24 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  10,  IS 02. 
perpetuating  it  for  future  use,  some  selected  plants  were 
left  for  seed.  Precaution  was  taken  that  no  other  of  uie 
Cabbage  kind  was  in  flower  at  the  same  time  in  the  garden, 
which  was  made  easy,  because  the  Broccoli  selected  was  of 
the  latest  kind,  and  no  necessity  existed  for  having  others 
about.  This  protection,  however,  did  not  prove  sufficient, 
for  plants  raised  from  these  chosen  seeds  developed  every 
good  hope  until  near  their  time  of  maturity,  when  it  was 
discovered  they  were  an  entirely  new  order  of  vegetation, 
but  without  a  value.  In  other  words,  they  furnished  neither 
a  Broccoli  nor  a  Cabbage,  though  they  resembled  the  latter 
the  most  up  to  a  period  when  they  should  at  least  have  been 
useful.  The  growth  of  a  planting  of  these  for  late  use  must, 
even  in  a  large  garden,  inflict  loss,  disappointment,  and  pro¬ 
bably  a  break  in  the  succession  at  a  most  important  period 
of  the  year.  The  loss  was  the  greater  because  the  whole 
was  of  the  same  useless  character,  arid  the  resolution  of  the 
time  found  expression  in  the  abandonment  of  home  saved 
seed  stocks. 
Time,  however,  works  many  changes,  both  of  will  and 
purpose,  and  the  retrospect  bring  inco  light  the  follv  of  self- 
confidence  in  the  “  natural  order.”  Probably,  had  these 
isolated  plants  been  perfectly  guarded  by  a  tiffany  case,  the 
ideals  so  well  cherished  would  have  found  fresh  channels 
and  good  resolutions  have  remained  sound. 
The  record  of  such  failures  may  at  the  present  time,  when 
some  among  your  many  readers  are  bent  on  similar  gains,  be 
a  useful  reminder  of  the  improbable,  and  those  who  may 
already  have  plants  in  an  advanced  stage  of  seed  growth  will 
see  the  unwisdom  of  placing  any  confidence  in  the  venture, 
if  neglect  of  this  item  of  routine  has  been  allowed,  that  is, 
in  districts  in  which  bees,  domestic  or  wild,  abound. 
One’s  own  garden  may  be  free  from  foreign  stocks,  but 
others  may  not  be,  and  the  distance  covered  by  bees  cannot 
be  easily  estimated  from  which  they  may  carry  infection. 
To  the  fruit  grower  in  spring  time  bees  are  welcome  aids  to 
the  successful  fructification  of  the  varied  kinds  in  flower 
time,  and  to  the  vegetable  gardener  no  inconvenience  arises 
except  in  an  instance  where  a  pure  stock  is  sought  and 
required. — W.  S. 
The  Value  of  Apples. 
His  Majesty  the  King  has  been  advised'  by  his  medical  men 
to  partake  of  English  Apples.  No  Apples  taste  so  well  to  Eng¬ 
lishmen  as  those  grown  within  the  United  Kingdom,  and  the 
fact  that  the  highest  medical  doctors  have  ordered  them  at  this 
time  of  the  year  from  a  Herefordshire  grower  would  emphati¬ 
cally  suggest  that  home-grown  Apples  contain  something  which 
the  best  of  foreign  ones  lack.  The  variety  sent  to  Buckingham 
Palace  for  the  use  of  the  Royal  patient  was  reported  to  be 
Dumelow’s  Seedling,  better  known  as  the  Wellington  Apple. 
In  Albert  Broadbent’s  little  book,  entitled  “Fruits,  Nuts, 
and  Vegetables”  (6d.  net,  Manchester),  we  find  it  stated  that 
“  the  composition  of  the  Apple  consists  of  much  water,  vegetable 
fibre,  albumen,  sugar,  gum,  chlorophyll,  malic  acid,  and  lime. 
Eaten  uncooked  and  well  masticated,  it  is  easily  digested. 
