February  11,  19C4. 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
ISO 
essential  purple  or  gold  colour.  Reduce  the  crop  when  neces- 
•sary  so  a.s  to  have  some  growth  in  the  laterals,  thus  keeping 
the  roots  active,  and  thereby  maintaining  a  good  supply  of 
nutriment  judiciously  applied  as  top-dressings  or  in  liquid  form. 
VINES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.^  The  Vines 
are  in  leaf  and  .showing  for  fruit,  but  let  this  be  clearly  visible 
before  disbudding,  removing  the  weak  and  least  ])romising 
growths  in  the  fir.st  in.stance,  then  give  further  attention  when 
it  is  seen  which  shoots  are  likely  to  afford  the  best  bunches. 
Tie  the  shoots  down  carefully,  not  being  in  a  hurry,  but  the 
points  mu-st  not  be  allowed  to  touch  the  glass.  Avoid  crowding 
by  leaving  those  growths  only  that  can  have  full  exposure  to 
light,  stopping  the  bearing  shoots  when  two  joints  are  made 
beyond  the  stem  for  fruit,  and  the  leaf  at  the  joint  is  the  size 
of  a  halfpenny.  If  the  space  is  small,  stop  one  joint  beyond 
the  bunch,  pinching  fhe  laterals  at  the  fir.st  leaf,  and  so  on 
as  made.  Where  there  is  room  the  bearing  shoots  may  have 
three  or  four  leaves  beyond  the  bunch.  The  better  foliage  a 
shoot  has  the  finer  will  be  the  Grapes.  Laterals  below  the 
bunch  may  be  removed  where  the  space  is  limited,  except  from 
the  two  lowest  leaves,  pinching  them  at  every  joint.  The 
great  point  is  to  secure  well-developed  leaves  fully  exposed  to 
light.  Vines  to  afford  Grai^es  in  July  and  August  must  now 
be  started. 
LATE  HOUSES. — The  Vines  being  cleared  of  Grapes  early 
in  January,  the  border  top-dre.s.sed,  and  everything  then  put 
.straight,  a  start  may  be  made  without  much  further  delay,  as 
it  is  essential  that  the  Vines  have  the  full  benefit  of  the 
summer,  and  perfect  their  crops  not  later  than  the  middle  of 
September.  Keep  strong  rods  in  a  horizontal  position,  and 
insure  an  even  heat  by  sprinkling  them  occasionally.  Let  the 
temperature  be  kept  at  50deg  to  55deg  at  night  and  on  dull 
days  until  the  buds  move,  then  allow  5deg  to  lOdeg  more  by 
dajq  and  an  advance  of  5deg  or  more  from  sun  heat,  but  lose 
no  opportunity  of  ventilating  freely. 
RIPE  GRAPES. — Avoid  fire  heat  as  much  as  pos.sible  in 
the  Grape  room,  admitting  air  to  prevent  an  accumulation  of 
moisture,  reiilenishing  the  latter  with  clear,  soft  water  as 
required.  An  equable  temperature  of  4odeg  is  most  suitable. 
NEW  BORDERS. — The  compost  for  new  or  renovrfting  old 
borders  should  be  prepared;  the  top  3in  of  a  q^xsture  rich, 
friable,  and  neither  light  nor  heavy,  is  most'  suitable.  Red 
soils  are  best,  that  is,  those  of  the  older  new  red  sandstone,  as 
they  contain  iron,  which  influences  the  health  of  the  Y^ine,  and 
the  colour  of  Graijes.  About  twelve  -parts  loam,  two  parts  of 
lime  iud)ble,  a  similar  quantity  of  charred  refuse,  termed  wood 
ashes,  one  part  fresh  horse  droppings,  and  one-tenth  of  a  part 
each  of  crushed  bones  and  .soot,  the  bones  by  weight  and  the 
scot  by  measure,  mi.xed,  give  the  best  results  we  have  seen  in 
Vines  as  regards  weight  of  Grapes,  their  finish  and  value,  for 
both  home  use  and  maiket. 
