20 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  1,  19Cc. 
gently,  and  a  margin  allowed  for  unfavourable  weather.  The  outside 
border  must  be  well  protected  from  inclement  weather,  as  the  roots 
cannot  possibly  act  in  frozen  ground.  A  good  thickness,  say  0  inches, 
of  dry  leaves,  fern,  or  litter,  and  so  disposed  in  a  sloping  manner  as 
to  throw  off  the  wet,  answers  admirably.  Inside  borders  will  need  a 
supply  of  water  at  a  temperature  of  the  mean  of  the  house  to  bring 
them  into  a  proper  state  of  moisture,  being  careful  not  to  make  the 
soil  too  wet,  as  that  hinders  root  action,  and  which  may  be  the 
precursor  of  that  sodden  and  sour  condition  which  inevitably  results 
in  shanking  and  other  ills.  The  temperatnre  should  be  maintained  at 
SOdeg  to  55deg,  advancing  to  fiSdeg  from  sun  heat.  Damp  the  house 
and  Vines  two  or  three  times  a  day,  but  do  not  keep  them  constantly 
dripping  with  water,  for  that  only  encourages  aerial  'roots.  Ventilate 
on  all  Tavourable  occasions,  for  a  sweet  atmosphere  has  a  decided 
effect  for  good  on  the  Vines. 
EARLY  HOUSES  OF  MUSCATS. — To  have  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
I'ipe  in  June  the  Vines  require  to  be  started  in  good  time,  but  there  is 
little  gained  by  commencing  so  early  that  the  growths  are  made  when 
there  is  little  prospect  of  sun.  When  the  Vines  have  been  started 
before  at  the  new  year  they  readily  respond  to  excitement,  the  heat 
varying  from  .5odeg  to  GOdeg,  and  when  the  buds  break  raising  it  to 
GOdeg  to  GSdeg  at  night,  and  70deg  to  75deg  by  day.  Then  the  growths 
will  develop  properly,  forming  leaves  of  good  size  and  (with  due 
attention  to  ventilation)  substance.  Madresfield  Court  is  a  good 
companion  for  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  but  neither  brings  the  long  prices 
of  Canon  Hall. 
HOUSES  FROM  WHICH  THE  GRAPES  HAVE  l  EEN 
■CUT. — A  ines  are  best  pruned  shortly  after  the  leaves  faV  rut  this 
is  often  delayed  on  account  of  Grapes  hanging.  Thus  the  Vines  are 
deprived  of  that  complete  rest  which  pruning  and  keeping  cool 
assures.  Healthy  ^  ines  may  be  cut  to  one,  or  at  most,  to  two  buds, 
but  weakly  Vines  and  those  with  long-jointed  wood  maybe  left  a  little 
longer,  cutting  in  all  caSes  to  a  plump  bud.  This  will  cause  the 
spurs  to  become  long  sooner  than  by  close  pruning,  and  necessitate  a 
renewal  of  them  on  the  rods,  which  it  is  easy  to  effect  by  encouraging 
a  growth  from  the  base  of  the  spur  or  rod,  and  cutting  away  the  old 
in  favour  of  the  new.  The  extension  system  is  the  best  under  such 
circumstances,  having  a  succession  of  rods  from  the  main  stem,  and 
cutting  out  those  that  reach  the  extremity  of  the  space  to  a  cane 
nearer  the  base  and  welt  situated  for  displacing  that  cut  away. 
THOROUGHLY  CLEANSE  THE  HOUSE,  removing  all 
loose  bark,  but  avoid  close  peeling  and  scraping  the  Vines,  as  is  often 
done,  down  to  and  into  the  new  bark  and  wood,  and  wash  them  with 
paraffin  soft  soap  or  carbolic  soap — 3  to  4  oz  to  a  gallon  of  water, 
adding  ^oz  liver  of  sulphur,  thus  combining  an  insecticide  and  fungi¬ 
cide.  Remove  the  surface  or  mulching  down  to  the  roots  without 
injuring  them,  raising  any  that  have  a  tendency  to  descend,  supplying 
fresh  material — good  turfy  loam  being  the  most  suitable,  with  an 
admixture  of  some  approved  advertised  fertiliser.  The  house  should 
be  kept  cool ;  even  where  there  are  plants  the  temperature  ought  not 
to  exceed  lodegs,  air  being  admitted  on  all  favourable  _^occasions,  so 
as  to  keep  the  structure  as  cool  as  possible. 
