350 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 3, 1834. 
Polyanthus call for no special comment. For three dissimilar, black 
grounds, Mr. J. Beswick was first, and Mr. Geo. Thornley, Middleton, 
second. ’For three dissimilar, red grounds, the same exhibitors came first 
and second. For a single plant, black ground, Mr. Beswick was first 
and second, and Mr. Thornley third. 
Miscellaneous exhibits were few, but of excellent quality. A group 
of plants arranged by T. S. Turnbull, Esq., contained choice and well 
flowered plants of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Cattleya Mossiae, Cym- 
bidium Lowrianum, Oncidium sphacelatum, and a few Amaryllis. A 
first-class commendation was granted. Mr. Henry Brownbill, Mayfield 
Nurseries, Sale, had a splendid arrangement of Spiraea astilboides, forty 
vases of Primula Sieboldi, two superb boxes of Tea Roses, and choice 
cut blooms of Chrysanthemum frutescens. Princess May, and Duke of 
York. Miss Hopkins, Mere Cottage, Knutsford, had attractive boxes of 
cut flowers, consisting of Jack-in-the-Green, Hose-in-Hose, and Pantaloon 
Polyanthus, also other outdoor flowers. M. Wells, Esq., was deservedly 
granted a first-class certificate for a choice variety of Cattleya Mendeli, 
Broomfield House variety, having broad pure white sepals and petals, 
lemon throat, and lilac lip. Some excellent and attractive seedling 
Carnation blooms came from Mr, Richardson, gardener to J. E. Platt, 
Esq., Bruntwood, Cheadle. 
Mention should also be made of the grounds and gardens, which are 
in excellent condition. Outside Tulips of various shades are in bloom, 
and many beds of the useful Doronicums. Hawthorns just budding and 
well kept lawns, all add to the attractions of the gardens. Under glass 
greenhouse Rhododendrons, Azaleas, many choice Orchids, a fine collec¬ 
tion of Palms and other plants bear the impress of good management; 
and last, but not least, the delightful fernery, with its handsome Tree 
Ferns, the undergrowth being ample and choice.—R. P. R. 
WOKK.F0IITHEWEEK.. 
FRUIT FORCING, 
Vines. —Early Houses .—Vines started at the new year have the 
Grapes in an advanced stage for ripening; indeed, some are commencing 
to colour, and will need a circulation of warm, rather dry air. An arid 
condition of the atmosphere, however, must be avoided, inasmuch as it 
is sure to induce an attack of red spider. It is imperative to keep the 
foliage clean and healthy to as long a period as possible. Where red 
spider has obtained a hold, prompt measures for its destruction must be 
adopted. Recourse is sometimes had to the syringe, which, even when 
the water is clear and soft, is apt to more or less damage the bloom of 
Grapes advanced in colouring. Sponging the leaves is a safe means of 
preventing the spread of the acari, and taken in hand on the first 
appearance of the pests is not so tedious as it seems. 
Sulphuring the hot-water pipes should only be had recourse to when 
the red spider is likely to get the upper hand, then it must be judiciously 
applied, or the fumes will be as disastrous to the Grapes as destructive 
of the red spider. Sulphur begins to vaporise at a temperature of 170° ; 
the pipes, therefore, must be heated to between that degree and 200° for 
about an hour, and then the heat may be allowed to fall to the ordinary 
temperature. The latter part of a calm day should be chosen for the 
operation, keeping the ventilators open while the pipes are being heated, 
and when they become suflSciently so apply the sulphur, which, being 
brought to the consistency of thin cream with skim milk, can readily be 
put on thinly with a brush. It will be necessary to heat the pipes again in 
about a week, but they need only be rubbed with a brush moistened in 
clear water. Where fermenting materials on outside borders have 
become cold and wet a portion may be removed, leaving enough of the 
looser material to avoid giving a sudden check, but a moderate mulching 
is all that is necessary for the preservation of the surface roots. 
Houses of Ripe Grapes .—Early Vines have ripened their crops some¬ 
what earlier than usual, and where not overcropped and kept clean the 
Grapes are well coloured and of excellent quality. Maintain a circula¬ 
tion of air, and allow the temperature to fall to 60° at night. The soil 
must be kept healthfully moist, so as to keep the foliage in good con¬ 
dition. Moderate air moisture also is essential to prevent the foliage 
prematurely ripening, and it benefits rather than prejudices the keeping 
of the Grapes, provided the atmosphere is not stagnant. The Grapes are 
liable to lose colour with hanging ; a slight shade will be beneficial in 
helping to keep colour, especially in Black Hamburghs and Madresfield 
Court. A double thickness of herring netting, or a single thickness of 
pilchard netting, placed on the roof lights is sufficient. It is also 
desirable, where it can be practised without crowding the principal 
leaves, to allow a moderate extension of the laterals, which will tend to 
promote root activity, and assist the Vines to recuperate their wasted 
energies. 
