September  21,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
250 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Vines. — Early  Forced  and  Potted  Vines. — There  mast  bo  no  further 
■delay  in  pruning  Vines  intended  to  ripen  their  fruit  by  the  end  of  April 
or  beginning  of  May,  and  in  cleansing  the  house  and  Vines,  so  as  to  have 
all  in  proper  working  order.  Vines  in  pots  should  have  the  laterals  cut 
off  close  to  the  canes,  but  do  not  injure  the  ms  in  buds.  Shorten  the 
canes  to  about  8  feet,  or  lower,  according  to  the  disposal  of  the  plump 
eyes  or  the  length  required,  and  dress  the  cuts  carefully  with  styptic  or 
patent  knotting  to  prevent  bleeding. 
Young  Vines. — Every  encouragement  must  be  given  for  ripening  the 
wood  and  plumping  the  eyes.  This  can  only  be  effected  properly  when 
■the  foliage  is  kept  clean  and  healthy  to  the  last.  Laterals  produced 
after  this  time  tend  to  retard  the  ripening  of  the  wood,  therefore 
remove  or  keep  them  closely  pinched.  Where  laterals  have  been  allowed 
to  extend  considerably  the}'  should  be  shortened  by  degrees,  so  as  to 
remove  them  altogether  w  ithout  starting  the  princip  d  buds  or  those  on 
the  cane.  Maintain  a  warm,  well-ventilated  atmosphere,  until  the  canes 
are  ripe,  which  may  be  accelerated  by  having  a  temperature  of  85°  to  90° 
from  sun  heat,  opening  the  ventilators  fully  at  night.  Any  super¬ 
numeraries  intended  to  produce  fruit  next  season  should  have  the  laterals 
cut  away  to  the  principal  buds,  not,  however,  all  at  once,  but  gradually, 
leaving  sufficient  lateral  length  as  an  outlet  tor  any  excess  of  sap. 
Late  Louses  of  Black  Hamburghs.— The  Grapes  aie  now  well  advanced 
in  colouring.  The  ripening  must  be  thorough,  or  the  Grapes  will  not 
keep  well,  and  to  effect  this  a  gentle  warmth  in  the  pipes  is  necessary 
to  admit  a  free  circulation  of  air,  and  to  maintain  the  night  temperature 
at  60°  to  65°.  A  little  artificial  heat  during  the  day  will  also  be  of 
benefit  in  allowing  of  free  ventilation  and  making  the  most  of  sun  heat, 
llamburghs  colour  and  finish  best  beneath  a  good  spread  of  foliage,  but 
it  is  as  well  not  to  encourage  lateral  growths  new;  at  the  same  time  it 
must  bo  borne  in  mind  that  the  tendency  to  shanking  and  general  lack  of 
cob  ur  is  accelerated  by  large  reductions  of  foliaee,  and  equallv  so  by 
sudden  fluctuations  of  temperature.  A  little  air  should  be  admitted 
through  the  top  and  bottom  ventilators  until  the  Grapes  are  ripe.  If 
there  is  any  deficiency  of  moisture  in  the  borders  it  will  be  better  to  give 
a  supply  now  than  at  a  later  period,  covering  with  some  dry  material  so 
as  to  prevent  damp  r  sing.  A  free  circulation  of  air,  however,  is  the  best 
safeguard  against  the  Grapes  damping,  for  the  .ungal  germs  that  produce 
spotting  and  decay  require  a  still  and  damp  air  'or  germination. 
Outside  borcers  will,  in  most  cases,  be  sufficiently  mol  t,  if  not  they 
must  be  watered,  and  unless  the  weather  is  unusually  wet,  they  need  not 
be  covered  at  present  ;  but  in  wet  districts  glazed  lights  should  be  in 
readiness  for  placing  them,  so  as  to  throw  off  continual  heavy  rains. 
Where  the  borders  are  well  raised  above  the  surrounding  level,  have  a 
good  slope,  and  are  composed  of  porous  material  over  thorough  drainage, 
it  is  not  necessary  to  cover  them  ;  but  the  Grapes  sometimes  decay  whole¬ 
sale  when  the  borders  are  veiy  rich,  and  close  and  soddened  by  heavy 
rains. 
J.ate  Muscat  Houses. — The  Grapes  are  close  upon  finishing,  but  they 
are  not  by  any  means  matured,  as  they  w  ill  continue  to  acquire  colour  and 
quality  as  long  as  the  leaves  are  green.  There  must  be  no  attempt 
at  removing  the  leaves,  but  allow  them  to  remain  until  they  (all  naturally 
The  bearing  shoots  should  be  given  plenty  of  space,  so  that  throughout 
their  growth  every  leaf  will  have  full  exposure  to  light. 
