32G 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  9,  1903. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES:  ExVRLY  FORCED. — Early  Grapes  are  readily  had 
where  there  are  proper  .structures  for  fruiting  the  canes,  and 
these  are  stout  and  well  matured  in  wood  and  buds.  Though 
good  results  attend  forcing  Vines  in  pots,  better  crops  are  had 
by  planting  the  young  canes,  preferably  “  cut-backs,”  out  in  beds, 
with  hot  water  pipes  in  a  chamber,  as  in  growing  Cucumbers  or 
Melons.  If  the  beds  are  3ft  or  4ft  wide  they  answer  admirably 
when  drained,  and  about  loin  depth  of  soil  is  provided,  they 
being  planted  about  2ft  Gin  distance  apart.  Train  the  canes  near 
the  gla.ss,  just  keeping  their  principal  leaves  clear  of  it,  then  the 
wood  will  be  short  jointed  and  thoroughly  .solidified.  Pinch  the 
laterals  at  the  first  joint,  and  to  one  of  sub.sequent  growth.  The 
principal  leaves  must  on  no  account  be  prejudiced  by  laterals. 
Stop  the  canes  at  Gft  to  8ft  of  growth,  and  if  disposed  to  push 
laterals  strongly  at  the  joints  immediately  below  the  stopping, 
pinch  them  closely,  allowing  th?  laterals  lower  down  to  extend  a 
little,  so  as  to  appropriate  the  surplus  sap,  and  cause  that  part 
of  the  cane  to  thicken  equally  with  the  upper  portion. 
GRAPES  RIPENING. — The  berries  swell  considerably  after 
colouring  conmiences,  and  to  secure  the  full  swelling  of  the  fruit 
a  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere  must  be  maintained.  Afford 
a  thorough  supply  of  water  or  liquid  manure  to  the  roots,  as 
early  Grapes  severely  tax  the  energies  of  the  Vines,  and  though 
aiming  high,  iDerfection  of  colour  is  not  always  attained.  A 
liberal  and  con.stant  supply  of  warm  air  greatly  favours  the 
ripening  proce.ss.  especially  if  combined  with  a  comparatively  low 
night  temperature,  say  GOdeg  to  Godeg,  70deg  to  75deg  by  day 
from  fire  heat,  and  80deg  to  8odeg  or  OOdeg  from  solar  influences. 
Red  si>ider  is  almost  inseparable  from  forced  Vines.  Sponging 
the  leaves  of  the  Vines  with  a  solution  of  softsoap,  not  more 
than  2oz  to  a  gallon  of  water,  or  loz  sulphide  of  potassium  to 
three  gallons  of  water,  is  a  safe  but  tedious  method  of  freeing 
the  Vine  foliage  from  red  spider.  In  supplying  liquid  manure  at 
the  commencement  of  colouring,  afford  it  early  in  the  day,  so 
that  superfluous  moisture  may  pass  off  before  closing  time.  When 
the  Grapes  are  fully  ripe  only  afford  sufficient  heat  to  prevent 
the  temperature  falling  below  GOdeg,  maintaining  a  moderate 
amount  of  moisture  for  the  benefit  of  the  foliage.  If  the  weather 
prove  bright,  a  light  shading,  as  a  double  thickness  of  herring  or 
.single  pilchard  netting  over  the  roof  lights  will  assist  Black 
Hamburghs  in  retaining  colour. 
SUCCESSION  HOUSES. — Early  and  close  attention  should 
be  given  to  thinning  the  bunches  and  berries,  as  each  surplus 
bunch  or  berry  takes  from  the  ultimate  size  and  finish  of  those 
left  for  the  crop.  Likewise,  in  disbudding  and  stopping,  every 
needless  growth  is  only  .so  much  wasted  energy.  A  margin  mu.st 
be  left  for  extension  at  stopping,  so  as  to  prevent  ultimate  crowd¬ 
ing,  and  this  will  insure  steady  supplies  of  nourishment,  which 
means  root  action  proportionate  to  the  foliage  to  digest  it. 
Afford  proper  supplies  of  water,  and  feed  with  liquid  manure  or 
top-dressings  of  fertili.ser  worked  into  the  soil. 