German  food-chemists  state  that  the  Apple  contains  a  larger 
quantity  of  phosphates  than  any  other  vegetable  or  fruit.  The 
Scandinavians  called  it  the  ‘Food  of  the  Gods,’  and  believed  it 
possessed  virtue  to  renew  both  mind  and  body.  With  rare 
exceptions,  Apples  are  good  for  those  disposed  to  gout  and  slug¬ 
gish  liver,  and  those  who  follow  a  sedentary  life.  Two  or  three 
eaten  at  night. — uncooked  or  baked— correct  constipation.  I 
know’  several  cases  that  I  had  under  my  personal  observation  in 
which  baked  or  roasted  Apples,  eaten  with  brown  bread  toasted 
and  buttered  cold,  wrere  enjoyed  and  digested  when  all  other 
food  gave  great  pain,  and  thus  prepared  the  way  for  ultimate 
recovery.  It  should  not,  however,  be  assumed  that  baked 
Apples  will  cure  every  dyspepsia.  Rotten  Apples  used  as  a 
poultice  is  an  old  Lincolnshire  remedy  for  sore  eyes.  The  juice 
of  Apples  without  sugar  will  often  reduce  acidity  of  the  stomach, 
becoming  changed  into  alkaline  carbonates,  and  thus  correcting 
sour  fermentation.  It  is  stated  on  medical  authority  that  in 
countries  where  unsweetened  cider  is  used  as  a  common  bever¬ 
age,  stone  or  calculus  is  unknown  ;  and  a  series  of  inquiries  made 
of  doctors  in  Normandy,  where  cider  is  the  principal  drink, 
brought  to  light  the  fact  that  not  a  single  case  of  stone  had  been 
met  with  during  forty  years.  The  Normans  introduced  cider 
Apples  into  Hereford,  and  any  chance  case  of  stone  if  found  in 
a  Devonshire  or  Herefordshire  hospital  is  regarded  by  the  doctors 
as  a  sort  of  professional  curiosity  imported  from  a  distance.  It 
may,  therefore,  be  fairly  surmised  that  the  habitual  use  of 
natural  unsweetened  cider  keeps  in  solution  matter  which  is 
otherwise  liable  to  be  separated  in  a  solid  form  by  the  kidneys. 
How  much  better  the  fresh  ripe  fruit  may  be.” 
Seasonable  Hints  on  Yines. 
During  a  season  like  the  present,  when  a  long  period  of  cold, 
wet,  sunless  weather  is  suddenly  followed  by  bright;  hot  days, 
the  Grape  grower  has  to  be  on  the  alert  to  prevent  the  scalding 
cf  both  leaves  and  berries,  and  by  good  management  generally 
to  get  full  benefit  from  the  present  favourable  climatic  condi¬ 
tions.  At  one  time  it  was  usual  for  writers  to  denounce  in  the 
strongest  possible  terms  the  practice  of  shading  vineries  under 
any  condition,  and  although  shading  is  not  generally  to  be  com¬ 
mended,  there  are  circumstances  under  which  I  have  proved 
over  and  over  again  the  wisdom  of  doing  so.  Those  who  have 
houses  with  metal  roofs  know  too  well  how  greatly  Vines  grown 
in  them  show  signs  of  distress  when  the  sudden  changes 
already  referred  to  occur,  and  if  a  light  shade  is  then  applied 
to  the  roof  the  Vines  at  once  feel  relief,  and  are  thus  able  to 
perform  their  functions  the  better. 
In  modern  houses  constructed  by  wood  and  glass  the  panes 
are  generally  very  large,  and  should  the  Vines  happen  to  be 
trained  within  loin  or  18in  of  the  glass  they  suffer  considerably 
during  bright  bursts  of  sunshine,  and  are  benefited  by  a  slight 
shade.  Finely  powdered  lime,  or  whitening  mixed  with  milk, 
forms  a  suitable  shading  compound,  which  is  generally  ready  at 
hand  and  can  be  quickly  applied  with  a  syringe.  The  important 
point  is  to  give  a  very  light  coating  at  the  first  application,  as 
it  is  easy  to-  add  more  if  bright  weather  continues,  but  not  easy 
to  remove  the  surplus  if  too  much  is  given. 
Again,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  retain  for  long,  without 
shading,  the  colour  cf  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes,  which  are  ripe 
at  this  season,  and  in  such  instance®  a  much  heavier  shade  may 
with  advantage  be  given.  This,  of  course,  is  to  be  removed  as 
soon  as  the  Grapes  have  been  cut. 
