'  January  14,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  €OTT AGE  GARDENER. 
41 
^  HOUSES  TO  RIPEN  GRAPES  IN  JUNE. -Start  the 
Vines  at  once.  Supply  the  outside  border  thoroughly  with 
Abater  a  few  degrees  warmer  tlian  the  housg.  Liquid  nianui-e 
at  this  stage  M’ill  come  into  use  later  on,  as  it  must  undergo 
certain  changes  before  it  can  he  of  any  u-se  to  the  Vines.  To 
economise  fuel  fermenting  materials  may  be  used  inside  the 
house,  throwing  it  into  a  heap  on  the  floor  and  turning 
frequently  to  liberate  the  ammonia  and  maintain  a  genial 
warmth  and  moisture  constantly,  adding  fresh  material  as 
necessaiy.  Where  fermenting  materials  are  not  at  command 
the  floor  and  border  may  be  sprinkled  with  diluted  liquid 
manure  daily,  using  a  three  gallon  Avatering-canful  to  about 
301  square  yards.  The  temperature  shou'ld  be  50deg  to  55deg 
by  artificial  means,  and  65deg  from  sun  heat.  If  the  roots  ate 
outside  they  aauII  need  protecting  with  a  good  thickness  of  dry 
leaves,  litter,  or  fern.  This  rvill  secure  to  them  a  much  higher 
temperature  than  if  there  were  no  such  portion,  and  it  is  often 
better  than  fermenting  materials  that  are  not  attended  to 
properly  in  maintaining  the  heat.  Where  the  border  has  been 
exposed  to  cold  rains  ai?  d  snow  the  temperature  will  be  little, 
if  any,  warmer  than  the  surrounding  soil,  and  a  good  bed  of 
fermenting  material  can  be  used  with  advantage,  placing  it 
on  the  border  about  18in  thick.  This  will,  to  some  extent, 
warm  the  soil  and  encourage  the  growth  of  the  roots,  but  it 
must  be  removed  by  the  time  the  sun  gains  power  to  warm  the 
soil,  leaving  only  enough  for  a  mulch. 
HOUSES  FROM  WHICH  THE  GRAPES  HAVE  BEEN 
CUT. — Prune  the  Vines  without  delay;  it  not  only  avoids 
danger  of  bleeding,  but  ensures  complete  rest.  Cut  to  a  plump 
bud  as  near  the  base  as  possible.  Some  Vines,  however,  do 
not  prove  satisfactory  when  closely  irruned.  The  operator  must 
act  accordingly,  and  choose  the  second  to  third  or  fourth  bud, 
or  the  best  eye  in  firm,  well  ripened  wood  wherever  situated. 
This  will  cause  the  spurs  to  become  long,  but  that  can  be 
remedied  by  training  a  shoot  from  the  base  to  displace  it  after 
bearing,  and  the  Vine  will  be  all  the  better  for  the  extra 
foliage,  showing  it  on  the  finish  of  the  crop.  Remove  all  loose 
bark,  avoid  peeling  and  scraping,  rvashing  the  rods  with  a 
solution  of  paraffin  emulsion,  4oz  to  a  gallon  of  water,  and 
after  thoroughly  cleansing  the  house  dress  Avith  an  insecticide. 
Clear  away  all  loose  soil,  supply  fresh  lumpy  loam  in  its  place, 
and  sprinkle  about  half  a  pound  of  some  approved  fertiliser 
per  square  yard  Avhere  the  Vines  are  in  need  of  substantial 
support,  the  material  being  pointed  in.  Keep  the  house  as 
cool  as  possible  to  secure  complete  rest. 
LATE  GRAPES. — It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  Grapes 
hanging  late  be  kept  cool  and  uniform  in  temperature.  Main¬ 
tain  a  mean  temperature  of  50deg  for  Muscats,  45deg  for  other 
varieties  that  have  finished  late,  Avith  a  dry  atmosphere  Avhere 
such  are  hanging.  Examine  every  hunch  at  least  tAvice  a  Aveek, 
and  remove  any  decayed  berries.  Ventilate  the  house  on  fine 
dry  mornings,  and  keep  closed  Avhen  the  w^eather  is  damp ;  but 
a  gentle  Avarmth  in  the  pipes  is  necessary  to  prevent  the 
deposition  of  moisture  on  the  berries.  It  is  hardly  possible  to 
keep  Grapes  in  good  condition  beneath  leaky  roofs,  or  even  in 
the  best  structures  can  the  Grapes  have  the  coolness  and 
uniform  temperature  essential  to  their  sound  keeping  on  Vines 
after  the  sun  gains  poAver ;  besides,  their  hanging  is  not  good 
for  the  Vines,  Avhich  to  do  well  require  to  be  started  in  good 
time  to  ensure  a  satisfactory  finish  of  their  crops.  The  Grapes 
may  noAV  be  removed  to  a  dry  room,  Avhere  they  Avill  keep  as 
AA'ell  as  on  the  Vines.  The  Vines  must  then  be  pruned, 
thoroughly  cleansing  the  house.  Dress  the  Vines,  and  Avash 
every  part  Avith  some  approved  insecticide,  applying  AA’ith  a 
brush.  Air  should  be  admitted  freely  in  favourable  Aveather, 
seeking  to  give  the  Vines  as  long  and  complete  rest  as  possible. 
