262 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
September  10,  1896, 
nutrition  in  the  adjacent  wood  as  well  as  the  ripening  of  the  wood, 
which  is  essential  to  a  good  break  and  a  proper  development  of  the 
bunches  in  their  early  stages  next  season.  Allow  a  free  circulation  of 
air,  and  in  the  case  of  luxuriant  or  young  VineS;  or  where  there  is  the 
least  doubt  about  the  thorough  maturity  of  the  wood,  maintain  a  gentle 
warmth  in  the  hot-water  pipes.  After  the  removal  of  the  laterals  clear 
off  the  remains  of  the  mulching  or  remove  the  loose  surface  soil, 
particularly  near  the  collar  of  the  Vines,  picking  the  old  soil  from 
amongst  the  roots,  and  supply  fresh  lumpy  loam  in  its  place.  Avoid 
burying  the  roots  deeply  ;  a  couple  of  inches  is  deep  enough.  They 
will  push  adventitious  roots  into  the  new  material,  and  these  can  be 
encouraged  to  any  extent  by  timely  surface  dressings  or  light  mulchings 
when  the  Vines  are  in  need  of  support  another  season.  If  a  handful  of 
approved  Vine  manure  per  square  yard  is  applied,  it  will  aid  the  Vines 
wonderfully  in  the  early  stages  of  growth  another  year.  Inside  borders 
will  need  watering,  so  as  to  keep  the  soil  healthfully  moist.  In  the  case 
of  borders  that  are  only  partially  made  a  breadth  of  about  2  feet  may  be 
added  to  the  front,  choosing  dry  weather  for  the  operation,  and  com¬ 
pressing  the  materials  moderately.  If  inside  afford  a  good  watering  ;  if 
outside  it  will  not  be  necessary  unless  the  compost  is  dry. 
Late  Mvseats. — The  thin-skinned  Muscats,  as  Canon  Hall  and  Muscat 
of  Alexandria,  also  Madresfield  Court,  are  very  impatient  of  a  stagnant 
and  moist  atmosphere,  the  two  former  spotting  and  the  latter  cracking. 
They  require  fire  heat  until  thoroughly  ripe,  with  a  free  circulation  of 
air  in  the  daytime  and  enough  at  night,  with  gentle  warmth  in  the  pipes, 
to  insure  a  circulation  of  air  and  to  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture 
on  the  berries,  being  careful  to  admit  air  rather  freely  on  fine  mornings. 
Continue  this  until  the  Grapes  are  thoroughly  finished,  when  a  gradual 
reduction  of  temperature  may  be  made  to  about  50®  at  night.  Bu*^  there 
must  not  be  any  great  hurry  in  this,  as  the  Grapes  put  on  colour  long 
after  they  appear  finished,  and  improve  in  quality  so  long  as  there  are  any 
leaves  on  the  Vines.  Keep  the  border  moist  by  watering  as  necessary 
in  the  early  part  of  a  fine  day,  for  though  the  leaves  become  yellow  at 
the  edges  they  have  green  parts  that  are  more  or  less  useful  in  elaborating 
and  storing  food.  Moisture  must  be  kept  down  by  free  ventilation  ;  it 
is  pent-up  air  with  a  sudden  increase  of  temperature  from  sun  heat  in 
the  early  part  of  a  fine  day,  or  at  any  time,  which  causes  moisture  to 
condense  on  the  berries  and  produce  spot,  when  the  berries  speedily 
decay. 
Late  Thick- shinned  Graq)es.  —These  are  less  affected  by  atmospheric 
moisture  than  thin-skinned,  Mrs.  Pince  shrivelling  in  a  house  where 
there  is  sufficient  moisture  to  cause  Muscat  of  Alexandria  to  rot.  They 
are  also  liable  to  give  evidence  of  finish  that  will  not  bear  close  exami¬ 
nation,  therefore  make  sure  that  the  berries  are  well  finished  quite  up 
to  the  shank  before  ceasing  the  needful  aid  from  fire  heat.  In  a  con¬ 
fined  atmosphere  Gros  Col  man  sometimes  splits  at  the  nose  of  the  berries 
when  ripening,  also  Gros  Guillaume  in  less  degree.  Alicante  and  Lady 
Downe’s  finish  better  and  in  legs  time  than  other  late  thick-skinned 
Grapes ;  then  the  latter  should  be  given  more  time,  also  the  white 
varieties,  Trebbiano  and  Syrian,  and  after  they  are  apparently  finished 
a  temperature  of  about  55°  should  be  assured,  with  a  rise  of  5°  to  10°  by 
day  and  a  circulation  of  air  until  the  foliage  is  giving  indications  of 
falling,  when  a  temperature  of  50°  is  sufficient. 
The  inside  border  should  be  watered  in  the  early  part  of  a  fine  day 
and  air  be  freely  admitted,  for  it  is  not  so  much  the  moisture  as  its 
confinement  that  causes  berries  to  spot  and  crack.  Outside  borders  will 
be  quite  damp  enough  from  the  recent  rains.  In  case  of  very  heavy 
rains  it  is  advisable  to  cover  outside  borders  with  spare  lights  to  throw 
the  water  off,  especially  where  this  is  liable  to  hold  moisture. 
