63 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 28. 1905. 
50 to 55 deg. given, advancing another 10 or 15 dee', with the 
sun during; the day. The latest structures should be put in 
order by now, ready for closing towards the end of next month, 
by thoroughly washing woodwork, glass, etc., with warm soapy 
water, also the trees, mixing in a little flowers of sulphur if 
red spider were in evidence last season. Remove inert soil, 
and top-dress with good fibrous loam, adding old plaster refuse, 
wood ashes, and bone meal, all of which the fig revels in. 
Early Grapes. —Much care is needed in bringing into posi¬ 
tion the lateral growths of Vines, as, being brittle, they easily 
snap or get twisted out at the base, and as long as the said 
shoots are not in actual contact with the glass no harm will 
be dune them. They should be tied down gradually to the 
wires, giving the final tie while in flower, and, as before stated, 
when treating on early Vine's, pinching at the second joint 
above the bunch, and rubbing out all sub-laterals below the 
bunch, but retaining the one opposite the said bunch, and 
stopping this at the first leaf. A somewhat drier atmosphere 
is necessary while Vines are in flower,-so that the pollen can be 
better distributed, although with Black Hamburghs there is 
not much fault to be found with them as regards not setting 
freely. Keep the structure fairly dry up to 1 o'clock, and 
gently tap the rods once or twice up to that time, when at 
closing time, soon after 2 p.m., the border, etc., may be damped 
down with the syringe as before. Endeavour to maintain a. 
night temperature of 65 deg., advancing 5 deg’, with fire heat, 
and 10 deg. or even 15 deg. with solar heat, admitting a little 
air at TO deg. when bright, and increasing it as the tempera¬ 
ture rises. 
Succession Houses. — Where there is a number of vineries 
adequate to maintain a regular supply of fruit throughout the 
year, another structure may be closed, the night temperature 
varying from 48 to 52 deg., well syringing the Vines so as to 
wet every part at 9 a.m., and again at 2.30 p.m. Admit a 
chink of fresh air when the thermometer registers 65 deg., and 
not allowing it- to advance much above 75 deg. for the next 
few weeks, but as soon as the buds push forth the day tem¬ 
perature with sun heat may reach 80 to 85 deg. Black Ham¬ 
burgh Grapes no doubt are the best for early work, and may 
also be had in good condition well into November with careful 
management, such Vines to be kept as cool as possible and 
allowed to start naturally. All Vines ought to have been 
pruned ere this, and the houses put in order for starting afresh 
in a few weeks’ time, as most varieties of late Grapes require 
a long season to perfect their crop ; especially is this the case 
with Lady Downes, Mrs. Pinee, Gros Cohnan, and one or two 
others. Bottled Grapes should be frequently examined as to 
the water supply, and decaying berries, nipping out those show¬ 
ing the least sign, as others soon get contaminated. The 
Grapes will keep all right where a fire can be lighted occasion¬ 
ally, so as to dispel damp or keep frost at bay, if no proper 
grape room exists ; endeavouring to maintain the temperature 
somewhere near 43 to 53 deg., subdued light being best for 
them. James Matxe. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
The past few days have been most favourable for carting 
and wheeling operations in many parts of the country, and 
every advantage should be taken to complete this on the Vacant 
pdots of land as speedily as possible, as by so doing it incurs 
much less trouble, makes little mess, and the work of digging 
and trenching can then be carried on uninterruptedly. The 
trenching of heavy, clayey soils ought now to be pushed for¬ 
ward as speedily as circumstances will permit. No harm will 
accrue by placing the frozen surface in the bottom of the trench, 
and the purifying influences of. the weather which we are 
likely to expect during the next two months will do, much 
to sweeten and bring the soil into a suitable condition for 
seed sowing and planting. Old gardens and land which is 
deficient of lime will be much benefited if a good coating of 
(hat, fresh from the kiln, is spread over as the work proceeds, 
also a mixture of burnt garden refuse and fresh soot. 