Where  the  borders  are  not  .satisfactory  lift  the  Vines,  and  relay 
the  roots  in  fresh  compost,  and  Avhere  the  Vines  have  inside 
and  outside  borders  the  renovation  may  be  accomplished  Avith- 
ouL  loss  of  crop  by  reneAving  the  former  one  year  and  the  latter 
the  next. 
.  STRAWBERRIES  IN  POTS.— Proceed  steadily  with 
plants  that  are  not  required  to  give  fruit  at  a  particidarly  early 
stated  time,  especially  in  severe  AA'eather ;  50deg  to  oSdeg  is 
ample  at  night  for  tliose  started  in  December,  and  GOdeg  to 
Godeg  by  day,  erring,  if  at  all,  on  the  safe  side — the  Ioav — there¬ 
fore  odeg  less  in  cold  Aveather.  and  the  absence  of  sun  is 
advisable.  Ventilate  Avhenever  there  is  a  chance.  The  trusses 
rise  boldest  and  are  strongest  Avhen  the  plants  have  the  foliage 
Avell  elaborated.  Close  atmosphere  induces  soft  tissues,  Aveakly 
^organs  of  fructification,  imperfect  sets,  and  defoiuned,  ill-, shaped 
fruit. 
INTRODUCE  MORE  PLANTS  TO  SHELVES  in  Peach 
houses  or  vineries  started  about  this  tijue.  Rectify  the 
drainage  of  the  pots,  remove  moss  or  other  matter  from  the 
surface  of  the  soil,  and  Avash  the  jAots  clean.  Sui  face  dress  AA’ith 
an  approved  fertiliser  mixed  Avith  a  little  fine  soil.  If  the 
plants  do  not  pmsh  freely  use  a  little  sujAerphosjfliate,  three 
])arts,  and  crushed  saltjjetre,  one  part,  a  thimbleful  to  a  lAlant. 
Iloyal  Sovereign,  President,  and  Sir  .lo.seph  Paxton  are  excel¬ 
lent  varieties  for  introducing  noAV,  but  to  maintain  the  succes¬ 
sion  of  fruit  unbro'ken  plants  of  La  Grosse  Sucree-  and  Vicoin- 
tesse  Hericart  de  Thury  must  be  introduced  at  the  same  time. 
G.  A.,  St.  Albans,  Herts. 
The  Flower  Garden. 
LAWNS. -During  suitable  AA’eather  hiAA’iis  may  be  frequently 
rolled,  first  SAveeping  them  over  to  destroy  Avormcasts  and 
remove  any  .stray  leaves.  Uneven  portions  ought  to  be  lifted, 
raising  or  loAvering  the  ground  as  necessary,  then  returning 
the  same  or  bettea'  turf.  In  forming  neAv  hiAvns  see  that  th(> 
ground  is  perfectly  level  befoi’e  laying  the  turf.  Mos.s-infested 
lawns  should  have  the  moss  raked  off  as  far  as  possible,  then 
give  a  dressing  of  wood  ashes,  either  alone  or  mixed  Avith  fine 
soil.  Where  neAv  laAAn.s  are  intended  to  be  soAvn  Avith  seed  in 
spring,  the  ground  should  be  broken  up,  made  firm,  and 
approximately  level.  The  Aveather  in  the  meantime  will 
pulverise  and  ameliorate  the  surface. 
LILY  OF  THE  VALLEY. — When  a  bed  has  been  estal  - 
lished  for  many  years  the  croAvns  became  crowded  and  AA  eakened, 
producing  feAv  floAvers,  but  abundance  of  foliage.  The  soil 
becomes  impoverished  also  of  food  and  moisture,  oAving  to  the 
mass  of  roots  constantly  feeding  upon  it.  To  improve  such 
beds  the  best  treatment  is  to  lift  the  roots  entirely,  placing 
them  on  one  side  in  fair-sized  patches.  If  another  piece  of 
rich,  Avell-dug  ground  is  not  available,  trench  the  same  site 
again  deeply,  and  liberally  manure  it.  Then  shake  out  the 
roots  and  select  the  strongest  croAvns  for  replanting.  Some 
floAvering  croAvns  aaGII,  no  doubt,  be  found.  These  may  be 
reserved  for  potting.  In  planting,  arrange  single  croAvns  3in 
apart,  spreading  out  the  roots,  and  cover  Avith  prepared  com- 
po.st  the  tips  being  ju.st  beloAv  the  surface.  A  light  mulching 
of  manure  may  be  given  Avhen  finished. 
