds and well-ripened wood for supplying the suc¬ 
ceeding one, and should be cut away after the Grapes are cut, other¬ 
wise the spur may be lost and the crop nil. Stopping should take place 
at one joint beyond the bunch where the space is limited, but two joints 
should be left where there is room for lateral extension. Tie the growths 
before they touch the glass, bringing them down carefully, as they are 
liable to break. Allow sufficient room in the ligatures for the swelling 
of the shoots, and loosen all those that are too tight. 
Vines in Floioer. —The syringing if practised must now be discon¬ 
tinued, and a comparatively dry atmosphere is desirable during the 
setting process. Condensation of moisture on the glass should be pre¬ 
vented by a little ventilation constantly, but without causing a draught. 
The temperature must not be less than 60° to 65° at night and 70° to 75° 
by day artificially. Shy-setting varieties require careful fertilisation, 
brushing the bunches lightly with a camel’s-hair brush, and then follow 
with the same charged with pollen collected from such free setters as 
Black Hamburghs. Muscats should have the bunches well up and with 
their points to the light, and if they are numerous it is better to remove 
the surplus bunches before they come into flower than to defer it until 
the Grapes are set. They should have a night temperature of 65° to 
70°, 5° more by day artificially, and 10° to 15« from sun heat. Careful 
fertilisation is imperative in their case, attending to it on a fine day 
after the house has been ventilated a short time always when the 
“caps” part readily from the tips of the flowers, as then the stigmas 
are ready to receive the pollen. 
Thinning Grapes. —This work must never be allowed to get into 
arrear. Free-setting varieties should be thinned as soon as they are 
fairly out of flower, taking out the smallest berries first and then going 
over the bunches again, so as to leave only sufficient berries to form a 
compact bunch, each berry being allowed space to swell to its full extent 
without wedging or losing its natural form. This requires the exercise 
of a little judgment, and can only be acquired by experience. Muscats 
and all shy-setting varieties should not be thinned until the properly 
fertilised berries can be distinguished, as they may by their taking and 
retaining the lead in swelling, whilst the unfertilised remain almost 
stationary in this respect. 
Feeding. —When the Grapes are set and thinned every encourage¬ 
ment should be given to their swelling, supplying liquid manure in a 
weak state liberally, always tepid, and surface roots may be accelerated 
by light mulchings of lumpy manure or turf, kept moist and sprinkled 
every fortnight or so with a good handful per square yar 1 of the mixture 
advised for Vines in pots. Even half a pound per square yard may be 
given where the Vines are weak and carrying heavy crops, and three 
such dressings are usually enough—one when the Grapes are set, a 
second when they are about half swellel, and the third just before or 
when they are colouring. The last dressing will also aid the Vines to 
plump the buds for producing next year’s crop. Maintain a genial 
condition of the atmosphere by damping available surfaces in the morn¬ 
ing, at closing time, and in the evening. Make the most of sun heat 
by early closing, running up to 85° or 90°, and this will maintain a good 
temperature into the night, when it should gradually fall to the minimum 
