548 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  18,  19()3. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
MELON'S. — If  sturdy  plants  are  at  once  put  out  in  pits  or 
frames  that  Jiave  been  cleared  of  bedding  plants,  they  will  set 
the  fruit  in  Julj"  and  give  excellent  Melons  during  August  or 
early  in  September.  All  stopping  and  disbudding  must  be  done 
Avhilst  the  growths  are  small,  for  large  reductions  only  tend  to 
promote  gumming  and  grossness  in  the  parts  retained,  and  are 
unfavourable  to  the  setting  of  the  crop.  Second  crops  may  be 
taken  both  in  houses,  pits,  and  frames,  ivlien  the  plants  are 
healthy,  cutting  out  the  old  growths  and  encouraging  young  in 
their  place.  These  will  set  fruit  freely,  and  it  will  swell  to  a 
good  .size  if  the  plants  are  kept  clear  of  red  spider,  and  due  but 
not  if  exces.sive  supplies  of  nourishment  are  afforded.  During 
moist  weather  Melons  do  not  set  freely,  the  plants  growing  too 
vigorously,  -the  defect  being  accelerated  by  a  too  moist  atmo¬ 
sphere  with  crowding  of  the  foliage.  Keep  the  growths  thin, 
admit  a  little  air  constantlv,  for  no  blossom  can  set  when  the 
moisture  condenses  on  and  destroys  the  delicate  organs  of  fructi¬ 
fication.  Fertilise  the  flowers  when  fully  expanded,  stopping  the 
shoots  at  the  same  time  one  joint  beyond  the  fruit.  Admit  air 
freely  if  fine  weather  permit,  increasing  the  chink  of  air  left  on 
at  night  from  70deg,  then  allow  a  rise  to  80deg,  85deg  or  90deg, 
at  which  keep  through  the  day,  and  reduce  the  ventilation  with 
the  declining  sun.  When  the  fruit  is  set  and  the  size  of  a 
bantam’s  egg  commence  watering,  and  maintain  a  genial  atmo¬ 
sphere.  During  ripening  a  free  circulation  of  air  and  less 
moisture  are  desirable,  withholding  it  from  the  atmosphere,  and 
only  giving  sufficient  at  the  roots  to  prevent  flagging. 
VINES:  IN  POTS  FOR  EARLY  FORCING.— Cut-backs 
.started  early  and  shifted  into  the  final  pots  in  good  time  will 
have  the  growths  completed,  the  canes  being  stopped  when  from' 
6ft  to  8ft  long,  and  the  laterals  kept  pinched  to  one  joint  as  made. 
The  Vines  should  be  freely  ventilated,  kept  thoroughly  clean, 
exposed  to  every  ray  of  light,  and  duly  but  not  exces.sively 
supplied  with  water  and  nourishment  at  the  roots.  The  most 
desirable  varieties  for  early  forcing  are  White  Frontignan, 
Foster’s  Seedling,  Black  Hamburgh,  and  Madresfield  Court. 
Canes  from  early  spring  rooted  eyes  should  be  stopped  when  from 
Cft  to  8ft  long,  pinching  the  laterals  and  sub-laterals  at  one  joint 
as  produced.  Those  intended  for  planting  are  best  treated  in  a 
similar  manner,  the  object  being  to  secure  a  fibrous  root  forma¬ 
tion  and  stout,  well-matured  wood. 
VINES  CLExiRED  OF  THEIR  CROPS. — Keep  the  foliage 
healthy  by  occasional  syringing,  afford  sufficient  Avater  or  liquid 
manure  to  keep  the  soil  properly  moist,  a  light  mulching  of  short 
spent  material  preventing  the  surface  cracking,  saving  AA’atering, 
and  enticing  the  roots  to  remain  at  the  top  instead  of  descend¬ 
ing  into  the  border  too  deeply.  Allow  a  moderate  extension  of 
the  laterals,  and  admit  air  freely  above  60deg.  There  is  no  fear 
of  the  Avood  not' ripening,  and  the  difficulty  is  to  prevent  OA’er- 
ripening  or  premature  fall  of  the  foliage. 
HOI  SES  OF  RIPE  GRAPES. — Slight  shade,  such  as  a  single 
pilchard  or  double  thickness  of  herring  net  is  advisable  to  prevent 
Black  Hamburghs  becoming  red,  and  SAveetAA'ater  broAvn  in  colour. 