YOUNG  VINES. — Those  allowed  to  break  naturally,  and 
as.sisted  with  a  little  fire  heat  when  the  buds-  have  grown  about 
half  an  inch,  make  rapid  progress,  but  they  need  not  have  a 
higher  temperature  than  SOdeg  to  Sodeg  at  night  and  GOdeg  to 
C.jdeg  by  day  after  the  leaves  appear,  relying  mainly  on  sun  heat, 
with  gentle  warmth  in  the  pipes  on  cold  days.  Remove  all  buds 
except  one  at  each  break,  retaining  the  strongest,  and  leave  the 
shoots  about  18in  apart  on  both  sides  of  the  cane.  Crop  per¬ 
manent  Vines  lightly  in  the  first  year  of  bearing,  but  super¬ 
numeraries  may  carry  full  crops. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
PLANTING  POTATOES. — Complete  the  planting  of  the 
main  crop  of  Potatoes,  also  early  varieties  which  hav-e  been 
sprouted  may  be  placed  in  the  ground  when  the  soil  is  friable  arrd 
clrj’.  Deeply  worked  and  well  pulverised  ground  is  a  great  gain 
to  the  .success  of  the  crops.  Tubers  which  have  not  purposely 
been  set  to  .sprout  before  planting  may  yet  have  the  buds  .start¬ 
ing.  Discard,  however,  any  tubers  which  are  producing 
■elongated  sprouts.  All  tubers  should  hav-e  been  laid  out  thinly 
to  prev-ent  this.  Crowded,  small,  and  weak  sprouts  may  be 
rubbed  out.  Give  ample  room  between  the  rows  according  to  the 
variety. 
CELERY. — Seedling  Celery  plants  having  become  sturdy  by 
standing  in  a  light  and  airy  position,  ought  now  to  be  trans¬ 
planted  thinly  on  a  bed  of  good  soil  in  a  frame'.  Place  a  layer 
of  manure  down  first,  making  firm,  and  on  this  a  few  inches  of 
good  soil.  A  spent  hotbed  is  a  suitable  position.  For  a  few  days 
after  pricking  out  keep  the  plants  close  and  shaded,  but  as  soon 
as  progre'ss  in  growth  is  v-isible,  afford  air  daily. 
TURNIPS. — A  liberal  sowing  of  Turnips  may  be  made  in 
shallow  drills  a  foot  apart  on  rich  gi'ound.  A  slight  dusting  of 
superphosphate  in  the  drills  will  materially  assist  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  seedlings.  Early  Snowball  is  an  excellent  variety 
to  grow. 
PLANTING  CAULIFLOWERS. —The  riohe.st  and  best  pre¬ 
pared  ground  po.ssible  may  be  selected  for  this  crop,  the  plants 
having  been  raised  early  fi'om  seed.  Pricked  out  in  boxes  or  a 
frame  to  strengthen,  they  are  now  ready  to  plant  finally.  Lift 
with  moist  balls  of  roots  and  soil,  and  afford  water  and  liquid 
manure  in  dry  weather.  A  distance  of  loin  to  18in  may  be  giv-en 
in  the  rows,  which  should  be  2ft  asunder. 
WINTER  GREENS. — The  majority  of  these  may  be  sown 
now,  including  Broccoli,  Sav-oys,  Kale,  autumn  Cabbage,  and 
Cauliflowers.  Sow  one  or  two  didlls  of  each,  or  distribute  thinly 
broadcast.  The  seed  beds  must  be  protected  from  birds,  using 
small  mesh  wire  or  tanned  fish  netting.  When  the  .seedlings  are 
well  up,  protection  may  be  dispensed  with. 
TOMATOES. — Plants  should  be  grown  on  strongly  in  4jin 
pots,  from  which  they  may  be  transferred  readily  to  their  fruit¬ 
ing  positions.  Young  seedlings  at  their  first  potting  should  be 
sunk  low,  burying  their  stems  to  the  seed  leaves.  For  outdoor 
culture  grow  in  the  later  stages  in  cold  frames,  exposing  freely 
on  favourable  occasions.  In  a  warm  house  plant  out  a  batch  of 
plants  near  the  glass  in  a  narrow  border  on  a  bench  or  stage. 
