150 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  12,  1903: 
O  WOKK.fo^ 
.THE  week..  Q 
Fruit  Forcing. 
A'lNKS;  EARLIEST  FORCED  IN  POTS.— Where  the 
hunches  are  not  too  numerous,  and  the  berries  properij^  thinned, 
the.se  matters  being  duly  attended  to  by  judicious  thinning 
betimes,  tlie^  Vines  will  push  laterals;  but  if  overburdened  with 
fruit  they  com©  to  a  standstill,  and  the'  fruit  suffers  more  or 
less.  Therefore  aid  such  Vines  by  a  careful  cutting-out  of  the 
eyes  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  below  the  bunch  on  each  shoot, 
taking  care  not  to  injure  the  leaves.  This  will  assist  the  Grapes 
in  swelling,  and  may  cause  the  shoots  to  push  laterals  above  or 
on  a  level  with  fruit.  The  laterals  will  reciuire  pinching  at 
every  joint  where  the  space  beyond  the  bunches  is  limited, 
rubbing  off  those  below  the  fruit ;  but  where  there  is  room  those 
in  advance  of  the  fruit  may  be  allowed  more  freedom,  tying  them 
down  to  the  trellis. 
Top-dress  the  soil  with  freshly  cut  turf,  but  the  grass  reduced, 
in  lumps  the  size  of  a  hen’s  egg,  and  sweetened  horse  droppings 
in  equal  proportions,  adding  to  every  bushel  a  pint  each  of  soot 
and  bone  superphosphate,  with  a  quart  of  wood  ashes,  mixing 
well.  To  maintain  the  top-dressing  in  position  peg  with  gal¬ 
vanised  wire  reversed  turves  around  the  rim,  thus  forming  a 
receptacle  for  the  top-dressing.  If  the  pots  .are  .standing  on 
brick  pedestals,  and  fermenting  materials  are  placed  around  the 
pots,  the  roots  ■will  extend  over  the  rims,  and  being  fed  with 
liquid  manure  the  fruit  will  be  finer  in  proportion. 
EARLY  FORCED  PLANTED-OUT  VINES.  —  Stopping, 
tying,  and  thinning  must  have  careful  attention,  removing 
surplus  bunches  before  they  have  time  to  rob  the  Vines,  for  that 
prejudices  the  current  and  next  year’s  crop.  A  judicious 
thinning  does  not  always  mean  a  corresponding  reduction  in 
weight  of  Grapes  when  these  are  ripe,  and  it  invariably  tends 
to  good  finish.  Let  the  laterals  extend  as  much  above  the 
bunches  as  the  .space  warrants  ;  but  not  allowing  more  leaves  to 
be  made  than  can  be  duly  exposed  to  light,  making  allowance 
for  increase  of  growth  through  stopping.  Liquid  manure  in  a 
weak  and  tepid  state  may  be  given  to  inside  borders,  mulch  with 
short  sweetened  manure  from  the  .stables ;  but  avoid  excessive 
quantities,  as  too  much  ammonia  is  prejudicial,  whilst  a  little 
benefits  the  Vines.  Damp  the  house  in  the  morning,  and  at 
closing  time  or  early  in  the  afternoon,  ventilating  a  little 
between  70deg  and  75deg,  and  keeping  through  the  day  at  80deg 
to  8odeg  from  sun  heat.  Close  so  as  to  maintain  that  tempera¬ 
ture,  or  run  up  to  90deg,  the  heat  at  night  falling  to  G5deg  or 
GOdeg  in  the  morning  of  cold  nights,  maintaining  70deg  to  75deg 
by  day  artificially,  or  odeg  less  if  cold  and  dull,  relying  on  bright 
weather  to  advance  the  crop. 
EARLY  MUSCAT  HOUSE. — To  have  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
ripe  in  June,  which  is  as  soon  as  this  variety  may  be  depended 
on,  the  Vines  require  to  be  started  about  the  middle  of 
December,  and  to  be  brought  on  steadily,  as  in  a  close  and  moist 
atmosphere  the  foliage  becomes  very  thin,  and  is  then  liable  to 
scorch  under  bright  sun.  The  bunches  are  now  approaching  the 
flowering  stage,  aaid  should  have  a  night  temperature  of  GSdeg 
to  70deg,  with  a  rise  of  lOdeg  to  lodeg  by  day,  closing  for  the 
day  between  80deg  and  85deg  when  bright  weather  prevails. 
