July  1,  183?. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTtlRF  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
13 
FRUIT  FORGING. 
Vines. — When  the  fruit  has  been  cut,  syringe  the 
foliage  well  in  order  to  preserve  it  as  long  as  possible  in  a  healthy  state, 
for  after  the  leaves  fall  early  second  growth  not  unfrequently  sets  in 
when  they  ought  to  be  resting.  A  moderate  extension  of  the  laterals 
will  usually  prevent  premature  ripening  of  the  foliage,  and  will  not  do 
any  harm,  but  iiragularities  of  growth,  and  particularly  gross  ones, 
should  be  checked  by  pinching  or  be  entirely  removed.  Admit  air  to 
the  fullest  possible  extent,  and  maintain  moderate  moisture  in  the 
border,  particularly  at  the  surface,  so  as  to  keep  the  roots  there  instead 
of  allowing  it  to  become  dry,  and  so  causing  them  to  descend  in  quest  of 
moisture.  Weakly  Vines  may  have  liquid  manure  occasionally,  which 
will  help  them  to  retain  the  foliage,  and  assist  in  plumping  the  buds  and 
storing  nutritive  matter  in  the  adjacent  wood. 
Grapes  Ripening  — Afford  plenty  of  air  directly  the  Grapes  begin 
colouring,  with  a  little  fire  heat  to  insure  a  circulation  of  air  constantly 
and  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  on  the  berries  during  the  night 
and  in  dull  periods,  which  is  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  “  spot.”  Main¬ 
tain,  however,  a  fair  amount  of  atmospheric  moisture  to  insure  the 
proper  swelling  of  the  berries  and  the  preservation  of  the  foliage  in 
health.  Allow  the  temperature  to  fall  to  65°  at  night,  otherwise 
securing  a  temperature  by  artificial  means  of  70°  to  75°,  and  80°  to  85° 
through  the  day  for  Black  Hamburgha  and  similar  varieties  with  sun 
heat.  Muscats  should  have  a  night  temperature  of  65°  to  70°,  75°  to 
80°  by  day  from  fire  heat,  and  85°  to  90°  with  sun  heat.  Supply  water  or 
liquid  manure  thoroughly  to  the  inside  borders,  enough  to  reach  the 
drainage,  and  a  light  mulching  will  keep  the  surface  moist.  Outside 
borders  must  be  watered  if  dry  weather  prevail,  always  giving  enough 
water  or  liquid  manure  to  moisten  the  soil  down  to  the  drainage. 
Grapes  Ventilate  early,  so  as  to  allow  the  moisture  to 
evaporate  and  the  atmosphere  to  gradually  warm  in  order  to  avoid 
scorching,  and  a  gentle  warmth  in  the  pipes  with  a  little  air  constantly 
is  the  best  safeguard  against  scalding  of  the  berries.  This,  with  free 
ventilation  by  day,  and  not  closing  early  at  this  critical  period,  will 
usually  ward  off  the  moisture  that  heated  on  the  berries  causes  them  to 
scorch.  As  the  liability  to  scald  does  not  extend  over  a  period  of  more 
than  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  give  particular  attention  in  the  late 
stages  of  stoning  to  the  ventilation.  In  bright  weather  succeeding  a  dull 
and  cold  period  there  is  most  danger  of  scorching,  and  with  the  modern 
system  of  large  panes  of  glass  there  is  absolute  necessity  at  such  times  for 
a  slight  shade  from  bright  sun,  especially  for  Muscat  of  Alexandria.  A 
double  thickness  of  herring  nets  over  the  roof-lights  is  very  beneficial, 
and  affords  all  the  shade  required. 
