January  29,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
107 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES:  EARLIEST  FORCED  IN  POTS.— As  the  Vines  aro 
in  full  leaf  they  part  with  considerable  moisture  by  eva-poration, 
both  under  sunlight  and  under  di'y  conditions  at  night.  This 
does  not  necessarily  imply  elaboration,  for  that  of  chlorophyll  can 
only  take  place  under  sunlight,  though  it  is  said  to  take  place 
under  electric  light,  and  carbon  is  not  taken  in  and  fixed  other¬ 
wise  than  by  daylight ;  consequently  the  growths  and  crop  suffer 
through  an  inadequacy  of  both  atmospheric  and  soil  moisture.  It 
is,  therefore,  necessary  to  provide  air-moisture  by  damping  the 
paths  and  walks  in  the  morning,  early  in  the  afternoon  and  even¬ 
ing.  Water  must  be  supplied  to  the  soil  in  order  to  sustain  the 
losses  taking  place  by  evaporation  from  the  leaves,  and  provide 
some  nutrient  matter  in  solution  for  imbibing  by  the  roots.  When 
the  supply  is  inadequate  the  foliage  flags  or  becomes  limp,  and 
mineral  matters  solidify  in  the  tissues,  hence  the  needful 
diffusion  of  nourishment,  and  the  transference  of  elaborated 
matter  cannot  take  place.  The-  next  thing  is  to 
SUPPLY  MINERAL  MATTER  for  solution,  and  to  afford 
water  to  insure  its  imbibition  by  the  roots  and  root-hairs. 
These  must  be  got^  and  they  come  in  the  most  prolific  manner 
when  the  soil  is  neither  too  di^  nor  too  wet,  and,  in  the  case  of 
Vines,  chiefly  from  the  incentive  of  the  leafage.  To  get  roots 
phosphates  must  be  given,  then  potash  and  the  essential  nitrogen. 
To  attain  this  there  must  be  a  favourable  rooting  medium — a 
something  for  the  roots  to  push  in,  and  this  is  usually  provided 
in  the  shape  of  top-dressings  of  lumpy  manure  or  turf  applied  to 
The  surface.  This  presents  food  elements  in  a  moderate  and 
readily  available  form,  and  the  roots  to  get  at  it  permeate 
through  and  divide  in  order  to  make  the  most  of  it.  Then,  and 
not  till  then,  is  extra  food  of  any  benefit  tO'  the  plant,  for  until 
that  time  it  has  neither  the  roots  to  imbibe  nor  the  foliage  to 
elaborate  the  food  that  all  the  best  advertised  Vine  manures 
contain. 
VINES  IN  POTS  require  more  frequent  and  lessened  amount 
of  fertiliser  than  planted  out  Vines,  or  copious  supplies  of  liquid 
manures  must  be  given,  always  tepid  and  never  too  strong.  Thin 
the  berries  somewhat  freely  as  soon  as  well  set,  not,  however, 
going  to  the  extreme  of  making  the  bunches  loose.  Maintain 
the  night  temperature  to  G.odeg,  falling  to  GOdeg  on  cold  morn¬ 
ings,  but  raise  the  heat  in  good  time  to  Godeg,  and  70deg  to  7odeg 
when  mild,  admitting  a  little  air  at  7odeg,  increasing  the  tem¬ 
perature  with  sun  heat  to  SOdeg  or  85deg,  closing  with  a  pro¬ 
spect  of  advancing  to  90deg,  at  the  same  time  damping  the  house, 
this  being  necessary  in  the  morning  and  evening.  Observe  great 
care  in  ventilating,  avoiding  cold  draughts,  as  these  cripple  the 
foliage  and  rust  the  Grapes. 