BORDERS  FOR  WALL  PLANTS.— Borders  or  stations 
for  planting  climbing  and  tAvining  plants  should  be  irrepared 
noAv,  so  as  to  be  in  i-eadiness  Avhen  the  plants  are  to  hand  for 
inserting.  Among  the  most  popular  climbers  are  Ampelopsis, 
Clematis,  Cotoneaster,  Cydonias,  Ivies,  Honeysuckles,  Jas- 
minums,  Roses,  and  Wi.starias.  For  all  these  the  same  general 
method  of  preparing  the  soil  may  be  folloAved,  namely, 
thoroughly  trenching  and  manuring  borders,  taking  out  the 
soil  for  stations  not  less  than  2ft  Avide  and  tAvo  spits  deep,  break¬ 
ing  up  the  subsoil,  returning  the  soil  mixed  AA’ith  manure  and 
turfy  loam. 
TRANSPLANTING  SHRUBS. — The  present  is  an  excellent 
time  to  lift  and  transplant  any  deciduous  or  evergreen  shrubs 
Avhich  require  this  attention.  It  is  possible  they  may  be  so 
thickly  placed  that  they  are  injuring  one  another,  hence  the 
advisability  of  removing  some.  Take  out  a  deep  trench  all 
round,  and  at  such  a  distance  that  but  feAv  of  the  principal 
roots  Avill  be  sacrificed.  Shrubs  that  can  be  lifted  AA’ith  a  good 
ball  of  fibrous  roots  Avill  take  but  little  harm.  Many  shrubs 
are  better  for  lifting  occasionally,  as  it  checks  the  tendency 
to  gross  rooting.  In  replanting,  see  that  the  ball  of  .soil  and 
roots  is  placed  Avell  doAvn.  After  thinning  out  the  croAA’ded 
shrubs,  the  remaining  specimens  Avill,  in  many  cases,  require 
re-arranging. 
FIEDGES. — Well-kept  hedges,  as  a  rule,  have  the  pruning 
and  clipping  carried  out  in  autumn,  but  any  Avhich  have  been 
neglected  ought  to  be  cut  noAv  into  shape.  OvergroAvn  hedges 
may  be  pruned  Avell  back  and  alloAved  to  break  again.  NeAv 
hedges  may  be  planted  noAv.  Deciduous  hedges  may  be  formed 
of  Thorn,  Elder,  Hornbeam,  Beech,  and  SAveet  Briar.  Ever¬ 
green  hedges  are  formed  by  planting  Holly,  Laurel,  Box,  Ever¬ 
green  Oak  and  Evergi^en  Privet.  Conifers  such  as  Cupressu;: 
Lawsoniana  and  Thuja  Lobbi  make  excellent  hedges.  See  that 
the  ground  is  thoroughly  clean  and  Avell  cultivated  to  a  good 
depth.  A  vigorous  groAA’th  from  the  first  is  essential. — E.  D.  S., 
Gravesend.  _ 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
J.  Backhouse  and  Son.  The  Nurseries,  York.— Se<?d5. 
Baker’s.  67,  69,  and  71,  laclifield  Street,  Wolverhampton. — Seeds  and 
Flanis. 
Barr  and  Sons,  11,  12,  and  13,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London.— 
Seed  Guide. 
W.  Bull  and  Sons,  Chelsea.  London.— Seeds. 
W.  Atlee  Burpee  and  Co.,  Philadelphia. — Farm  Annual,  1904. 
Isaac  Godber.  Ncav  ToAvn  Nurseries,  Bedford.— J/ur/.ei  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. 
M.  Herb,  24  36,  Via  Trivio,  Naples,  Italy.— Seeds. 
Kent  and  Bi’A’don,  Darlington. — Seeds. 
Jolm  K.  King  and  Sons,  Coggleshall,  Essex.— Seeds. 
Vilmorin-Andrieux  and  Co.,  4,  t^uai  de  la  Megisserie,  Pains.— General 
Spring  Catalogue. 
Webb  and  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridge.— Seed.s. 
H.  Weeks,  Thruinpton,  Derby. — Few  and  Choice  Chrysanthemums. 
Wills  and’Segar,  Royal  Exotic  Nursery,  South  Kensington,  J.oudou,— 
Seeds. 