Vines  Swelling  their  Crops, — A  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere, 
secured  by  gentle  warmth  in  the  hot-water  pipes  and  sprinkling  the 
paths  and  borders  in  the  morning  and  afternoon,  particalarly  the  latter 
at  closing  time,  is  essential  for  the  swelling  of  the  berries  and  health  of 
the  foliage.  The  border  being  mulched  with  a  little  short,  rather  lumpy 
stable  manure,  about  an  inch  thickness  sufficing,  and  this  sprinkled 
occasionally,  will  give  off  some  ammonia  to  the  atmosphere,  and  nutri¬ 
ment  be  washed  down  to  the  roots  at  the  waterings.  If  a  little  sweetened 
material  be  added  from  time  to  time,  the  supply  of  ammonia  vapour  and 
of  liquid  nourishment  will  be  regular  and  never  so  excessive  as  to 
injure  the  foliage.  If  not  convenient  to  use  stable  manure  the  neat 
drainings  of  stables  or  cow  houses  may  be  diluted  with  six  times  tha 
bulk  of  water,  and  this  used  for  sprinkling  at  closing  time,  about 
3  gallons  sufficing  for  a  square  rod  of  border.  Avoid  a  close  atmo¬ 
sphere,  particularly  in  dull  weather.  A  little  vmitilation  at  the  top 
of  the  house  constantly  will  make  all  safe,  but  it  is  desirable  to  close 
the  house  in  the  afternoon,  damping  well  at  the  same  time,  allowing 
the  temperature  to  rise  to  90°  or  95°,  and  a'ter  six  o’clock  provide  a 
little  ventilation  at  the  top  of  the  house,  as  it  will  prevent  excessive 
deposition  of  moisture  through  the  night.  This  will  to  some  extent 
safeguard  the  foliage  against  scorching  should  the  sun  act  powerfully 
upon  the  house  before  the  ventilation  is  increased,  which  it  ought  to  be  as 
soon  as  the  sun  reaches  the  structure ;  indeed,  it  is  the  best  preventive  of 
scorching  and  scalding.  A  night  temperature  of  65°,  and  a  genial  warmth 
of  70°  to  75°  by  day,  will  be  sufficient  ly  artificial  means  to  keep  the 
Grapes  steadily  progressing  in  dull  weather.  Increase  the  ventilation 
from  70°  to  75°,  allowing  it  to  advance  to  80°  or  85°,  and  close  so  as 
to  raise  it  to  90°  or  95°.  Permit  a  steady  growth  in  the  laterals,  but 
never  allow  large  extensions  which  must  afterwards  be  removed  or 
considerably  reduced.  Do  not  allow  the  laterals  to  interfere  with  the 
principal  leaves,  for  upon  the  free  access  of  light  and  air  depends  their 
elaborating  power,  and  the  more  these  assimilate  the  crude  material  the 
healthier  the  Vines  are,  and  the  more  food  stored  in  the  Vines  for  the 
succeeding  crop.  It  is  also  essential  to  the  formaticn  of  the  coming 
Grapes  in  embrvo  in  the  huds, 
Supply  sufficient  waterings  or  liquid  manure  as  required,  or  afford 
surface  dressings,  and  water  them  in  after  having  made  the  border 
thoroughly  moist.  Oatsidc  borders  must  not  be  neglected,  but  have 
copious  waterings  where  the  rainfall  is  deficient.  Mulch  the  borders 
lightly,  heavy  coatings  do  more  harm  than  good.  A  little  stable 
manure,  1  to  1^  inch  thick,  will  lessen  evaporation,  and  from  itf  lumpy 
nature  not  deprive  the  soil  of  the  benefit  iil  action  of  air,  warmth,  and 
the  moisture  of  dew  and  rain. 
Cucumbers. —A  few  seeds  may  now  be  sown  fcr  late  summer  and 
early  autumn  produce.  The  plants  from  this  sowing  will  afford  much 
finer  fruit  in  late  summer  than  plants  that  lave  been  in  bearing  a 
considerable  time,  as  old  plants  generally  produce  knobbed  (seeded) 
fruits  towards  the  end  of  the  season,  and  are  neither  so  handsome  nor 
useful  as  straight  seedless  fruits.  The  seedlings  will  be  fit  to  plant  in 
about  a  month,  and  succeed  admirably  in  frames  with  a  little  bottom 
heat,  such  as  may  be  afforded  by  any  partially  spent  manure,  mixed 
with  a  little  fresh,  but  not  raw,  stable  litter.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  the  plants  succeed  in  bouses,  and  give  a  supply  to  a  late  period 
of  the  year  where  there  is  sufficient  heating  power. 
Plants  in  Full  Bearing. — In  order  to  keep  up  a  regular  succession 
of  fruit,  attention  must  be  given  to  thinning  exhausted  growths, 
removing  bad  leaves,  stopping,  tying,  and  regulating,  so  as  to  keep  up 
a  successional  growth  of  bearing  wood.  Add  a  little  fresh  soil  to  the 
surface  of  the  bed  from  time  to  time  with  a  light  mulching  of  sweetened 
horse  droppings  or  cow  manure,  the  latter  dried  and  broken  up. 
Syringe  at  closing  time,  and  maintain  a  good  moisture  all  day  by 
damping  the  floors  in  the  morning,  noon,  and  early  in  the  evening. 
Avoid  too  much  moisture  in  dull  weather,  as  it  makes  the  growths 
soft  and  the  foliage  more  liable  to  injury  on  a  bright  period  ensuing. 
After  a  few  days  of  dull  moist  weather  it  is  advisable  to  shade,  and  keep 
the  house  rather  close  on  the  return  of  bright  weather.  Supply  liquid 
manure  copiously  once  or  twice  a  week,  but  it  will  not  materially  benefit 
plants  sparsely  furnished  with  roots  and  defective  in  foliage.  What 
such  plants  want  is  fresh  soil  or  surface  dressings  of  lumpy  material. 