EARLIEST  FORCED  PLANTED  OUT  VINES.— Give  atten¬ 
tion  to  stopping  the  laterals  and  tying  in  the  .shoots,  it  being 
a.s.sumed  that  the  shoots  have  been  .stopped  two  or  more  points 
beyond  the  fruit.  Where  the  .space  is  re.stricted  they  may  have 
been  pinched  to  one  or  two  .joints,  and  in  any  case  the  axillary 
growths  may  be  stopped  at  the  first  leaf,  and  to  one  afterwards 
as  fresh  growth  is  made.  If  this  is  likely  to  interfere  with  the 
principal  leaves  the  axillary  growths  may  be  rubbed  off  ex¬ 
cept  from  the  tuo  lowest  joints,  those  above  the  fruit  being 
stopped  to  one  leaf.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the 
principal  foliage  is  full.v  expo.sed  to  light  and  air,  overcrowding 
being  prolific  of  manifold  ills;  at  the  same  time,  very  close  .stop¬ 
ping  is  not  advi.sable  where  there  is  room  for  extension,  and  an 
increase  of  foliage  promotes  corre.sponding  root  action ;  there¬ 
fore,  retain  all  the  foliage  consistent  with  its  full  exposure  to 
light.  Remove  all  loose  and  duplicate  bunches,  thinning  the 
berries  as  .soon  as  they  become  well  formed  ;  but  do  not  defer  this 
longer  wdien  the  properly  fertilised  berries  are  distinguishable 
by  their  taking  the  lead  in  .swelling.  Where  results  are  of  more 
consequence  than  appearance,  the  inside  border  may  be  covered 
lightly  with  thoroughly  sweetened  stable  manure,  which  has  the 
straw  shaken  out,  and  been  turned  several  times  before  it  is  in¬ 
troduced,  or  the  ammonia  vapour  will  be  too  strong  for  the 
foliage.  The  inside  border,  before  it  is  covered  Avith  sweetened 
stable  litter,  should,  if  necessary,  have  a.  good  supply  of  tepid 
water  or  liquid  manure.  This,  with  the  leaves  developed  and 
others  forming,  Avill  induce  root  action,  and  the  berries  Avill 
swell  freel.y.  Surface  roots  are  also  promoted  and  the  Vines 
nourished  by  supplying  approved  fertili.siers  to  the  border,  pho.s- 
phatic  and  pota.ssic,  Avith  moderate  nitrogenic,  being  most  suit¬ 
able.  Avoid  cold  currents  of  air,  also  A'apour  arising  from  hot- 
AA'ater  pipes,  both  causing  rust.  Where  there  are  evaporation 
troughs  keep  them  charged  with  liquid  manure,  say  Peruvian 
guano  11b  to  tAventy  gallcns  of  Avater,  straining  before  use,  or 
sprinkle  the  paths  and  borders  occasionally  with  the  same, 
where  there  arc  no  evaporation  troughs,  taking  care  not  to 
OA’ordo  it,  three  gallons  of  liquid  siifficing  for  a  s([uare  rod  (30i- 
square  yard.s). 
HOUSES  IN  WHICH  VINES  ARE  IN  FLOWER  should 
have  a  .steady  night  temperature  of  G5deg,  70deg  to  75deg  by  day 
and  80dog  to  8Gdeg  or  90deg  from  sun  heat.  Muscats  reriuire 
70deg  to  7odeg  and  80deg  to  85deg  respectively  by  day  from  fire 
and  sun  heat,  and  a  comparatively  dry  atmo.sphere,  and  they 
should  be  assisted  in  setting  by  artificial  fertilisation,  brtishing 
the  bunches  lightly  Avhen  the  caps  come  off  easily  Avith  a  large 
camel-hair  brush,  and  applying  pollen  afterAvards  from  free 
setting  Amrieties,  draAving  the  brush  charged  Avith  the  golden  dust 
light l.y  OA’er  the  bunches.  This  cross-fertilisation  is  very  effec¬ 
tive,  securing  a  better  .set  and  more  OAmnly  sAvelled  berries.  A 
constant  circulation  of  Avarm  rather  dry  air  is  conducive  to  a  good 
set,  and  it  is  not  adA'isable  to  stop  the  laterals  closely  during  the 
setting  period  ;  but  even  then  it  does  not  ansAA’er  to  alloAv  grOAvth.s 
to  be  made  AA’liich  mu.st  afterAA’ards  be  removed  by  armfuls,  for 
this  giA’es  a  check  prejudicial  to  the  health  of  the  Vines,  and  does 
not  favour  the  swelling  of  the  Grapes,  but  often  results  in 
shanking. 
VINES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.— Sprinkle  the  rods 
morning  and  afternoon,  but  do  not  keep  con.stantly  dripping  Avith 
Avater,  as  this  encourages  aerial  roots  fiom  The  rods.  Continue 
the  syringing  until  the  bunches  shoAv  in  the  points  of  the  .shoots, 
Avhen  it  is  best  to  discontinue  it  over  the  Vines,  but  maintain 
proper  atmospheric  moisture  by  sprinkling  the  paths  and  border 
in  the  morning,  early  afternoon,  and  evening.  Increase  the  tem¬ 
perature  to  oodeg  at  night  and  GOdeg  to  65deg  by  day,  advancing 
to  75deg  from  sun  heat,  Avith  ventilation  according  to  the 
Aveather.  Do  not  hurry  on  disbudding,  letting  the  bunches 
appear  in  the  points  of  the  shoots,  then  the  Aveake.st  and  other¬ 
wise  least  desirable  can  be  removed  ;  but  it  shoidd  be  done  gra¬ 
dually,  so  as  not  to  cause  appreciable  check.  Keep  the  border 
moist,  but  not  by  any  means  Avet,  first  getting  the  leaves  and  the 
roots,  and  then  supply  abundance  of  Avater  for  evaporation  and 
nutriment  for  su.staining  the  groAvth  and  crop. 
