October 24, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
363 
houses started at different times—viz., January, February, and March, 
and singularly it does much the best in the structure started in 
February, the berries being as black as jet to the stalk, and the quality 
equal to Black Muscat. It is one of those varieties that is not always 
amenable to spur-pruning, being most satisfactory on the rod or 
extension system. 
Mrs. Pince is not a robust grower, the joints of the wood being 
far apart, and growing quickly ; the base leaves are comparatively 
small, and the buds correspond, being small and ill-fed, and the 
variety often fails to afford profitable crops on the short or spur- 
pruning system. Alicante, started in good time so as to finish by 
the middle of September, is capital in crop and appearance through size 
of bunch and finish. It has the advantage of finishing well where 
other varieties do very indifferently. Gros Colman is the noblest of 
Grapes in its season, and the most profitable to grow for a market 
supply. It is magnificent in appearance, the berries being splendid, the 
bunches compact, and it is an enormous cropper. The latter property 
is often taken advantage of to the injury of the crop in finish and the 
prejudice of ensuing crops. It requires more time than any other 
Grape, and should be started early, so as to have August and September 
to finish in, and being allowed to hang a few weeks to mature its some¬ 
what earthy flavour when cut as soon as ripe passes off, and is even 
relished by invalids. Gros Guillaume is magnificent in bunch and 
berry, and requires a long time to colour and ripen it thoroughly. On 
account of its large bunches it is often overcropped, in which case it is the 
poorest of Grapes, as it is not even sweet, and is most unsatisfactory for 
keeping through the softness of its footstalks. Grown well Gros Guil¬ 
laume is anything but coarse or inferior in flavour. It is not always 
satisfactory when closely pruned, and is best grown on the rod or 
extension system. Alnwick Seedling is an excellent Grape, finishing 
invariably well, and is as good in appearance as Alicante, with a better 
flavour. West’s St. Peter’s also always finishes satisfactorily, and though 
its berries and bunches may be too small for our modern ideas of a late 
Grape, it is otherwise of a quality which renders it an excellent and 
esteemed table variety. 
Of white varieties Muscat of Alexandria is supreme when finished so 
as to hang in good condition into January. Its great enemy is spot. The 
air must be kept from becoming stagnant, a temperature of about 50° 
being necessary, and air must be given early on fine mornings, with 
warmth in the pipes to expel moisture and allow of the berries being 
warmed equally with the surrounding air, moisture being kept from 
condensing on the berries. There must not be anything like a leak in 
the roof, and moisture must be prevented arising from the border 
by covering it with dry material, than which nothing answers better 
than roughly cut, clean, and dry wheat straw. This treatment answers 
equally well for Madresfield Court, which as a companion Grape 
to Muscat of Alexandria is unequalled. It will keep well into the 
new year, but has the disadvantage of losing colour by hanging similar 
to Black Hamburghs, but unlike these does not shrivel. Of late white 
varieties Trebbiano is large in bunch and berry, and when thoroughly 
ripened good in flavour, but is rather impatient of damp, which usually 
attack the berries at the footstalk. Syrian well ripened is by no means 
despicable, and similar remarks applying to Calabrian Raisin. 
Earliest Forced House .—Where late Grapes are not cultivated in 
quantity to maintain a supply to May, or thin-skinned varieties are re¬ 
quired by April, preparations must be made for early forcing. The 
Vines having been pruned in September, the loose bark stripped off, the 
house may be cleansed, the border top-dressed, and the Vines dressed 
with a solution of softsoap, half a pound to a gallon of water, brought 
to the consistency of cream with flowers of sulphur, adding, if 
there have been any scale, half a gill of spirits of turpentine, the com¬ 
position being equally effective against mealy bug. The whole being in 
readiness as advised in former calendars, cover the outside border with 
leaves and stable litter preparatory to applying fire heat. If there be the 
convenience of making up a bed of Oak or Beech leaves, with about a 
third of stable litter, inside the house it will greatly facilitate the Vines 
breaking and be more beneficial to them than fire heat alone ; therefore 
have them in readiness for placing in the house early in next month. 
Earliest Forced Pot Vines .—To produce ripe fruit in late March or 
early April the Vines are best grown in pots as stated in a former 
calendar, selecting early sorts, such as Buckland Sweetwater, Foster’s 
Seedling, and White Frontignan in white Grapes ; and in black, Black 
Hamburgh, Mill Hill Hamburgh, Royal Ascot, and Madresfield Court. 
They should now be in position preparatory to starting them early next 
month. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Befitting Flower Beds .—Frosts have been partial, and in some 
positions, notably those on high ground, the summer bedding plants still 
present a gay appearance. Those who intend refilling the beds with 
spring-flowering plants ought not longer to defer destroying the tender 
plants, in order that their successors may be transplanted and become 
re-established before bad weather is experienced. The sooner the beds 
are refilled after the soil has been disturbed the better, as should this be 
delayed till much rain has fallen it will be impossible to do the work 
properly. All kinds of plants used must be firmly fixed in their fresh 
quarters, or they will not take quickly to them, and subsequent frosts 
will still further loosen the ground about them. No greater mistake 
can be made than to interfere with the beds, either for the purpose of 
clearing or refilling them in wet weather, the wiser course being to defer 
the work till it can be done cleanly and properly. 