When  the  bunches  are  in  flower  they  should  be  carefully 
fertilised,  bi'ushing  over  every  bunch  with  a.  camel-hair  bi-ush 
when  the  caps  are  being  thrown  off.  following  with  pollen  from  a 
free-setting  variety,  such  as  Black  Hamburgh  ;  then,  not  other- 
Avise,  a  good  set  may  be  expected.  Madresfield  Court  requires 
similar  attention,  and  ripens  earlier  and  in  a  lower  temperature 
than  is  required  for  Muscat  of  Alexandria  and  Canon  Hall,  which 
require  some  time  in  finishing  up  to  the  golden  colour  that 
renders  these  choicest  of  Grapes  so  appi'eciable  and  commanding 
best  prices  in  the  market,  and  they  require  the  roots  in  a  Avarm 
inside  border.  This  may  be  mulched  after  the  Grapes  are  set 
Avith  lumpy  material,  through  Avhich  air  and  Avater  can  pass 
freely. 
SUCCESSION  HOUSES. — Commence  disbudding  after  the 
l)unches  sIioaa'  on  the  points  of  thb  shoots,  tying  the  groAAths 
doAvn  before  they  touch  the  glass,  stopping  the  bearing  shoots 
a  couple  of  joints  beyond  the  fruit,  and  pinch  the  laterals  beloAV 
the  bunch  at  the  first  leaf,  a)id  aboAm  alloAV  them  to  extend, 
but  only  to  c:over  space  Avith  foliage  fully  exposed  to  light.  Re¬ 
move  all  surplus  bunches  before  they  floAver,  and  maintain  a 
moderate  amount  of  moisture,  even  after  commencing  to  floAver, 
and  secure  this  b.A’  damping  occasionally,  maintaining  a  night 
temiAerature  of  Gocleg  to  70deg  at  that  time,  and  70deg  to  75deg 
by  day  artificially,  Avith  a  gentle  circulation  of  air.  If  there  is 
an.v  lack  of  moisture  in  the  border,  give  a  sufficient  supply  of 
water  or  AAeak  liquid  manure  before  the  floAvers  open;  but  avoid 
making  the  soil  sodden,  as  this  is  not  faAmurable  to  the  setting 
of  the  fruit,  and  often  leads  to  shanking  in  the  berries  and  even 
bunch  stoms. 
HOUSES  TO  AFFORD  RIPE  GRAPES  IN  JULY.— In 
these  the  Vines  must  noAV  be  started,  if  not  already  done, 
Avatering  the  inside  border  Avith  tepid  Avater  to  render  it  evenly 
moist ;  but  an  excessively  Avet  condition  retards  root  action,  and 
is  often  folloAved  by  various  prejudicial  consequences;  therefor© 
a  condition  inclined  to  the  dry  side  is  better  than  a  Avet  soil  at 
the  commencement.  Weakly  Vines  may  be  supplied  Avith  liquid 
manure,  not  too  .strong,  Avhich  sets  up  a  mild  fermentation  in 
the  soil,  and  the  .slight  Avarmth  resulting  accelerates  rootlet  push¬ 
ing  and  the  fi-ee  pushing  of  the  groAvths.  Damp  the  rods  tAvo  or 
three  times  a  day,  but  not  keeping  constantly  dripping  AAith 
moisture,  as  they  induce  aerial  roots  to  start  from  them,  and 
maintain  a  temperature  of  oOdeg  at  night,  Godeg  by  daj^, 
advancing  to  (i.Gdeg  from  sun  heat,  Avith  moderate  ventilation. 
LATE  HOUSES. — The  Vines  having  been  cleared  of  the 
Grapes  early  in  January,  or  before,  pruned,  and  the*  inside 
border  top-dre.ssed  Avith  fresh  loam,  Avith  a  pint  of  dissolved 
bones  and  a  quart  of  avoocI  ashes  to  every  bushel  of  loam,  and  the 
house  kept  cool  so  as  to  insure  rest,  a  good  or  needful  supply  of 
Avater,  in  the  case  of  Aveakly  and  heaA’ily  cropped  Vines  in  the 
previous  year  affording  liquid  manure,  so  as  to  become  converted 
into  available  food  by  the  time  the  Vines  are  in  leaf,  and  a  start 
made  Avithout  much  further  delay,  as  it  is  essential  to  the 
Grapes  keeping  Avell  that  they  be  thoroughly  ripened  by  the 
middle  of  .  September.  Besides,  by  .starting  early  the  Vines 
have  the  benefit  of  the  summer’s  sun  to  help  them,  and  the  extra 
fire  heat  in  spring  is  far  better  than  any  applied  in  autumn  to 
ripen  the  Grapes  Avhen  backAvard  from  late  .starting.  Depress 
strong  rods  and  young  canes  to  a  horizontal  pcAsition,  or  loAver, 
and  seek  an  even  breaking  of  the  buds  by  syringing  the  Vines 
tAvo  or  three  times  a  day.  Keep  the  temperature  at  55deg  at 
night,  and  GOdeg  to  Godeg  or  more  by  day  from  sun  heat ;  but 
Amntilate  freely  at  and  above  Godeg. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
POSITIONS  FOR  SOWING  PEAS.— The  early  crop  of  Peas 
usually  consist  of  short  haulmed  varieties  of  the  round  seeded 
section.  These  are  be.st  accommodated  on  a  Avarm,  sunny  border, 
in  moderately  rich  and  Avell-drained  ground.  Soav  them  in  roAvs 
2ft  to  3ft  apart.  The  second  early  .should  have  a  more  open,  but 
still  a  sheltered  position,  Avhile  the  main  crop  A'arieties  enjoy  the 
riche.st  ground  and  the  most  open  position  in  the  garden. 