LATE  HOUSES. — In  some  late  houses  the  leaves  are  not  all 
down.  The  leaves  must  be  cleared  away  as  they  become  ripe  ;  and 
this  should  be  effected  without  brushing  the  Grapes  or  raising  dust  by 
svveeping  up  the  'fallen  leaves.  Maintain  a  temperature  of  45degs, 
with  a  dry  atmosphere  in  houses  in  which  Grapes  are  hanging. 
Examine  every  bunch  frequently,  and  remove  all  decayed  berries. 
\  entilate  the  house  on  line  dry  mornings,  and  keep  it  closed  when 
the  weather  is  damp,  but  there  must  be  a  gentle  warmth  in  the  pipes 
to  prevent  a  stagnant  atmosphere. 
IN  THE  CASE  OF  LATE  GRAPES  ripened  comparatively 
early,  and  these  are  best  for  keeping,  the  Giapes  may  be  cut,  the 
ends  of  the  stems  being  inserted  in  bottles  of  rain  water,  secured  in 
an  inclined  position,  so  as  to  admit  of  the  fruit  hanging  clear  of  the 
bottles.  Any  dry  room  will  be  a  suitable  place,  where  an  equable 
temperature  of  40degs  to  SOdegs  is  maintained.  This  will  admit  of 
the  V  ines  being  pruned  and  the  house  cleansed,  the  Vines  thus 
having  a  few  weeks’  rest,  and  with  that  they  start^trongly  when  set 
to  work,  as  they  should  be  soon  after  the  middle  of  February. — 
Sr.  Albans. 
Meehan's  Monthly. 
This  is  a  publication  whicli  for  .several  years  has  filled  a  pecu¬ 
liar  niche  in  plant  literature,  but  ceases  to  cxi.st  with  the  current 
nionth  s  issue.  In  promoting  interest  in  plants  and  flowers  from 
the  higher  standpoint  of  appreciation,  this  periodical  (with  which 
the  late  Thomas  Meehan  was  associated  asi  editor)  has  been  of 
great  benefit  to  the  public.  For  eleven  and  a  half  years  it  did 
its  work,  and  now.  shortly  after  the:  death  of  its  venerable  editor. 
It  passes  away,  but  not  into  oblivion.  The  serie.s  of  coloured 
plates  portraying  the  native  wild  flowers  which  has  embellished 
each  month’s  issue  for  the  last  few  vears,  forms  a  fine  portrait 
gallery,  and  these  monthly  visits  will  be  missed.  “Meehan’s 
-Monthly  was  established  by  the  late  Tiiouias  Meehan  a  few 
years  after  he  had  disposed  of  the  "Gardeners’  Monthly,”  a 
paper  which  was  ab.^orbed  by  the  '  American  Garden  ”  in,'l887, 
and  the  combined  publications  were  ultimatelv  developed  into 
“  American  Gardening.” 
*  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  E  C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
BOOKS  (J.  R.).-~We  do  not  publish  any  other  books  than) 
those  wc  advertise.  You  can  obtain  a  book  on  Cucumber  culture 
at  the  “  Bazaar,  Exchange,  and  Mart  ”  Office,  Strand,  London. 
ASPARAGUS  ROOTS  IN  ALLEYS  EXPOSED  IN 
EARTHING  BEDS  (G.  F.  O.  B.). — The  exposure  of  the  roots 
in  tlie  alleys  is  not  good  practice,  though  we  are  not  aware  that 
it  does  much  harm,  as  we  have  .seen  it  jiractiscd  for  over  fifty 
years;  but  the  roots  in  the  alleys  were  covered  with  manure 
so  as  to  protect  them  from  the  weather.  We  should,  however, 
only  remove  the  top  soil  from  the  alleys,  and  not  injure  or 
disturb  the  roots  more  than  can  be  helped.  Could  you  not  use 
some  of  the  old  Alushroom-bed  manure  for  placing  on  the  bedsP 
This  would  keep  them  higher  than  the  alley.s,  and  afford  the 
needful  protection  and  manuring,  still  removing  the  top  soil  from 
the  alleys  and  placing  on  the  beds.  It  does  not  materially  . 
matter  about  the  alleys  being  on  a  level  with  the  bed.s,  only 
the  ground  is  well  drained. 
