5n2 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTTCULTUR.E  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  26,  1902. 
poor  texture  and  colour  nitropjcu  is  lacking,  and  should  be 
applied  in  safe  applications  of  nitrate  of  soda  or  sulphate  of 
ammonia.  Potash  and  phosphoric  acid  are  necessary  if  tlie  fruit 
fails  to  swell  satisfactorily,  while  lime  is  es.sential  to  aid  in  the 
strengthening  of  the  wood.  Superphosphate  and  basic  slag -are 
suitable  applications  for  affording  phosphoric  acid.  Liquid 
manure  also  contains  all  the  elements  of  plant  food,  and  may  be 
freely  applied  to  any  trees  requiring  assistance  providing  the 
•soil  is  moist. — East  Kent. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES;  EARLY  HOFSES.— The  Vines  from  which  the 
Grapes  have  been  cut  must  be  well  .syringed  every  evening 
until  thoroughly  freed  from  red  spider,  and  afterwards  occa¬ 
sionally  to  preserve  the  old  foliage  as  long  a.s  pos.sible  in  a 
healthy  condition,  for  when  the  leaves  die  early  from  insect 
attacks  or  other  causes,  second  growth  not  unfrequently  sets  in 
when  the  Vines  ought  to  be  going  to  rest.  Admit  air  to  the 
fulle.st  extent  possible,  and  maintain  a  moderate  degree  of 
moi, store  on  the  border,  particularly  at  the  surface,  so  as  to 
keep  there,  instead  of  allowing  it  to  become  dry,  and  so  cau.sing 
them  to  descend  in  quest  of  moisture.  moderate  extension 
of  the  laterals  will  not  do  any  harm;  but  irregularities  of 
growth,  and  particularly  gross  ones,  .should  be  checked  by  pinch¬ 
ing  or  be  entirely  removed. 
GRAPES  RIPENING. — A  fair  amount  of  atmospheric 
moisture  should  be  maintained,  both  for  the  benefit  of  the 
foliage  and  the  swelling  of  the  fruit,  which  enlarges  considerably 
during  the  ripening  process.  Give  the  inside  borders  and 
out.side,  if  the  weather  be  dry,  a  good  soaking  of  tepid  water 
or  liquid  manui'e,  and  mulch  at  once  Avith  some  rather  dry,  but 
short,  sweet  litter  about  2in  thick.  This  aauU  mostly  be  sufficient 
for  perfecting  the  Grapes,  but  the  Vines  must  not  suffer  from 
drought  at  the  roots,  or  the  berries  Avill  be  liable,  especially 
Mu.scats,  to  shrivel.  Directly  they  begin  to  colour  afford 
abundance  of  air,  a  little  fire  heat  being  essential  to  their 
higher  perfection,  especially  in  flavour,  insuring  a  cii’culation 
of  AAarm  air;  but  allow  the  temperature  to  fall  to  65deg  at 
nigjit,  otheiuyise  securing  by  artificial  means  a  temperature 
m  /Odeg  to  /5deg  and  80deg  to  8odeg  through  the  day  for  Black 
Hamburgh  and  similar  varieties.  Muscats  should  have  a  night 
temperature  of  65deg  to  70deg,  80deg  to  8odeg  by  day  up  to 
OOdeg,  or  95deg  Horn  sun  heat. 
GRAPES  STONING. — The  Aveather  recently  has  been  farmur- 
able  for  scorching  and  scalding.  The  best  means  of  preventing 
both  is  a  rather  high  night  temperature,  early  and  free  A'&ntila- 
tion  by  daj'  Avith  a  little  at  night,  and  a  gentle  Avarmth  in  the 
hot-AA'ater  pipes.  It  is  not  advisable  to  close  early  at  this 
critical  period — the  close  of  the  stoning  process — but  do  so  care¬ 
fully,  and,  as  the  liability  to  scalding  does  not  extend  OA'er  more 
than  a  fortnight  to  three  Aveeks,  particular  attention  should  be 
given  to  A’entilation.  If  A'ery  bright  AA-eather  succeeds  a  dull 
moist  period,  a  slight  shade  oAmr  the  roof  lights  is  very 
beneficial.  A  double  thickness  of  herring  nets  Avill  afford  ail 
the  shade  required,  and  it  is  necessary  Avhere  the  panes  of  glass 
are  large,  especially  for  Muscats  just  completing  the  stoning 
process. 