Ground  deeply  dug  and  manured  in  autumn  gives  the  best  re¬ 
sults.  Excellent  crops  may  be  groAvn  on  the  positions  Avhere 
Celery  has  been  groAvn,  for  the  ground  is  sure  to  haA’e  been 
deeply  moved  in  the  process  of  earthing,  also  liberally  manured. 
PREPARATION  OF  SOIL  FOR  PLANTING  AND  SOWING. 
— Although  it  is  not  Avi.s©  to  leave  the  preparation  of  ground  for 
receiving  the  Aurious  crops  until  the  actual  time'  Avhen  planting 
and  soAving  are  neces.sary,  yet  in  some  ca.ses  it. is  unavoidable, 
Avhile  in  others  some  supplementary  cultivation  should  folloAV 
autumn  digging  and  manuring  prior  to  inserting  ijlants  or  soAving 
seeds. 
ONIONS. — The  ground  for  this  crop  cannot  be  too  deeply  dug 
or  freely  manured  in  autumn.  If  not  done  at  that  time  it  may 
be  carried  out  noAv,  using,  hoAvever,  le.ss  manure  than  in  autumn, 
and  more  decomposed  in  character  ;  but  the  digging  or  trenching 
should  be  as  deep.  Autumn  cultivation  renders  the  soil  longer 
exposed  tO'  the  influence  of  the  Aveather.  and  at  the  present  time 
it  may  be  forked  over  and  Avell  broken  doAvn,  sO'  as  to  ameliorate 
it  and  bring  it  to  a  fine  tilth  for  soAving.  Previous  to  this,  Iioaa'- 
ever,  in  the  case  of  Onions  it  must  be  Avell  dried  on  the  surface, 
and  then  trod  firmly  afterAA'ards,  raking  and  smoothing  prepara¬ 
tory  to  draAv  shalloAv  drills  for  soAving. 
POTATOES. — These  like  pulverised.  Avell  dug,  and  SAveetened 
soil.  The  ground  is  best  if  enriched  Avith  manure  some  time  pre¬ 
vious,  and  aftei’Avards  Avell  forked  over,  adding  any  light  material 
or  Avood  ashes.  If  the  ground  is  poor,  and  it  is  necessary  to  add 
manure  prior  to  planting,  let  it  be  of  a  decomposed  character. 
PEAS. — The  ground  for  Peas  should  be  similarly  prepared  as 
for  Potatoes.  The  site  of  the  Celery  trenches  being  liberally 
manured  and  deeply  dug  offers  a  good  position  for  Peas,  especially 
the  main  crop  varieties.  The  Avarm.  Avell-drained  soil  of  a  south 
border  ansAvers  Avell  for  early  dAvarf  Peas.  Trenches  are  .some¬ 
times  opened  and  manure  dug  into  the  bottom,  returning  the  soil 
and  soAving  the  Peas :  but  this  is  not  so  good  a  plan  as  freely 
trenching  a  Avider  space,  so  that  the  roots  may  liaA-e  a  freer  run. 
TAP-ROOTED  VFGETABLKS. — A  clean,  Avell-pulverised  sur¬ 
face  .soil  is  essential  for  the  succes.sful  groAvth  of  all  vegetables 
that  have  tap  roots  descending  deeply.  In  order  to  afford  the 
best  conditions  for  these,  trenching  is  very  important,  and  Avhen 
carrying  it  out  place  manure  in  the  bottom  spit.s  only  so  that  the 
roots  may  go  doAvn  to  it.  This  is  usually  carried  f'  'u  autumn 
and  during  the  Avinter,  but  it  is  not  too  late  to  Aw  k  the  ground 
noAV,  carefully  avoiding  to  mix  any  manure  in  tin  upper  sitrata. 
Tap-rooted  A-egetables  include  Carrots,  Par.snips,  Foot,  Salsafy. 
Scorzonera.  and  Horscradi.sh.  All  these  are  better  for  use  Avhen 