PROVIDE  A  FOOT  OF  DRAINAGE  rough  at  the  bottom 
and  road  metal  size  at  the  top,  placing  on  a  couple  of  inches 
thickness  of  clean  (free  from  pieces  of  wood)  old  mortar  rubbish, 
and  take  care  to  have  drains  under  for  carrying  off  superflixous 
watei’.  A  width  of  4ft  to  6ft  is  ample  to  start  with,  and 
2ft  Gin  depth  of  soil  suits  the  .strong  .sorts;  including  Muscats. 
The  materials  will  .settle  into  about  2ft  depth,  and  the  roots 
can  be  kejxt  up  by  top-dressings.  The  proper  or  a  good  time 
to  plant  Vines  is  from  the  buds  swelling  to  the  shoots  being 
an  inch  or  two  long,  then  shaking  out  and  laying  the  roots 
out  as  .straight  as  can  be  done  without  injury.  "Vines  raised 
from  eyes  can  be  planted. up  to  June,  turf-raised  being  the  be.st. 
but  those  in  pits  answer,  only  do  not  allow  root-binding. — 
G.  A.,  St.  Albans,  Hei’ts. 
The  Flower  Garden. 
HARDY  BORDER  PLANTS.— During  any  favourable 
opportunity,  lifting,  dividing,  and  replanting  of  any  strong¬ 
growing  and  hardy  border  plants  may  be  carried  on.  It  i.s 
I)est  to  lift  the  plants  entirely  out  of  the  ground  and  pi-epare 
the  position  thoroughly  by  deep  digging.  Some  fresh  material 
such  as  loam,  leaf  .soil,  or  decomposed  manure  should  be  added 
if  required.  Cantei'bury  Bells,  Sweet  Williams,  and  Wallflowers 
may  l)e  transferred  to  fresh  positions  readily,  though  the 
majority  of  the  latter,  especially  for  flower  beds,  .‘should  be 
moved  in  autumn.  Among  the  plants  xvhich  may  be  improved 
by  division  and  replanting  are  Violas,  Phloxes,  Heucheras,  Iris 
germanica,  Helianthus,  Perennial  A.sters,  Chrysanthemum 
ixiaximnm,  double  and  single  Pyrethrums,  and  Hemerocallis. 
In  dividing  the  old  clumps  select  the  mo.st  vigoious  portions  for 
replanting. 
BEDDING  PLANTS  FROM  SEED.  -  Among  the  bedding 
plants  which  may  be  raised  from  seed,  the  following  should  bo 
sown  early  in  a  brisk  temperature  to  ensure  good  plants  for 
])lacing  oxit  in  IMay  or  June  in  permanent  positions  to  flower. 
Lobelia,  fibrous-rooted  Begonias,  Cannas,  Acacia  lophantha, 
Pent.stemons,  Verbenas,  and  Antirrhinums.  The  seed  of  Lobeli.a 
and  Bpp-onias;  is  verv  fine,  so  care  must  be  taken  to  .sow  it  on 
fine  soil,  in  well-drained  pans,  in  a  temperature  of  Godeg. 
Antirrhinum  seed  is  also  small,  but  it  will  germinate  well  iii  a 
greenhouse  temperature  of  GOdeg.  Cover  the.se  fine  .seeds  with 
a  very  light  covering  of  fine  soil  or  sand.  Pentstemons  and 
Verbenas  require  a  temperature  of  Godeg;  Acacia  lophantha 
and  Eucalyptus  citriodora  GOdeg  to  Godeg.  The  seeds  of  Cannas 
are  very  hard,  and  should  be  steeped  for  twenty-four  hotirs 
previously  in  tepid  water,  then  sowing  in  pots  in  a  temperaturvo 
of  SOdeg  to  Sodeg.  A  general  mixture  of  loam,  leaf  soil,  and 
c 
A 
sand  will  answer  well  for  compost.  It  is  too  early  to  .sow  the 
majority  of  half-hardy  annuals,  which  germinate  readily, in  a 
greenhouse  temperature,  next  month  being  early  enough  for 
them. 
PROPAGATING  BEDDING  PLANTS  FROAI  CUTTINGS. 