Tomatos. — Winter-fruiting plants will now daily be gain¬ 
ing strength and the fruits will set much more readily. These 
will do best in a temperature of from 55 to 60 deg., and those 
which are heavily laden with fruit in all stages should have 
frequent doses of manure water. Avoid a too damp and 
stagnant atmosphere, and exercise care in watering ; rather err 
on the side of keeping them dry than giving too much. Go 
over the flowers daily, about mid-day, and fertilise them 
thoroughly. I know of no variety better adapted for winter 
culture than Sutton's Winter Beauty. It sets most freely when 
properly managed, and the quality and appearance are all one 
could desire. 
Successional Plants. —These should be potted on in a.fairly 
light porous mixture, warmed to the same temperature in 
which they are growing, and re-pot in the same house. Assign 
to the plants the lightest possible place, and endeavour to 
promote a stout, sturdy growth, as by so doing the after re¬ 
sults will be far more satisfactory than if allowed to be drawn 
and spindly. Sow another small quantity of seed, and raise 
in a gentle heat. 
Cucumbers. —These will now cause much less anxiety than 
has been the case during the past two months, and plants which 
are in full bearing should receive a good surface dressing of 
turfy loam, leaf soil, road-sidings, and well-decaved manure, in 
equal proportions, which should be nicely warmed before plac¬ 
ing it on the borders. Moderately prune out the old growths, 
and give every encouragement to the young shoots. Do not 
overcrop, and keep the fruits cut" immediately they are large 
enough for table use. Maintain a brisk temperature of from 
60 to 70 deg., and damp down frequently on bright days, and 
in the afternoon with manure. Another batch of plants should 
now be planted on a sweet, mild liot-bed, which will soon make 
a rapid growth and take the place of those which have been 
doing good service. Make another sowing, singly, in small 
pots, and raise in a brisk bottom heat, and immediately they 
are above the soil'place on shefves in the Cucumber or forcing 
house, and water sparingly with warm water. 
Peas. — Those which were sown during the autumn, and are 
intended to produce a crop in pots, will now need moulding 
up to within 1 in. of the rim of the pot. Neat brushy sticks 
should be used to support them, and grow on in a temperature 
of about 45 deg. Undue forcing must not be resorted to with 
these. Seeds of early varieties should be sown in pots or 
boxes and raised in quite a cool house for planting out in 
cool pits, frames, or on early warm borders, where shelter can 
be afforded them. Long-Pod Beans should be treated in the 
same manner. A true stock of Carter’s Leviathan is a capital 
and reliable variety for sowing at this season. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. E. Beckett. ' 
Potato Failure ix Irelaxd.-MT would seem, as a result of 
the circular issued by the Department of Agriculture, that many 
ox tlie Boards of Guardians are now taking steps to purchase 
seed 1 otatos for the poorer members of the agricultural com¬ 
munity, who suffered great loss on account of the failure 
of the Potato crop last summer. According to the circular, the 
failure of the Potatos was largely due to exceptionally severe 
gales in midsummer, which damaged the foliage, thereby arrest¬ 
ing the growth of the tubers, and that subsequent damage was 
done by the rain. Fear had got abroad that the Scotch Cham¬ 
pion had so much deteriorated that it must be held responsible 
for the failure. The Agricultural Department could not agree 
with this theory, as the results obtained in their own Potato 
trials showed that Champion was still one of the best croppers 
This was well shown at the Albert Agricultural College, Glas- 
nevini, where some 32 varieties, old and new, were tested. In 
these trials the Champion had firmlv held its place, and was 
therefore considered well suited for the small farmers in the 
West. In view of these facts, the Castlebar Board of Guardians 
have issued advertisements for a supply of 200 tons of Champion 
Potatos for seed. The Ballinasloe Board of Guardians had 
over 500 applications for seed Potatos, and it was decided tom?t 
80 tons of C Tampions, and to ask the Department, to supply 
the seed. The Rose, ninion Board of Guardians likewise de¬ 
cided to get 100 tons of Scotch Champion and 50 tons of other 
varieties for seed pm poses. 