'Where  the  Grapes  are  not  now  ripe  the  night  temperature  ought  to  be 
kept  at  65°  to  70°,  and  the  heat  .-hould  be  turned  on  in  good  time  in  the 
morning,  so  as  to  allow  of  an  increase  of  ventilation,  and  tfie  temperature 
be  raised  to  70°  to  75°,  and  kept  at  80°  to  85°  from  the  sun.  The  heat 
ogght  to  be  maintained  by  reducing  the  ventilation  with  the  declining  sun, 
and  the  temperature  allowed  to  gradually  decline  at  night,  only  keeping 
sufficient  warmth  in  the  pipes  to  prevent  its  undue  recession,  and  to  allow 
the  top  and  bottom  ventiiators  to  be  left  open  to  a  slight  extent.  This 
wdl  insure  a  circulation  of  air,  and  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  on 
the  berries  during  the  night.  If  the  latter  occur  the  Grapes  will 
inevitably  spot.  The  border  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  dry, 
affording  the  needful  suppl  es  of  water  on  fine  mornings  when  air  can  be 
freely  admitted.  Alter  the  Grapes  arc  thoroughly  ripe  and  finished  a 
temperature  of  50°  to  55°  is  necessary  to  keep  Muscats  in  good  condition. 
Houses  of  Thick-:kinned  Grapes.—  Late  Grapes  generally  require  fire 
heat  during  the  ripening  period,  so  as  to  insure  a  circulation  of  air,  and 
this  they  should  Dave  until  thoroughly  perfected.  This  ought  now  to 
be  quite  complete  to  insure  sound  keeping  ;  where  it  is  nut  the  house 
should  be  treated  similarly  to  Muscats,  with  the  difference  that  being 
mostly  black  Giapes  they  must  have  a  good  spread  of  foliage  over  them. 
A  temperature  of  50°  to  55°  is  necessary  after  the  Grapes  are  r  pe  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Vines,  and  the  quality  so  essential  to  use  in  such 
varieties  as  Gios  Column  and  Gros  Guillaume. 
THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
Cauliflowers. — A  change  to  cooler,  moister  weather  has  acted  bene¬ 
ficially  on  the  Cauliflower  crop,  and  good  hearts  are  becoming  more 
plentiful.  The  bulk  of  the  plants  of  Autumn  Giant  refused  to  form  hearts 
at  the  usual  time,  but  may  give  a  good  late  supply.  They  are,  in  most 
cases,  still  too  dry  at  the  roots,  and  might  pay  well  for  a  soaking  of  liquid 
manure.  The  latest  will  probably  require  more  protection  than  merely 
tucking  a  lew  of  the  older  leaves  over  the  advancing  hearts,  and 
this  caD  best  be  given  by  lifting  the  plants  and  laying  them  rather  closely 
with  their  roots  surrounded  by  rich  soil,  either  in  pits  cr  deep  frames,  or 
where  ihey  can  be  protected  with  mats  if  need  be. 
Plants  resulting  from  seeds  sown  lust  month  are  disposed  to  grow  too 
fast.  They  will  be  rendered  sturdier  anil  harlier  by  being  pricked  out  in 
beds  of  soil  4  inches  apart  each  way,  covering  with  stiallow  frames  later 
on.  or  frames  and  hand-lights  may  be  set  in  position  and  the  plants 
pricked  out  direct  into  these.  They  must  not  be  coddled  in  any  way,  but 
should  receive  abundance  of  light  and  air  to  prevent  them  from  becoming 
tender.  It  insufficient  plants  were  raised  sow  seeda  at  once  in  shallow 
frames. 
Cardoons. — When  the  earliest  plants  are  fully  grown  gather  the  stalks 
well  up  together,  and  keep  them  in  position  by  means  of  hay  bands 
wound  tightly  round  them.  Soil  may  then  be  banked  up  against  them, 
and  the  blanching  process  be  commmeed.  If  the  rainfall  has  not  been 
heavy  a  watering  ought  to  be  given  alter  the  plants  have  been  tied  up, 
not  banking  the  soil  about  them  till  tho  next  day. 
Celery.  —  Curiously  enough  thero  is  a  fair  quantity  of  good  early 
Celery  available,  and  there  is  not  so  much  bolting  to  be  complained  of  as 
usual.  This  may  safely  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  abundance  of  water 
has  been  supplied  timing  the  hot  dry  weather,  whereas  in  a  less  dry 
summer  too  much  dependence  is  placed  upon  the  fitful  supplies  that  fall 
to  their  lot  in  the  form  of  rain.  When  once  the  manure  and  soil  in  the 
trenches  become  fully  occupied  by  Celery  roots  tho  moisture  is  soon 
exhausted,  and  ordinary  rainfall  makes  little  impression  on  it.  Before 
adding  either  the  first  or  second  suppl}  of  soil  to  the  trenches  examine 
the  soil  at  the  bottom,  and  if  dry  give  a  thorough  soaking  of  water  or 
liquid  manure.  Moulding  up  Celery  already  dry  at  the  roots  further 
excludes  moisture,  and  is  the  frequent  cause  of  premature  bolting  or 
running  to  sted  If  the  soil,  is  stiff  and  lumpy,  some  added  fine  soil 
should  be  worked  in  round  the  Celery,  otherwise  blanching  will  be 
slow,  and  slugs  have  every  opp<  rlunity  to  do  mischief. 