Many  cultivators  of  Gros  Colman  seem  quite  unable  to  keep 
the  leaves  fresh  and  healthy-looking  till  the  Grapes  are  ripe, 
and  I  quite  expect  to  hear  many  complaints  about  the  leaves 
turning  brown  and  “  cupping  ”  after  the  sudden  atmospheric 
changes  recently  experienced.  I  think  I  can  give  a  few  hints 
about  this  matter  which  may  be  of  service  to  many.  The  leaves 
in  the  early  stage®  being  extremely  tender  cannot  endure  rapid 
evaporation  without  injury,  and  anything  which  tends  to  lessen 
evaporation  helps  to  preserve  their  freshness.  When  hot 
weather  sets  in  it  is  usual  to  greatly  increase  the  amount  of  air 
given  at  the  bottom  or  side  of  a  vinery,  and  when  this  is  done  in 
houses  where  Gros  Colman  is  grown  the  leaves  begin  to  assume 
that  undesirable  brownish  tint  and  their  edges  turn  upwards. 
Very  little,  if  any,  bottom  air  should  be  given  to  this  variety 
until  the  Grapes  begin  to  colour.  Instead,  a  slight  shade  should 
be  applied  to  the  roof  when  hot  weather  sets  in,  and  top  ventila¬ 
tion  given  very  early  and  increased  gradually;  then,  with  due 
attention  to  watering,  feeding,  and  damping,  this  fine  Grape 
should  be  grown  to  perfection.  I  have  never  known  the  berries 
to  become  really  black  when  the  foliage  has  been  badly  dis¬ 
coloured. 
With  all  varieties  it  will  be  necessary  to  keep  a  sharp  look 
cut  for  red  spider,  and  the  eye  which  detects  the  beginning  of 
an  attack  while  it  is  confined  to.  a  few  leaves  may  often  be  the 
means  cf  preventing  much  subsequent  trouble  if  such  leaves  are 
thoroughly  sponged  with  an  insecticide  at  once.  Sometimes 
this  troublesome  pest  seems  to  attack  one  or  two  Vines  in  a 
house  suddenly,  and  I  have  then  often  been  able  to  get  rid  of  it 
entirely  by  syringing  the  foliage  heavily  a  few  times. 
At  one  time  I  was  afraid  to  either  practise  or  recommend 
syringing  Vines  for  fear  of  disfiguring  the  Grapes,  but  some 
years  ago  I  became  convinced  that  if  clean  soft  water  were 
used  the  operation  could  be  performed  without  the  slightest 
injury  to  the  bloom  or  the  berries,  and  I  have  syringed  after 
the  Grapes  have  begun  to  colour.  In  order  to  be  effectual  the 
water  must  be  forced  sharply  on  to  the  under  side  of  the 
foliage;  then,  as  it  falls,  it  will  not  disfigure  the  Grapes.  It  is 
only  when  the  operator  fails  to  aim  straight,  and  catches  the 
bunch,  with  the  water  direct  from  the  syringe',  that  damage  is 
done. 
In  the  case  of  a  bad  attack  which  is  general  tlirpughout  the 
house  a  strong  fumigating  with  XL  All  on  two  successive 
nights  will  usually  kill  every  red  spider  present.  I  have  found 
this  method  perfectly  effectual  with  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes, 
but  it  is  seldom  safe  to  fumigate  Muscats,  Lady  Downe’s,  or  any 
of  the  thick-leaved  kinds  sufficiently  strongly  to  kill  the  insect 
without  injuring  the  foliage.  In  one  instance,  however,  I 
fumigated  a  house  in  which  there  were  two  Muscat  Vines.  Yet, 
strange  to  say,  they  w’ere  quite  uninjured,  although  the  insects 
were  effectually  killed. 
In  conjunction  with  the  above  practice  for  getting  rid  of 
insects,  steps  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  roots  active  by  due 
attention  to  watering  and  feeding,  as,  v'ithout  active  roots, 
insects  wall  become  troublesome  again  and  again,  and  it  is  for 
this  reason  that  I  have  frequently  recommended,  and  now 
reiterate,  “  always  allow’  a  little  lateral  growth  to  be  constantly 
going  on,”  in  preference  to  removing  every  young  shoot  on  a 
Vine  when  stopping  is  being  done. — H.  D. 