Moderate  air  moisture  Avill  not  injure  the  Grapes  if  accompanied 
by  judicious  ventilation  constantly.  Keep  the  laterals  fairly 
under,  but  a  little  extension  Avill  assist  in  the  retention  of  the 
principal  leaves,  and  upon  these  depends  the  storing  of  alimen¬ 
tary  matter  for  maturing  the  buds  and  supporting  growth  from 
them  for  the  next  year’s  crojis. 
grapes  ripening. — Small  berries  and  many  shanked  are 
not  uncommon  on  Vines  started  at  the  beginning  of  the  year. 
Nothing  aggravates  shanking  so  much  as  an  excess  of  moisture 
and  lack  of  SAveet  food.  Where  Graces  shank  there  is  usually 
neither  a  deficiency  of  moisture  nor  o'f  food,  but  neither  is  in  a 
proper  condition,  the  soil  being  too  close,  not  containing  enough 
gritty  and  calcareous  matter  as  to  ensure  the  free  access  of  air 
and  water  through  it,  and  passing  aAA’ay  freely;  consequently  the 
focM  is  not  SAA-eet,  and  shanking  is  the  result.  This  greatest  of 
evils  in  Grapes  can  only  be  overcome  by  an  alteration  of  soil 
staple  or  rectification  of  its  liability  to  sourness  by  application  of 
lime,  thus  furnishing  the  ATiies  Avith  nitrate  and  sulphate  of  that 
substance.  Admit  a  little  air  constantly  Avhen  the  Grapes  begin 
to  change  colour,  Avith  sufficient  heat  in  the  pipes  to  maintain  a 
night  temperature  of  65deg,  70deg  to  75deg  by  day,  and  80deg 
to  85deg  or  90deg  through  the  day  from  sun  heat.  Avoid  an 
and  atmosphere,  damping  occasionally,  and  do  not  alloAv  the 
border  to  become  dr>’.  ATnes  ripening  heavy  crops  Avill  be 
assisted  in  perfecting  them  and  storing  food  for  the  future  by  an 
application  cf  tepid  liquid  manure,  applying  it  early  in  the  day 
and  choosing  bright  Aveather,  so  that  superabundant  moisture 
Avill  be  dispersed  before  evening.  A  light  mulching  of  spent 
material  Avill  assist  the  A’^ines  by  securing  uniform  moi.sture  and 
keeping  the  roots  near  the  surface,  Avhicli  prevents  cracking  of 
the  soil,  and  to  some  extent  also  of  the  berries.  It  is,  lioweA^er, 
a  confined  atmosphere,  Avith  defective  root  moisture  and  probably 
also  atmospheric  aridity  during  the  SAvelling.  that  do  mischief  on 
Grapes  cracking  AA'hen  ripening  or  even  ripe.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  too  dry  condition  of  the  soil  Avhen  the  Grapes  are  ripen¬ 
ing  or  ripe  sometimes  results  in  shriA^elling  of  the  berries. 
LATE  GRAPES. — The  final  thinning  AAill  need  to  be  com¬ 
pleted  as  soon  as  possible,  croAvding  the  berries  being  often  Avor.se 
than  oA^er-thinning ;  but  extremes  are  ahvays,  especially  that  of 
over-burdening  the  A'ines.  If  there  be  any  doubt  of  the  crop 
being  more  than  the  A'ines  can  finish  Avell,  by  all  means  give 
the  Vines  the  benefit  by  reducing  the  bunches.  A  pound  of 
Grapes  per  foot  of  rod  is  usually  as  many  as  ordinary  A'ines 
finish  Avell,  but  if  mistake  be  made  let  it  be  on  the  side  of  the 
A'ines,  as  those  over-burdened  never  finish  the  fruit  Avell,  and  it 
is  inferior  in  keeping  qualities.  Then,  so  as  to  secure  large  and 
highly  finished  berries,  Gros  Colinan  requiring  to  liaA^e  them  an 
inch  apart,  Avhilst  OA^al  berried  \mrieties  require  a  little  less  room, 
but  all  plenty,  so  that  each  bervA’  Avill  have  amiffe  room  to  .sAvell 
to  full  size  Avithout  cracking  or  becoming  Avedged  and  ill  shaped. 
— St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
TOMATOES. — Both  indoors  and  outdoors  Tomatoes  require  a 
considerable  amount  of  attention  in  order  to  establish  a  good  crop 
of  fruit  and  set  them  Avell  on  their  AA'ay  tO'  sAvelling  and  ripening. 