HOUSES  TO  AFFORD  RIPE  -FRUIT  IN  JULY.— Early  in 
February  is  the  late.st  time  for  .starting  Vines  to  finish  the  Grapes 
satisfactorily  in  July,  though  they  Avill  be  coloured  by  or  soon 
after  midsummer.  Outside  borders  need  not  be  covered  Avith  any¬ 
thing  beyond  a  little  short  litter  or  leaves  to  protect  the  roots 
from  frost,  for  they  cannot  AA'ork  in  a  frozen  soil.  C’lose  the 
house  at  mice,  merely  use  artificial  heat  to  exclude  frost  at  night, 
and  maintain  oOdeg  in  the  daytime.  This,  tO‘  some  extont,  Avill 
cause  the  sap  to  rise,  and  in  the  course  of  a  feAv  days  advance  to 
GOdeg  at  night  and  oodeg  in  the  day,  AA’ith  GOdeg  to  Godeg  from 
sun  heat.  A  light  damping  about  1  p.m..  and  damping  the 
house  before  leaving  off  Avork,  AA'ill  aid  the  Amines  in  breaking  by 
promoting  the  ascent  of  the  .sap,  softening  the  tis.sues,  and  sup¬ 
plying  moisture  to  the  epidermis.  The  in.side  border  should  be 
brought  into  a  thoroughly  moist  condition,  as  the  \one.s  need 
Avater  for  the  transference  of  the  stored  matter;  indeed,  for  the 
due  development  of  the  cambial  layers,  then  the  break  Avill  be 
free  and  the  groAvth  satisfactory. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
EARLY  CARROTS. — AA'here  a  frame  and  hotbed  are  aA-ail- 
able,  a,  supply  of  early .  Carrots  may  be  obtained.  The  hotbed 
should  be  formed  of  inanure  and  leaves  in  equal  quantities,  col¬ 
lecting  a  good  bulk.  Turn  these  over  several  times,  mixing 
Avell,  and  Avhen  the  rank  heat  has  departed,  build  into  a  bed, 
though  it  is  better  to  form  the  bed  inside  a.  brick  pit  on  Avhich 
a  frame  can  be  placed.  Cover  the  fermenting  material  Avith  a 
layer  of  soil  Gin  thick.  Make  firm  and  smooth,  and  draAv  drills 
Gin  apart  and  lin  deep.  Suitable  A^arieties  to  .soav  are  Early 
Nantes  and  Early  Gem. 
SOWING  ONIONS  IN  BOXES. — Fine  examples  of  Onions 
may  be  groAvn  in  the  course  of  the  season  if  seed  is  soAvn  noAv  in 
boxes  moderately  thinly,  groAvn  in  a  cool,  light  position,  and  gra¬ 
dually  hardened  off  to  outdoor  treatment  by  April,  Avhen  the 
seedlings,  .sturdy  and  Avell  rooted,  mav  be  planted  in  roAvs  on 
good  gi'ound  at  the  usual  distance  apart. 
RED  CABBAGE. — Should  there  have  not  been  any  autumn 
planting  of  this  vegetable,  seed  may  be  soAvn  iioav  .sparingly  in  a 
box,  and  Avhen  the  seedlings  are  large  enough  prick  them  out  to 
strengthen  in  other  boxes,  subsequently  giving  them  cold  frame 
and  hardy  treatment,  planting  out  in  April.  On  good  ground, 
Avith  libei-al  treatment,  they  Avill  form  useful  hearts  by  the 
autumn. 
PREPARING  GROUND  FOR  ONIONS.— Onions  require  a 
good  depth  of  rich  ground.  That  Avhich  Avas  trenched  and  heavily 
manured  in  autumn  AA’ill  be  in  condition  to  be  further  broken  up, 
mixing  in  some  soot  and  Avood  ashes.  It  may  then  lie  for  a 
ther  period,  eventually  Avhen  Avell  dried  on  the  surface,  to  be 
made  firm  by  treading.  Such  soil  liberally  prepared  in  this  lAay 
Avill  be  ready  for  soAving  Onion  seed  at  the  end  of  I  ebniary.  If 
for  planting  seedling  Onions,  let  the  ground  lie  Avithout  firming 
until  .April. 