LATE  HOUSES  :  THINNING.— In  order  to  secure  large  and 
highly  finished  berries  thin  them  Avell,  especially  in  the  interior 
of  the  bunches,  leaA’ing  the  large-berried  varieties  about  an  inch 
apart.  Only  such  yarieties  as  Gros  Colman,  and  Avith  the  Vines 
in  the  best  condition,  Avill  bear  this  ser'ere  thinning;  therefore 
regard  mu.st  be  had  to  the  AmrietjN  its  likely  ultimate  size,  and 
other  circumstances,  being  guided  by  experience.  The  OAml- 
berried  A'arieties  do  not  require  so  much  room  as  the  round 
ones  ;  but  all  should  be  so  thinned  that  they  Avill  have  space  for 
SAvelling  fully  without  AA'edging,  and  yet  be  so  close  that  Avhen 
cut  the  bunch  Avill  retain  its  form.  Loose  bunches  that  sIioaa’ 
the  footstalks  are  not  so  pleasing  in  appearance  as  more  compact 
bunches,  hoAvever  fine  the  berries  may  be.  Not  only  is  it  neces¬ 
sary  to  thin  the  berries,  but  the  bunches  must  be  reduced  to 
the  number  Avhich  their  size  and  the  condition  of  the  Vines 
satisfy  the  grower  AA'ill  finish  satisfactorily.  If  an  error  is  made 
let  it  be  on  the  .safe  side,  as  Vines  that  are  overburdened  never 
finish  their  fruit  Avell,  and  it  is  inferior  in  keeping  qualities. 
FIRING  AND  VENTILATING.— It  is  a  common,  but  one 
of  the  greatest  lAiistakes,  to  rely  on  solar  heat  alone  for  forAA’ard- 
ing  late  Grapes.  Cold  nights  render  fires  necessary,  hence  it  is 
folly  to  let  them  out  uoaa’  and  harm  to  fire  hai'd  later  on,  Avhen 
the  sun  has  less  poAver  to  ripen  the  fruit.  All  late  Grapes 
thrive  best  in  a  high  temperature  Avith  abundant  food  at  the 
rool.N  and  a  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere.  Maintain  a 
night  temperature  of  Godeg,  and  TOdeg  to  7bdeg  by  day  in  dull 
Aveather.  Admit  air  early,  a  little  at  the  toiA  of  the  house  con- 
staiitly,  increasing  the  ventilation  with  the  temperature, 
lloA'ing  an  advance  to  85deg  or  OOdeg,  at  AA'hich  keep  tlu'ough 
the  day  from  sun  heat,  reducing  the  ventilation  Avith  the 
declining  sun.  Close  at  85deg,  damping  the  paths  then  and 
again  before  nightfall.  It  is  avcII  to  close  for  a  short  time  and 
after\A'ards  admit  a  little  air,  which  aauU  preAmnt  a  vitiated 
atmosphere  and  alloAV  the  foliage  to  dry  in  the  morning  by  the 
time  the  sun  acts  poAverfully.  Avoid  cold  draughts  or  sudden 
depressions  of  temperature,  as  they  cause  rust  and  cripple  the 
foliage. 
FEEDING. — Vines  in  Avell-drained  borders  AAill  take  almost 
any  amount  of  water  and  nourishment  to  advantage  when 
.SAA'elling  their  crops,  ahAays  provided  the  soil  is  not  made 
sodden  and  sour  by  needless  applications,  Avhen  indifferent 
health  and  shanking,  Avith  bad  colouring,  usually  results.  The 
draining  of  stables  and  cowhouses,  diluted  Avith  about  five  parts 
AA'ater  Avhen  neat,  are  excellent,  adding  about  an  ounce  of  super¬ 
phosphate  of  lime  to  each  gallon  of  diluted  liquid,  and  applying 
this  after  the  border  has  otherwi.se  been  made  properly  moist. 
A  good  soaking  after  the  berries  are  thinned,  and  again  AA'hen 
the  stoning  is  completed,  Avill  help  the  Vines  Avonderfully  in 
their  present  crop  and  for  the  .succeeding  one.  As  a  top- 
dressing  tAvo  parts  lAhosphate  of  potash  and  one  part  nitrate  of 
ammonia  mixed  may  be  used  betAveen  times  or  alternating  Avith 
the  liquid  manure  from  tanks,  apjAljung  2oz  to  4oz  irer  square 
yard  and  AA'atering  moderately.  If  applied  in  liquid  form,  loz 
of  the  mixture  may  be  added  to  each  gallon  of  Avater.  As  these 
substances  are  expensive,  a  mixture  of  tAvo  parts  supeiqAhospliate 
and  one  nitrate  of  potash  may  be  used  instead  and  at  similar 
rate,  either  as  top-dresswig  or  as  liquid.  The  chief  thing  is  not 
to  OA’er-AAater  the  border  and  yet  maintain  due  moisture  thereon. 
— St.  Alb-ans. 
- - 
Nature  Notes. 