Late  Hamburghs. — Houses  of  these  that  were  allowed  to  start 
naturally  may  need  a  little  fire  heat  to  colour  and  finish  the  Grapes 
satisfactorily,  as  they  will  when  it  is  hopeless  to  do  anything  more  with 
the  thick-skinned  varieties.  They  should  have  a  temperature  of  60°  to 
65°  at  night,  and  70°  to  75°  in  the  daytime,  with  a  circulation  of  air 
constantly  and  free  ventilation  when  favourable.  Water  the  inside 
border  if  necessary,  and  when  the  Grapes  are  only  partially  advanced  in 
ripening.  Only  restrict  the  laterals  to  prevent  overcrowding,  as  a  good 
spread  of  foliage  over  thin-skinned  black  Grapes  is  the  best  safeguard 
against  the  sun  taking  colour  out  of  them  when  ripe.  When  the  Grapes 
are  thoroughly  finished  reduce  the  temperature,  maintaining  it  at  about 
60°  by  artificial  means  by  day  and  5°  less  at  night,  with  a  little  air 
constantly. 
Young  Vine’s. — Afford  every  encouragement  essential  to  the  perfecting 
of  their  growths,  keeping  the  foliage  clean,  removing  all  laterals,  as  growth 
produced  after  this  time  is  of  little  value,  and  maintain  a  warm,  well- 
ventilated  atmosphere  until  the  canes  are  thoroughly  matured.  Any 
supernumeraries  intended  to  fruit  next  season  should  have  the  laterals  cut 
away  to  the  principal  buds,  leaving,  however,  an  outlet  for  the  sap  by  a 
few  joints  of  the  laterals  beyond  the  length  of  cane  to  which  they  are  to 
be  shortened,  and  be  careful  not  to  injure  the  principal  leaves.  If  the 
wood  does  not  ripen  kindly,  it  may  be  accelerated  by  keeping  the  house 
rather  close  in  the  daytime,  so  as  to  get  a  temperature  of  85°  to  90°  from 
sun  heat,  opening  the  ventilators  at  night.  Afford  sufficient  water  at  the 
roots  to  prevent  the  foliage  becoming  limp. 
Cucumbers. — Tits  and  Frames  — The  temperature  should  be  main¬ 
tained  at  about  65°  at  night  by  renovating  the  linings  as  necessary,  and 
placing  night  coverings  over  the  lights  to  prevent  too  great  reduction  of 
the  heat.  Keep  the  foliage  thin  hy  removing  bad  leaves  and  exhausted 
growths,  dressing  the  outs  or  wounds  with  quicklime,  and  close  early  in 
the  afternoon  so  as  to  husband  as  much  of  the  sun’s  heat  as  possible. 
Afford  water  at  the  roots  to  keep  the  foliage  from  flagging,  and  sprinkle 
the  plants  on  fine  afternoons  and  soon  after  midday. 
Autumn  Fruiters. — Every  attention  must  be  given  these  as  regards 
affording  copious  supplies  of  liquid  manure,  removing  superfluous  laterals 
so  as  to  guard  against  an  overcrowded  condition  of  the  growths,  taking 
off  surplus  fruit,  staminate  flowersrand  tendrils,  avoiding  overcropping, 
and  not  allowing  the  fruit  to  remain  on  the  plants  after  it  becomes  fit 
for  use.  It  will  keep  several  days  in  a  cool  place  with  the  neck  end  stoed 
in  a  saucer  of  water.  Secure  a  genial  atmosphere  by  damping  available 
surfaces  other  than  the  plants  in  the  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening, 
syringing  the  plants  early  in  the  afternoon  of  fine  days,  Train  and 
regulate  the  growths  about  twice  a  week,  pinching  the  laterals  or  shoots 
one  or  two  joints  beyond  the  show  of  fruit,  and  retain  no  more  foliage 
than  can  have  full  exposure  to  light.  Supply  water  as  required,  that  and 
FIG.  51. — ASTER  DIPLOSTEPHIOIDES.  {See  page  m.") 
liquid  manure  being  of  the  same  temperature  as  thehouse*.  To  encourage 
growth  earth  up  the  roots  as  they  show  at  the  sides  of  the  hillocks  or 
ridges,  only  just  covering  up  the  roots  at  each  time  of  their  showing,  the 
soil  having  been  placed  in  the  house  so  as  to  become  warmed  through 
before  use. 
Winter  Fruiters.  —  If  these  have  not  been  planted  out  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  affecting  it,  or  if  the  house  is  not  ready  shift  the  plants 
into  larger  pots,  and  keep  them  growing  near  the  glass.  If  there  has 
been  eelworm  in  the  house  remove  every  particle  of  soil  and  fermenting 
or  other  material,  and  disinfect  it  by  means  of  ammoniacal  liquor  from 
gas  works,  spreading  the  material  about  1  foot  thick,  and  watering  it 
with  the  gas  liquor  diluted  with  five  times  its  bulk  of  water,  and  applying 
with  a  rose  watering-can  at  the  rate  of  1  gallon  per  square  yard.  Let 
lie  overnight,  then  turn,  and  again  water  with  the  diluted  gas  liquor,  and 
after  lying  overnight,  turn  and  mix  thoroughly.  This  will  destroy  all 
contained  animal  life,  and  the  soil  will  be  much  enriched.  With  a 
pound  of  freshly  burned  lime  (stone),  slaked,  and  spread  on  each  square 
yard,  and  mixed  through  the  soil,  it  will  be  almost  as  rich  and  service¬ 
able  as  turfy  loam,  being  everything  desired  after  being  further  improved 
by  adding  a  handful  (about  4  ozs.)  of  a  mixture  of  dissolved  bones  and 
kainit  in  equal  parts  per  square  yard  for  a  foot  depth  of  soil,  giving  this 