Muscats .—The Vines started in December, and brought forward 
gently in the early stages, are now beginning to colour. Muscat of 
Alexandria takes longer to colour than Black Mu.scat (Muscat Ham¬ 
burgh), and that longer than Black Hamburgh and Foster’s Seedling or 
Buckland Sweetwater. The Grapes of the former variety are liable to 
shrivel unless the Vines are well supplied with water and nourishment 
at the roots. When these are provided, a much drier condition of the 
atmosphere may be allowed than is otherwise safe, and it is absolutely 
essential to good finish in Muscats, for when kept in a saturated 
atmosphere there is danger of “spotting,” and what is gained in size of 
berry is lost in colour and quality. Directly the Grapes change colour 
give a thorough supply of water or liquid manure, following with a 
mulch of sweet rather strawy material, a couple of inches thickness 
sufficing, and being dry it will prevent too much moisture arising whilst 
keeping the soil longer moist. Muscat of Alexandria is liable to have 
the upper berries of the bunches scorched by the sun when the Grapes 
commence ripening, which is due to the sun acting powerfully on the 
epidermis, whilst, perhaps, though imperceptibly, covered with moisture. 
As a safeguard against fcoiching a flight shade, as that of doubled 
herring or single pilchard netting on the roof lights, should be provided, 
ventilating early and increasing the air with the advancing sun heat, 
but allowing a high temperature by that means. A little more time 
is required with the shade, but it well repays the outlay, or the losses 
from scorched Grapes are sometimes considerable where the panes of 
glass are large and the weather bright. 
Muscats in flower set freely with a night temperature of 70°, 75° by 
day artificially, and 80° to 85° or 90° with sun heat, always with a 
circulation of air. The points of the bunches should be kept well up to 
the glass. When the caps of the flowers are being cast ofi, it is advisable 
to rap the bunches lightly, better still to gently go over each bunch with 
a camel’s-hair brush and follow soon afterwards, or when the caps are off 
with another brush loaded with pollen taken from free-setting varieties 
as Alicante, Black Hamburgh, and Foster’s Seedling. The influence of 
foreign pollen is far more potent, and secures finer berries than 
impregnation of a variety of Grape or other fruit with its own pollen, 
which is often inert from continued in-and-in breeding. 
Succession Houses .—Follow up thinning the bunches and berries, 
also tying, disbudding, stopping, and regulating the growths. Allow 
crops proportionate to the vigour of the Vines, and retain as much foliage 
as can have full exposure to light ; for on the amount of assimilating 
power and the supplies of nutriment depends the health of the Vines 
and their power of swelling and perfecting their crops. Examine the 
borders at least once weekly, and when dry water freely, assisting those 
in full foliage and carrying heavy crops with tepid liquid manure and 
surface mulchings of rich material, or a couple of inches thickness of 
rather lumpy manure, and not very much reduced. In addition to this 
mineral food should be provided. The advertised fertilisers are com¬ 
pounded of various salts in a form readily available as plant food, and 
mainly consist of phosphatic, potassic, and nitrogenous matters, which 
are especially valuable for Vines and fruit trees. Use a quarter of a 
pound per square yard every fortnight or three weeks, alternating with 
water or liquid manure supplies. Well-drained inside borders will take 
almost any quantity of water after the Vines are in full foliage, it 
having a sanitating as well as a moisture-supplying effect; and the 
sweeter the soil or food held in solution the more healthy the Vines will 
be, provided the foliage is kept clean, has full exposure to light, and the 
atmospheric conditions are favourable. 
Outside borders will not require any water unless there be a 
deficiency of moisture, then supply it liberally ; and to encourage surface 
roots top-dress with some fertiliser, also mulch lightly if the border has 
not a good tilth of fine surface soil so as to retain moisture. Ventilate 
early, it causes accumulated moisture to disperse, gives texture to 
the foliage and firmness to the wood, besides securing a full amount 
of stored-up matter. Allow a high day temperature from sun heat, 
closing early alike to push ahead the crop and to store the sun-warmed 
atmosphere. At night a rather low (60° to 65°) temperature is best, 
especially for Vines carrying heavy crops, which require more time than 
those but lightly cropped. 
Late Houses. —Disbudding, also tying and stopping the growths, 
must be attended to as they become sufficiently advanced. The bright 
weather has given the foliage a remarkably healthy blue-green colour, 
so characteristic of healthy active feeders luxuriating in phosphoric, 
potassic, and nitrogenic aliment. Every advantage of sun heat should 
be taken to increase the ventilation early in the day, and of closing early 
in the afternoon, as a means of securing a long day’s work, and of 
vigour and health in the Vines, dispensing with fire heat as much as 
possible, yet employing enough to keep the Vines in steady progress. 
Make selection of the bunches that are to remain for the crop, large 
bunches, especially loose, being the worst for finish ; and the medium¬ 
sized and compact the best for perfecting properly and keeping. Crop 
lightly rather than too heavily, and apportion the crop to the vigour 
and variety of Vine. 
Late Hamhurglis. —Disbud, tie down, and regulate the growths, 
not leaving more than can have space for the full expansion of the 
foliage. In stopping allow two at least, preferably four, joints of growth 
beyond the show of fruit, and pinch the laterals below it to one joint as 
made, but above the bunch allow them to extend so as to insure an 
even covering of the space with foliage that can have exposure to light, 
afterwards keep them pinched to one leaf as new growth is made. 
Where the space is restricted closer stopping may be practised, not 
allowing the laterals to interfern with the principal leaves. Ventilate 
early and freely so as to insure short-jointed stout wood and stout 
foliage. Avoid a saturated condition of the atmosphere, yet a genial 
state must be provided by syringing the borders, walls and paths in the 
morning and at closing time. Secure proper moisture in the borders, yet 