ACACIA  PLATYPTERA  (C.). — The  above  is  the  name  of  the 
plant  of  which  you  have  enclosed  a  spray.  It  may  be  slightly 
pruned  after  flowering  so  as  to  prevent  a  loose  or  irregular  habit 
of  growth.  When  the  plants  start  growing  afterwards  they 
should  have  the  drainage  rectified  if  needed,  some  of  the  old  soil 
being  removed  and  a  top-dressing  of  fresh  added,  pressing  it 
down  firmly.  They  grow  well  in  sandy  loam  with  a  little  peat 
added.  Any  that  need  larger  pots  must  be  shifted  instead  and 
top-dressed,  but  large  .shifts  and  overpotting  should  be  avoided. 
For  a  time  they  should  have  a  vciy  light  position  in  a  green¬ 
house  or  pit,  and  towards  the  middle  of  summer  may  be  stood 
in  a  suijny  position  outdoors  to  ripen  their  growths,  taking  care 
that  worms  cannot  enter  the  pots,  and  that  the  roots  are  not 
scorched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun.  Propagation  is  readily  effected 
by  inserting  cuttings  of  sturdy  growths  about  4in  long  just  when 
getting  a  little  firm  in  .sand  under  a  bellglass  in  moderate  heat, 
keeping  them  moist  and  shaded,  not  heavily,  till  rooted,  then 
expo.sing  them  to  light  and  air  gradually  till  they  will  endure  all 
that  can  be  afforded  of  both. 
PLUMS  FOR  MARKETING  (G.  F.  0.  B.).— Yes,  Plums  pay 
to  grow,  if  properly  seen  to,  on  a  largo  scale,  being  the  next 
important  ci’op  to  Apples.  The  plants  may  be  planted  as  close 
as  loft  apart,  therefore  a  plantation  .soon  pays  expenses,  and 
where  Damsons  are  includecl,  the  return  is  reached  in  a  few  years. 
Half-.standards  arc  most  in  fav'our  for  plantations.  Of  varieties. 
Rivers’  Prolific  is  the  best  early  kind,  seldom  failing  to  produce. 
It  is  a  weakly  grower,  and  never  makes  a  big  tree;  fruit  small, 
purple.  Czar,  a  free  grower,  bears  in  clusters,  and  makes  a 
fine,  large,  upright  tree;  fruit  purplish,  round.  Early  Orleans 
next  crops  heavily,  and  the  tree  re<iuir’es  a  warm,  stony  soil, 
and  it  is  a  favourite  Plum  in  the  London  markets ;  fruit  round 
and  red.  Victoria  is  the  best  all-round  Plum,  a  market  favourite, 
cropping  heavily.  Emperor  makes  a  vigorous  tree,  and  pr-qduces 
its  large  Orlcans-like  fruit  in  profusion,  very  valuable  ;  fruit  red. 
Prince  Englebert  does  well  on  cool  soils,  attains  medium  size; 
fruit  black,  oval.  Alitchelson’s,  a  large  Damson-like  Plum,  bear-; 
profusely  in  clusters,  very  prolific  and  hardy;  fruit  round,  red. 
Gisborne’s,  tree  vigorous  grower,  making  few  branches,  fre¬ 
quently  laden  to  profusion  ;  fruit  oval,  yellow  with  red  spots, 
fine  marketing  kind.  Belgian  Purple,  very  prolific,  tree  grows 
freely  :  fruit  large  round,  reddish  purple.  River, s’  Monarch,  a 
good  October  purple  kind,  tree  of  sturdy  growth.  Bush,  a  very 
prolific  kind,  and  a  favourite  jam  Plum  ;  the  tree  is  strong  and 
hardy,  and  produces  fruit  all  over ;  fruit  round,  dull  red  to 
black.  Blue  Prolific,  an  early  Damson-like  Plum,  carrying  a 
wonderful  bloom,  it  crops  in  clu,ster.s,  and  is  remarkably  free. 
Green  Gage  is  not  a  certain  bearer,  but  every  large  growth 
.should  have  a  proportion  of  trees.  Of  Damsons,  Kentish 
Cluster,  Farleigh,  or  Crittenden  is  largely  planted,  and  Bradley's 
King,  large,  are  good  A'arieties.  The  Plums  would  succeed  in 
an  .exposecl  position,  but  it  would  be  well  to  employ  the  Damson 
— Kentish  Cluster  or  Crittenden  being  suitable — on  the  exposed 
sides.  The  trees  would  be  in  a  good  bearing  state  in  the  third 
or  fourth  year,  but  would  not  yield  a  profitable  return  until 
the  seventh  to  tenth  year.  •  - 