Suitable Plants .—Where a goodly stock for refilling the beds has 
been well prepared beforehand it is possible to arrange these in such a. 
manner as to create an effect in the spring even more showy and pleas¬ 
ing than any summer displays. Aubrietias, Iberises, Arabises, Daisies, 
Forget-me-nots, Polyanthuses, Primroses, Wallflowers, Violas, and 
Saxifrages are all largely used for spring beds, and with these such 
showy annuals as Collinsia bicolor, Gypsophila elegans, Limnanthes- 
Douglasi, Myosotis dissitiflora, Nemophila insignis, Saponaria calabrica, 
Silene pendula in variety, and Virginian Stocks. Masses of one colour 
with a suitable edging are usually most attractive, and for this reason 
it is unwise to go in for indiscriminate mixture, or to attempt to do too- 
much with a limited stock of plants. For instance, single lines of Poly¬ 
anthuses are by no means showy, but if a good-sized bed is filled with 
them, and edged, say, with common Primroses, quite a fine display will 
be had in the spring, especially if the best strains of seed have been- 
obtained. Masses of Wallflowers, Myosotises, Silenes, Saponaria, Saxi- 
fragas granulata flore-pleno, pyramidalis, and umbrosa ; and Virginian- 
Stock, edged with a neater growing yet showy kind of plant affording a 
suitable contrast, these including red and white Daisies, Violas (white, 
yellow, and blue), common Primroses, Arabis, Aubrietias, Alyssum 
saxatile, Hepaticas, and Iberis sempervirens, will, if the beds are well 
filled, be very beautiful next spring. Seeing that very few of the fore¬ 
going will increase in size all should be planted rather thickly, or so as 
to cover the ground without crowding. 
Shrubs and Conifers. —These, with other hardy plants, are frequently 
used extensively with good effect in these winter and spring displays. 
In this case again mixtures are not, as a rule, the most effective. It is- 
possible to arrange a well-assorted collection of dwarf hardy shrubs anct 
Conifers in large beds, much after the style smaller beds are filled in 
the summer with carpeting plants. Panels of Retinosporas ericoides, 
obtusa aurea nana, plumosa, plumosa argentea and aurea and squarrosa, 
and Taxus baccata elegantissima, with dividing lines of the more erect 
Cupressus Lawsoniana in variety, notably C. Lawsoniana erecta viridis, 
are very pleasing in appearance all through the winter and spring- 
months. Good masses or broad bands of Hollies in variety, variegated 
Aucubas, Boxes in variety, Kalmia latifolia, Mahonia aquifolia, Laurus- 
tinus, Osmanthus ilicifolium aureum and variegatum nanum, Euonymus 
japonicus in variety, Golden and Silver Variegated Tree Ivy, dwarf 
Rhododendrons, and Vinca elegantissima also look well ; and among 
more dwarf subjects must be mentioned the very showy Ericas herbacea 
carnea, mediterranea alba and rubra, and vulgaris aurea. Small well- 
formed specimens of some of the beautiful Conifers, and especially the 
Retinosporas, are very suitable for dotting among dwarf-flowering or 
fine-foliaged plants, and so also are Yucca recurva and Iris foetidissima 
variegata, large clumps of the latter dividing readily into neat pieces. 
All the foregoing can be bought in quantity from the principal nursery¬ 
men who prepare them specially for the purpose, and if taken good care 
of when the beds are cleared in May will be available for several seasons. 
If old plants of Golden Pyrethrum, Variegated Thyme, Euonymus- 
radicans variegata, and Stachys lanata are saved when the flower 
beds are broken up, and the smaller well-coloured Beet selected from 
the kitchen garden crops are taken care of, each and all of these 
are suitable for edging the beds filled with the shrubs and Conifers- 
above named. 
Spring-flowering Bulbs are very beautiful, and flower earlier in the 
season than do the flowering plants and shrubs. Unfortunately the 
greater portion of them are of little service a second season, and those,, 
therefore, who have preserved the bulbs that flowered last season will 
do well to plant these in mixed borders, or where they will not be 
disturbed for several years, a fresh stock being bought at once for 
affording a display next spring. Hyacinths, Narcissi, Tulips, Crocuses, 
Scillas, and Snowdrops are the bulbs most generally planted in beds,, 
and the sooner they are got in the more strongly they will flower, it 
being of importance that all become thoroughly well rooted before the- 
flower spikes are thrown up. By some mixtures of Hyacinths and Tulips- 
are considered most pleasing, and others prefer to see masses of one or 
two colours only, the front lines or circles being planted with either 
Crocuses, Snowdrops, or Scillas. Single rows of the latter present a 
somewhat meagre appearance, and a band composed of about three 
lines is far more attractive, the bulbs being dibbled from 3 inches to 
4 inches apart, and the same distance deep. Narcissi and Hyacinths 
may be disposed about 9 inches, and Tulips 5 inches apart, and 4 inches 
deep in each instance. If bulbs only are planted in beds the latter may 
be covered with neat sprays of Tree Ivy, Holly, Portugal Laurel, or 
Aucuba, arranged much as the beds might be filled with plants, and 
firmly fixed without injuring the bulbs. Failing this, the beds would 
present a more cheerful appearance during the winter if covered either 
with fresh ballast or cocoanut fibre. Bulbs are also effective when used 
in conjunction either with dwarf flowering plants or shrubs, in which 
case they need not be so thickly planted. The Narcissi being the tallest 
ought to be somewhat in the background or the centre of a bed, the 
Hyacinths coming next, and then Tulips. 
Christmas Boses .—These are occasionally transplanted to the flower 
beds at this time of year, and if the coarsest and oldest leaves are 
removed prior to flowering they are fairly effective. This season they 
promise to be exceptionally floriferous, a showery summer suiting them 
well. They transplant to the beds and back to their summer quarters 
readily enough, but disturbed in this way they rarely flower well the 
following season, and two series of plants are therefore required, each 
j being allowed a rest alternately. 