— In  a  brisk,  moist  temperature  a  large  number  of  useful 
plants  for  bedding  ma.v  be  propagated  by  cuttings  obtained  from 
old  .stock  plants,  lifted  and  potted  in  autumn.  Lobelias  can  be 
easily  xxropagated  in  this  way,  as  well  as  by  seed.  Heliotropes, 
Ageratums,  Alyssum  variegata,  Iresines  and  Mesembryanthe- 
mum  cordifolium  variegata,  now  that  the  stock  plants  are 
starting  to  grow  in  a  little  heat,  may  have  the  soft  tops  re¬ 
moved  and  be  pricked  closely  together  in  boxes  of  sandy  .soil 
placed  over  a  gentle  hotbed.  When  these  are  rooted  the  tops 
may  again  be  taken  and  inserted.  The  stock  of  betiding 
Geraniums  may  also  be  increased  by  cuttings  inserted  now  in 
a  warm  greenhouse. 
PLANTING  BOX-EDGING.— In  places  xvliere  Box  is  grown 
to  form  the  edging  for  garden  jxaths,  the  xxresent  is  a  suitable 
time  to  plant  a  fresh  edging,  or  to  renew  vacant  places.  Form 
a  shallow  trench  Gin  deep,  and  of  a  sufficient  width  at  base^to 
admit  the  roots  easily.  Portions  of  plants  with  roots  attached 
should  be  u.sed,  planting  them  clo.sely  together,  the  tips  2in 
to  3in  above  the  soil.  S^iread  the  roots  out  and  covei  \\ith 
fine  soil,  and  press  firmly.  For  repairing,  use  larger  divisions 
accordino-  to  the  size  of  the  adjoining  plants,  and  insert  to 
correspond  with  them  in  height.  If  the  edging  has  to  be  bought 
in  from  the  nursery  it  may  be  useful  to  know  that  three  yards 
of  edging  may  be  formed  from  a  yard  of  xilants.  E.  D. 
Gravesend.  _ ^  _ _ 
Areas  of  Glass  Structures. 
With  the  same  width  and  the  same  pitch,  span  and  lean-to 
•oofs  contain  the.  same  .superficial  areas,  but  not  the  samo 
niliical  contents.  There  is  the  same  superficial  area  of  root  in 
V  c  as  in  Ann,  and  the  same  ground  space  is  covered,  but 
die  contents  in  the  upper  or  roof  portion  of  the  span  are  only 
lalf  that  of  the  lean-to.  One  finds  that  though  the  matter  may 
;eem  trifling,  an  error  is  often  made  in  thinking  that  an  8it 
;ash  span-roof  has  the  same  contents  as  a  IGit  sadi  lean-to, 
30tll  COVGrilTg  tllG  SiTHlG  Avicltll  Ut  tllG  I)<XSG. 
Sutton's  Faumeks’  Year-Book  for  1904.— After  tho 
clisaHrous  rainfall  of  1903  it  will  interest  agriculturists  to  have 
Messrs  Sutton’s  assurance  that  they  are  in  a  position  to  .send 
out^  clovers,  grasses,  and  pedigree  root  seeds  quite  up  to  their 
usual  standard  of  (luality  and  high  germinatioii  Clovers  are 
again  extremely  deficient  in  quantity,  and  it  is  clear  that  puio 
=nmples  from  a  reliable  source  will  be  morc-  than  usuaHy  inipor- 
tant  this  year.  On  glancing  through  the  pages  of  the  Year-Book 
the  .striking  reports  of  extraordinary  crops  of  pedigree  roots 
cannot  fail" to.  attract  attention.  Many  of  these  crops  were 
entered  for  the  great  prizes  of  the  year,  and  the  weights  rvero 
therefore  ascertained  in  the  presence  of  competent  judges.  4  or 
the  first  time  in  this  work  there  are  illustrations  from  Photo¬ 
graphs  reproduced  in  natural  colours.  One  represents  a  hayheld, 
and  another  shows  a  huge  stack  of  the  famous  Prizewinner 
Mangold,  and  the  photographic  appearance  of  the  I'oots  can  bo 
clearly  distinguished.  The  third  {ihotograph  shows  a  field  of  the 
veil-known  Magnum  Bonum  Swede,  with  pulled  roots  in  tho 