The  nightingale  has  not  yet  discontinued  its  song,  nor  has 
the  cuckoo  changed  its  note.  Some  of  the  early  Cherries  have 
commenced  to  colour. — H.  R.,  Kent. 
June  21. 
Incident  with  a  Cockoo’s  Egg. 
My  old  friend,  Mr.  James  Hiam,  of  AstAvood  Bank,  Redditch, 
a  noted  Wes\t  Midland  naturalist,  as  Aveh  as  an  erstAvhile  con¬ 
tributor  to  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of  Jiorticulfure,  recently 
related  to  me  his  OAvn  experience  Avitli  a  cuckoo’s  egg,  and  Avhicli 
so  far  is  remarkable,  that  it  occurred  to  me  the  tale  might  prove 
interesting  to  readers  of  the  Journal,  or  at  least  to  those  of 
“Nature’s  Notes.”  Some  time  in  the  month  of  April  the  ardent 
veteran  naturalist  placed  an  old  tea-ketcle  in  a  hedge  bounding 
his  garden,  Avhen  a  pau*  of  robins  commenced  to  build  in  it,  but 
from  some  unknoAvn  reason  deserted  it  before  they  had  finished, 
and  recourse  Avas  had  to  another  rendezA'ous  close  at  hand,  in 
the  shape  of  an  empty  Tomato  tin,  purposely  placed  in  the  same 
or  an  adjoining  hedge,  folloAved  by  the  usual  complement  of  eggs. 
It  occurred  to  Mr.  Hiam  to  introduce  a  cuckoo’s  egg,  Avhich  lie 
had  picked  up  near  at  hand  on  the  grass  plot  about  a  fortnight 
previously,  and  laid  it  on  the  soil  pf  a  floAver  pot  in  his  cottage 
Avindow,  and  re.sultiug  in  the  hatching  of  the  egg  simultaneously 
Avith  its  felloAv  eggs  during  a  day  at  the  end  of  last  Aveek.  Arid 
noAv  Mr.  Hiam  is  Avatching  for  a  further  eA'ent,  auz..  the  ejection 
of  the  young  robins  by  their  fo.ster  baby. 
Regarding  the  finding  of  the  egg  on  the  grass,  Mr.  Hiam 
opines  that,  failing  to  find  a  convenient  nest,  the  cuckoo  was 
compelled  to  lay  it  someAvhere.  and  trust  to  chance  for  the 
eventual  hatching  of  her  egg.  I  may  add  that  a~  prolonged  per¬ 
sonal  confab  Avith  my  congenial  nat-uralist  friend — the  Thomas 
EdAvard  (the  Scottish  naturalist')  of  the  Midlands — reAmaled 
.sundry  other  intere.sting  anecdotes  of  his  experience  amongst, 
not  only  feathered  bipeds,  but  quadrupeds,  and  insects  belonging 
to  our  nati\'e  fauna,  including  also  fruits. — W.  G.,  June  21. 
- 4«#»> - 
Publications  Received. 
Reading  College  Agricultural  Department,  Eighth  Aimual 
Report  on  field  and  other  trials,  1901.  *  *  '•  Clouds,  and 
Weather  Signs,”  by  Commander  D.  Wilscn-Barker,  R.N.R.,  &c. 
Illustrated.  London:  “  KnoAvledge ”  Office,  32b,  High  Holborn, 
W.C.  *  *  “The  Journal  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
of  Western  Australia,  .\pril,  1902,”  Part  4,  Vol.  I.  Some  of  the 
contents  are:  Field  Experiments  at  Dookie,  Avith  Thick  and 
Thin  SoAving  of  Grain;  Heifers,  the  Best  Breeding  Age; 
Co-operation  and  Viticulture;  Diseases  in  the  Orchard;  The 
Beet  Sugar  Indnstry  in  the  United  States,  &c.,  &c.  *  * 
“Injurious  and  L'seful  Insects,”  by  L.  C.  Miall.  E.R.S.  Geo. 
Bell  and  Sons,  London,  3s.  6d.  *  *  “Men  of  the  Moment:” 
3.  Lord  Salisbury  ”  (Trehern’s  Penny  Serie.s).  *  *  “  Aimual 
Report  of  the  Botanic  Garden  Syndicate,  Cambridge.”  *  * 
“  El  Jardin,  Revista  de  Horticultura.”  First  year,  first  number. 
Madrid,  June  1.  *  *  “Le  Moniteur  .d’Horticulture,”  contain¬ 
ing  a  coloured  plate  of  Miltcnia  spectabilis,  M.  s.  Moreliana, 
and  M.  s.  A'irginalis.  *  *  Meehans’  Monthly.”  June,  1902. 
Contains  a  coloured  lAlate  of  Rhamnus  carol inianus. 