Onions  — As  usual.  Onions  raised  under  glass  in  February,  and  duly 
pianttd  out  on  good  ground,  have  given  much  the  most  satisfactory  results, 
i he  roots,  in  addition  to  being  heavy  tad  well  formed,  maturing  early  and 
keeping  well,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Many  of  those  obtained  by  sowing 
seed  in  the  open  ground  have  not  matured  properly,  are  comparatively 
small,  and  wiih  thick  necks.  All  ought  to  be  cleared  off  the  ground 
directly  they  come  away  freely,  as  w fen  left  longer,  they  are  liable  to 
start  growing  afresh,  keeping  badly  accordingly.  At  this  late  date  it  is 
well  to  complete  the  harvesting  on  dry  boards  under  glass,  turning  them 
cccasionallv.  Use  the  imperfectly  matured  roots  first  ;  the  rest  will  keep 
best  bunched  or  roped,  and  suspended  in  a  cool  dry  shed. 
Tomatoes — The  open-air  crops  arc,  and  have  been,  exceptionally 
heavy  and  good  in  quality.  In  some  districts  much  cracking  of  fruit 
took  place  alter  the  rainq  and  the  later  bunches  have  made  remarkably 
good  progress.  A  moderately  severe  frost  is  usually  fatal  to  open-air 
Tomatoes,  and  disease — but  little  heard  of  as  yet — may  be  expected  if  the 
weather  remains  warm  and  moist.  It  is  well,  therefore,  to  commence 
cutting  large  bunchea  of  fruit,  hanging  them  in  a  warm  house,  room,  or 
kitchen  to  ripen  Fruit  coloured  in  this  way  may  not  be  first-rate  in 
quality,  but  is  quite  goutl  enough  tor  cooking.  Tomato  plants  lift  fairly 
well  out  of  some  finely  divided  soils,  and  any  furnished  with  a  good  crop 
of  unripe  fruit  will  pay  for  the  trouble.  They  should  be  lifted  with  a 
moderately  large  ball  ot  soil  about  the  roots,  and  either  placed  singly  in 
pots  or  boxes  large  enough  to  hold  them  without  much  reducing,  or  be 
set  on  a  bed  of  soil  or  a  slated  staging  in  a  forcing  house,  and  covered 
with  more  good  soil,  training  the  plants  up  the  roof.  If  kept  well  supplied 
with  w  ater  at  the  roots,  and  shaded  from  bright  sunshine,  they  may  regain 
their  original  freshness,  and  a  serviceable  crop  of  late  fruit  result. 
WJ- 
"yN' 
HE  BEE-KEEPER. 
,  1  -  ,  -  I  .  I  -  T  .J  n 
& 
When  to  Feed. 
How  and  when  to  feed  are  two  important  subjects  in  connection 
with  the  successful  managemei  t  of  bees.  We  have  on  several  occasions 
seen  much  harm  done  by  the  careless  handling  of  syrup  in  the 
autumn.  At  this  sea- on  the  bees  from  a  strong  colony  are  on  the 
alert  to  rob  their  weaker  neighbours.  It  makes  little  difference 
whether  they  are  short  ot  stores  or  if  the  combs  are  tided  with  honey 
or  syrup.  Their  tendency  is  to  obtain  more,  and  if  the  temperature  is 
high,  and  bright  sunshine  prevail,  they  are  more  likely  to  have  the 
robbing  mania  than  when  it  is  dub  and  cold. 
Feeding  should  always  be  done  in  the  evening,  when  there  are  few 
bfe<  on  the  wing,  and  cave  mu>t  be  taken  that  none  of  the  syrup  is 
spilled  in  carrying  out  this  operation.  Bet  -keepers  miv  soon  prove  the 
wisdom  of  this  by  exposing  syrup  during  the  middle  of  the  day. 
Bees  w  11  detect  it  in  a  few  minutes,  and  allhough  it  may  be  removed 
to  a  place  of  safety,  if  they  once  obtain  a  taste  of  it,  there  will  be 
some  difficulty  in  preventing  them  gaining  access  to  the  stores  of  a 
weak  colony.  And  once  they  gain  an  entrance  the  stock  is  doomed, 