One  of  the  most  important  matters  in  connection  Avith  their 
general  cultivation  is  the  regulation  of  groAvth.  Several  main 
.stems  should  be,  of  course,  originated  to  each  plant,  or  each  may 
be  confined  tO'  one  stem  only.  The  latter  is  the  usual  method. 
The  .side  groAvths  on  each  stem  must  be  suppressed  as  they  appear. 
Ample  light  and  air  is  thus  afforded  the  flowers,  Avhich  soon  set 
fruit.  AA'hen  a  moderate  amount  of  fruit  has  set  and  is  SAvelling 
freely,  the  demands  made  upon  the  roots  are  constant  and  exact¬ 
ing  regarding  food  and  moisture.  There  must,  therefore,  be  no 
lack  of  Avater,  especially  Avhen  the  roots  are  confined  to  pot.s  and 
boxes  ;  also  outdoors  against  AA’alls  and  fences,  Avater  must  be 
freely  supplied  AA’heneA'er  dry  conditions  prevail.  Under  gla.ss, 
in  pots,  boxes,  and  shalloAV  borders  some  supplementary  rooting 
material  should  be  afforded  by  giving  a  top-dressing  of  rich 
material  to  encourage  neAv  fibres  to  Avork  into.  Only  a  little  is 
required  at  each  application.  Further,  Avhen  fniit  is  attaining  a 
large  size  and  commencing  to  draw  heavily  upon  the  plants’  re¬ 
sources,  liquid  manure  Avill  be  A^erj^  helpful. 
CUCUMBERS. — The  frame  Cucumbers  should  noAV  be  doing 
Avell,  having  covered  the  soil  Avith  groAvth.  Side  gi’OAA-ths  issuing 
from  the  main  stems  Avill  shoAA'-  fruit,  and  they  may  be  stopped 
at  one  or  tAvo  joints  beyond  the  fruits.  Weakly  shoots,  or  any 
partially  yelloAA’ed,  together  Avith  exhausted  leaAms  may  be  re¬ 
moved.  Maintain  the  roots  thoroughly  moist,  and  maintain  a 
moist  atmosphere  in  the  frame  for  the  general  healthiness  of  the 
plants.  Red  spider  is  likely  to  attack  them  if  this  precaution  is 
not  taken.  Air  may  be  given  early  in  the  day,  increasing  it 
gradually  according  to  the  state  of  tlie  AA'eather.  Lay  the  fruits 
on  a  piece'  of  glass  tO'  SAvell.  This  Avill  keep  them  equally 
coloured.  By  laying  continually  on  the  soil  the  loAver  side 
becomes  blanched. 
CELERY. — Celei'y  should  be  freely  planted  now  in  shalloAV, 
Avell  manured  trenches.  Good  plants  must  have  been  proAuded 
in  the  usual  manner,  so  that  the  lifting  and  planting  causes  no 
check  to  groAArih  AA'hich  Avill  be  of  a  serious  character.  Single 
roAvs  of  plants  placed  8in  apart,  in  trenches  about  15in  Avide,  are 
conA^enient  to  cultivate.  Plant  in  dull  Aveather,  and  Avater  Avhen 
dry. 
PEAS. — Place  sticks  to  the  late.st  roAvs,  and  see  that  those 
coming  forAA'ard  in  growth  have  no  competition  for  light,  air,  and 
moisture  from  Aveeds  or  other  crops.  Where  the  pods  are  SAvell¬ 
ing  place  a  mulching  of  manure  down  each  side  of  roAvs,  and  give 
occasional  Avaterings  to  assist  if  this  is  practicable.  Water  is 
more  easily  applied  if  the  Peas  are  groAving  in  a  shalloAV  trench. 
BEANS. — Any  croAA’ding  among  the  i’oaa's  of  French  Beans  Avill 
re.sutt  in  an  indifferent  crop,  therefore  a  final  thinning  should  be 
made.  The  latest  roAvs  ought  to  haA’e  plenty  of  space  giA'en  before 
the  plants  get  too  large.  Gather  pods  of  Broad  Beans  before  they 
become  too  old. 
LETTUCE. — Tender  Lettuce  is  best  secured  by  repeated  soav- 
ings.  SoAV  a  feAA’  drills  of  seed  often,  and  moisten  the  soil  prior 
to  scattering  in  the  seed. 
BRUSSELS  SPROUTS. — This  important  crop  should  be 
planted  out  finally,  selecting  strong  plants  AA'ith  good  balls  of  soil 
adhering.  The  roAvs  ought  to  be  2.1ft  apart,  the  plants  18in 
asunder. — East  Kent. 