Close  early,  say  at  85°,  and  advance  to  90°  or  95°,  and  only  employ  fire 
heat  to  maintain  a  night  temperature  of  60°  to  65°. 
HE  BBE-KEEPER.I^ 
vi .  1 . 1  ■  I  ■  1 . 1 . 1 .  I  ■  I  ■  I .  I :  f.  I  ■  I .  I'-.l  .j.t.i.iJ-ni.  rvr;  nH  V  (/^ 
SEASONABLE  NOTES. 
Bee-keepers  are  close  observers  of  the  weather,  as  it  is  an 
important  factor  in  honey  production.  The  cold  winds  experienced 
throughout  the  spring  have  been  the  cause  of  dwindling  in  many 
colonies.  In  some  apiaries  the  majority  of  the  stocks  were  at  least 
a  fortnight  later  than  usual  in  being  supered  ;  but,  as  the  weather 
has  turned  out  since,  it  will  probably  not  be  detrimental  to  those 
stocks  that  were  weak  at  the  end  of  April  if  they  were  headed  by 
young  fertile  queens.  As  the  weather  remained  so  cold  and 
changeable,  supers  would  have  had  the  effect  of  lowering  the  tem¬ 
perature  of  the  brood  nest. 
The  much-needed  rain  having  come,  bee-keepers  were  looking 
forward  to  a  higher  temperature  with  bright  sunshine  which  would 
enable  the  bees  to  obtain  a  surplus  from  the  fast  opening  flowers. 
On  the  12ch  and  13ch  ult.  it  seemed  as  if  their  hopes  were  to  be 
realised,  as  they  were  ideal  bee  days,  the  temperature  being  high  and 
the  sun  shining  brightly  from  an  almost  cloudless  sky.  B::es  worked 
with  a  will  as  if  they  intended  making  up  for  loss  of  time.  A 
rapid  change,  however,  came  over  the  scene,  for  within  twenty- 
four  hours  a  perfect  hurricane  raged  throughout  the  country, 
doing  a  great  amount  of  damage.  Large  trees  were  uprooted,  roofs 
and  coverings  were  taken  off  the  hives,  and  in  some  instances  the 
litter  were  overturned.  Bees  again  cluste'ed  closely  in  the  body 
of  their  hive.  In  several  instances  I  observed  drone  brood  being 
turned  out  of  the  hive,  a  sure  sign  that  the  bees  were  taking  a 
gloomy  view  of  the  sudden  change  in  the  weather.  This  was  fol¬ 
io  ived  by  a  low  temperature  and  rain,  the  latter  doing  much  good 
to  the  growing  crops. 
The  White  Clover  being  now  in  full  bloom,  and  just  at  the 
height  of  the  honey  flow,  bee-keepers’  hopes  were  nearly  at  zero 
when  there  came  a  rapid  rise  in  the  temperature,  and  on  Jubilee 
morning  the  sun  burst  out  in  all  its  glory.  It  was  perfect  bee- 
weather,  and  raised  the  hopes  of  all  loyal  subjects  who  in  various 
ways  did  honour  to  our  beloved  Queen  in  this  the  sixtieth  year  of 
her  reign. 
The  following  day  was  equally  fine,  a  high  temperature  and 
bright  sunshine  prevailing  throughout  the  day.  Bees  have  worked 
from  early  morning  to  late  at  night.  It  is  only  when  a  high 
temperature  prevails  they  will  collect  honey  late  in  the  evening. 
All  stocks  being  now  in  good  condition,  honey  has  been  stored  at  a 
rapid  rate.  It  is  several  years  since  I  have  seen  so  much  surplus 
stored  in  the  short  space  of  two  days  as  on  this  occasion.  May  it 
prove  a  good  omen  for  the  remainder  of  the  season. 
Rearing  Young  Queens. 
In  our  anxiety  to  obtain  as  much  honey  as  possible,  I  fear  we 
are  often  negligent  of  queen  rearing.  Now  is  the  time  to  rear 
young  queens,  for  if  they  are  hatched  within  the  next  two  or  three 
weeks  they  invariably  do  well,  and  as  it  is  a  very  simple  matter  to 
rear  and  afterwards  introduce  young  queens  after  they  are  fertilised 
there  can  be  no  excuse  for  not  carrying  out  the  operation  on  proper 
lines. 
It  may,  perhaps,  be  of  interest  to  state  bow  it  is  done  in  my 
apiary,  where  if  the  plan  were  not  successful  in  providing  a  hardy 
race  of  good  workers,  which  in  favourable  seasons  will  store  a 
