162 THE FLOKIST AND POMOLOGIST. [JULY, 
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winter and spring. The complaint of this grape being inferior, seems to arise 
from bad treatment. Like the St. Peter’s, or the section to which it belongs, it 
is of rank growth, and the leaves after the fruit is ripe become highly tinted 
with purple. If, however, they acquire this tint before the fruit is ripe, the com¬ 
plaint may be well founded ; for it is upon green and healthy leaves only that 
the sun’s rays can act properly, so as to nourish the fruit.* The leaves of white 
grapes generally become yellow in autumn, while those of black ones are, if 
tinted, purple, and perhaps none more deeply so than the Gros Guillaume. Such 
changes of colour in the leaves of plants in autumn are the effects of sun-light 
on their different elements; and though the process is mysterious, still the late 
discoveries of Mr. Hunt in reference to the properties of the u sunbeam ” throw 
some light on the subject. A more recent writer observes that a sunbeam con¬ 
tains three prominent principles— actinism , light , and heat. The first is chemical, 
and is most powerful in spring, or u in the infancy of vegetable life.” The second 
is luminous, and prevails u in the youth of a plant.” The remainder or “ heated 
rays are most predominant in autumn to ripen the fruit.” But though those 
periods of the season are mentioned in particular, yet all the three forces are 
always more or less active, according to the state of the weather, in all the 
phenomena of the growth of a plant. Moreover, the actinic rays are as powerful 
in autumn as in spring; for they give to the foliage of trees their “ autumn 
tints,” to fruits their pellucid hues—this, too, in some instances, in a very re¬ 
markable manner, for the exact imprints of leaves may be seen on fruit which has 
been partly shaded by them : witness those on peaches.—J. Wighton, Cossey Park. 
FRUIT CULTURE.—JULY. 
S HE fruit crops this year will, I fear, be below the averages, except Straw¬ 
berries, , which in most places promise to be abundant; and Bush fruit , 
f fp which also is good in some localities. The frost on the mornings of the 
,s 19 th and 20tli of May made sad destruction of the Apple crop, which up 
to that time promised to be very abundant, as there was a splendid show of 
blossom, with every appearance of its setting, but the crop of fruit will be a very 
light one. Every attention should now be given to fruit trees to secure well- 
ripened wood for another }?-ear. The stopping, thinning, regulating, and the 
nailing or tying-in of the young wood, and the destruction of insects, are the 
chief matters now requiring attention. Frequent and heavy syringings with the 
garden engine will help to keep down insects. Plum trees have been badly 
infected with green-fly. Thin the young wood well on Figs, and allow it to grow 
from the wall. Go carefully over the fruit trees, and remove all superfluous 
shoots. Thin out Raspberry- canes, and keep the centre of Gooseberry and 
Currant trees open. Make new plantations of Strawberries. 
* The point in Mr. Wighton’s remarks, which should be specially noted, is, that the leaves of vines 
should be kept healthy until the fruit is well ripened. How to do this may depend on circumstances and 
seasons, but must go hand-in-hand with the avoiding a saturated atmosphere.—E d. 