Pots  lOin  or  llin  in  diameter  may  be  employed  if  more  con¬ 
venient.  They  should  be  only  half  filled  with  soil,  to  allow  of 
top-dressing  later  on.  Early  Tomatoes  now  in  flower  must 
receive  daily  attention  in  watering,  fertilising  the  blooms,  dis¬ 
budding  growths,  training,  top-dressing.  A  buoyant  atmosphere 
must  be  maintained  with  gentle  heat,  affording  also  judicious 
v-entilation. — East  Kent. 
- - 
Anemone  (Hepatica)  angulosa  and  its  Varieties. 
The  fine  Tran.sylvanian  Anemone  angulosa,  more  fi-equently 
known  as  Hepatica  angulo.sa,  is  a  general  favourite  with  admirers 
of  spring  flowers,  though  in  some  places  it  is  not  such  a  free 
bloomer  as  could  be  desired.  It  is  not  generally  known  that 
there  are  two  v-arieties  of  the  blue,  or  typical  colour  form.  One 
of  these  blooms  much  better  than  the  other,  which  is  very  shy 
of  flowering,  and  is,  in  fact,  almo.st  useless.  The  poor  one  has 
a  different  habit,  as  it  sends  out  running  growths,  while  the  other 
increases  far  more  slowly,  and  in  the  ordinaiy  fashion  of  the 
Hepatica.s.  Both  have  large  light  blue  flowers.  There  are  two 
or  three  selected  forms  or  seedlings  with  darker  flowers,  and  one 
with  larger  blooms,  called  major.  Recently  we  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  receiving  a  rose  and  a  white  variety,  probably  col¬ 
lected  in  the  native  habitats  of  A.  angulosa.  The  latest  variety 
is  A.  a.  lilacina  grandis,  which  is,  I  am  told,  a  fine  variety. 
These  are  both  good  and  fairly  free  bloomers,  and  have  the  habit 
of  growth  of  the  free  flowering  blue  one.  By  the  way,  it  is 
rather  curious  that  one  finds  that  a  variety  of  the  favourite 
Tiarella  cordifolia,  with  a  htibit  of  sending  out  runners,  has  the 
same  defect  as  the  Hepatica,  which  multiplies  in  the  same 
manner. — S.  Arnott. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date, 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
o 
1903. 
Jl 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
.5 
‘3 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
u  - 
Q  00 
"S  -Z*  ® 
S  oS 
?  2 
s  ©cs 
rt 
March, 
and  April. 
U 
Q 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
49 
CO 
.d 
5 
49 
09 
o 
& 
o 
Jag 
<0  ® 
bi 
Sunday  ...29 
W.S.W. 
deg. 
4S'9 
• 
deg. 
44-1 
deg. 
55-3 
deg. 
402 
Ins. 
017 
deg. 
47-6 
deg. 
47  9 
deg. 
47'0 
deg. 
32-5 
Monday  ...30 
W.S.W. 
49-2 
44  2 
52-1 
44-2 
0-06 
47-9 
47-8 
471 
39-0 
Tuesday  ...31 
N.W. 
49-9 
45-3 
53-1 
42  0 
_ 
47-2 
47*7 
47  2 
35-2 
Wed’sday  1 
W.S.W. 
44-9 
42-4 
51-6 
37-0 
0-15 
46-8 
47-5 
47-2 
34-3 
Thursday  2 
N.W. 
43-4 
39-9 
50-1 
42-5 
— 
47  2 
47-3 
47-2 
39-2 
Friday  ...  3 
N.W. 
42-8 
39-5 
53-4 
32-2 
0  08 
45-8 
47-2 
47-3 
19  6 
Saturday  4 
W.S.W. 
49-8 
47-9 
56'4 
43'0 
0-09 
47-3 
470 
47-2 
44-0 
Means  ... 
• 
47-0 
43-5 
53T 
40-2 
Total. 
0'55 
47  1 
47-3 
472 
33  4 
The  weather  during  the  past  week  has  been  mostly  dull,  with  cold 
strong  winds  and  rain  on  five  days. 
