August  27,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
205 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES  :  EAKLY  FORCING  IN  POTS.— Tlie  canes  for  start¬ 
ing  early  in  November  to  supply  Grapes  fit  for  table  towards  the 
clo.se  of  March  or  early  in  April  must  not  be  allowed  to  become 
dust  dry  at  the  roots,  for  that  impairs  the  vitality  of  the  Vines, 
and  may  cau.se  the  incipient  bunches  to  perish  in  the  buds.  Too 
much  water,  on  the  other  hand,  is  inimical  to  the  tender  roots, 
often  causing  them  to  decay.  Suffice,  therefore,  that  the  soil 
be  moderately  moist.  The  Vine.s  should  now  be  at  rest,  the  wood 
quite  brown  and  firm,  the  buds  round  and  plump,  the  laterals 
cut  close  to  the  cane,  and  this  shortened  to  about  6ft,  more  or 
less,  according  to  the  situation  of  the  sound  buds  and  the  width 
of  trellis.  Dress  the  cutS’ — -the  wounds  onlv' — with  the  best 
French  polish  or  patent  knotting  whilst  they  are  quite  di^y  as  a 
preventive  of  bleeding.  The  Vines  should  be  kept  in  a  cool,  airy 
house. 
If  the  canes  have  to  be  bought  orders  should  be  given  now,  so 
as  to  secure,  sturdy  canes  with  plump  buds  of  the  desired  varieties. 
The  most  suitable  buds  for  early  forcing  are  White  Frontignan, 
Foster’s  Seedling,  and  Black  Hamburgh. 
UNSATISFACTORY  VINES. — These  may  be  improved  by 
removing  the  soil  down  to  the  roots,  picking  it  out  carefully  from 
among.st  them,  and  supplying  fresh  loam,  raising  the  roots  where 
practicable,  and  laying  them  in  new  soil,  especially  the  fibry  ones 
and  those  proceeding  from  the  collar.  With  the  roots  lifted,  laid  in 
fresh  compost,  and  covered  Sin.  or  4in  deep,  the  Vines  generally 
form  abundance  of  fibrous  roots  in  the  new  material,  and  become 
almost  independent  of  the  large  roots,  which  are  comparatively 
inactive  through  the  lower  part  of  the  border  having  become 
effete.  This  is  best  done  in  advance  of  the  leaves  falling,  and  a 
gentle  watering  being  given  the  roots  will  take  to  the  new  .soil 
at  once.  Vines  at  rest  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  very  dry 
at  the  root.s,  for  the  borders  then  crack  and  part  from  the  walls, 
causing  the  young  roots  to  perish,  and  the  soil  is  difficult  to  make 
thoroughly  moist  after  it  gets  into  a  parched  condition. 
YOUNG  VINES. — Those  having  made  a  strong  growth,  and 
to  be  cut  down  to  three  plump  buds  from  the  bottom  of  the  trellis 
to  furni.sli  a  leader  and  .side  shoots,  one  on  each  side  of  the  rod, 
another  season,  may  be  allowed  to  grow  as  long  as  they  like, 
taking  the  precaution  to  keep  the  principal  leaves  that  correspond 
to  the  pruning  buds  free  of  spray,  so  that  that  part  of  the  cane 
may  get  thoroughly  ripened.  Vines,  however,  that  are  expected 
to  do  something  more  than  “  prove  the  variety  ”  next  year,  should 
have  further  growth  discouraged  by  the  removal  of  the  laterals 
as  they  appear,  taking  care  to  leave  .some  growth  as  an  outlet  for 
the  excess  of  sap,  otherwise  the  pruning  buds  may  be  started. 
By  this  time  the  wood  will  be  getting  brown  and  hard,  and  the 
laterals  may  be  gradually  removed,  cutting  them  back  in  the 
first  instance  to  one  joint,  and  in  the  course  of  ten  days  to  a 
fortnight  they  may  be  cut  away  clo.se  to  the  cane  provided  they 
have  not  pushed  fresh  growth,  biit  if  they  start  the  buds  on  the 
laterals  the  growths  must  be  pinched  at  the  first  leaf,  and  the 
removal  of  the  laterals  deferred  to  a  later  period.  In  this  case 
the  Vines  should  be  assisted  with  fire  heat,  maintaining  a  mini¬ 
mum  of  65deg  and  a  maximum  of  75deg  until  the  wood  is  ripe, 
accompanied  with  free  top  and  front  ventilation. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
LETTUCE. — Plenty  of  sweet,  crisp,  and  tender  Lettuces 
should  be  available  for  the  present  use  with  others  of  fair  size, 
growing  freely  for  succession  during  the  early  part  of  autumn. 
From  recent  .sowings  there  will  also  be  seedlings  ready  for  trans¬ 
planting,  and  these  well  establi.shed  now  will  make  useful  plants 
for  early  winter  use,  while  the  smallest  may  pass  through  the 
winter  and  make  fine  plants  to  advance  to  a  larger  size  as  spring 
comes  on.  Still,  the  largest  .seedling  plants  do  not  always  answer 
the  be.'-t,  and  it  is'  well  not  to  relie  on  any  one  sowing,  but  to  make 
several — one  at  the  present  time,  and  others  early  next  month. 
The  hardiest  varieties  to  be  found  among  the  Cos  and  Cabbage 
Lettuces  are  the  best  for  pre.sent  sowing,  choosing  Black-seeded 
Bath  Cos,  Hardy  Hammersmith,  and  All  the  Year  Round,  as 
amongst  the  most  reliable.  Rich  ground  is  not  to  be  preferred 
for  winter  Lettuce,  but  .soil  of  moderate  fertility,  well  drained, 
open  but  sheltered  position.  Sow  in  drills  9in.  or  lOin.  apart. 
ENDIVE. — Young  seedling.s  now'  attaining  a  fair  size  must  be 
thinned  so  that  they  do  not  spoil  each  other  by  crowding.  Many 
of  the  thinnings  will  be  suitable  for  transplanting,  choosing  ground 
which  in  winter  will  provide  some  protection  from  cutting  winds 
and  severe  frosts.  Further  sowings,  too,  may  be  made.  Winter 
Curled  being  a  good  variety.  Full  grown  Endive  is  not  ready  for 
use  until  blanched,  which  must  be  effected  by  inverting  a  pot 
over  the  plants  when  dry. 
CABBAGE.— Seedling  Cabbage  plants  are  attaining  a  size 
large  enough  to  handle,  and  prick  out  a  few'  inches  apart  to 
strengthen.  The  seedlings  remaining  in  the  beds  will  soon  fill 
up  the  spaces,  and  attain  a  size  .suitable  for  final  planting  at  an 
early  date. 
TURNIPS. — Thin  out  seedling  Turnips  as  soon  as  practicably, 
going  over  the  rows  .several  times.  Make  another  sowing.  Dust 
seedlings  lightly  with  soot  to  accelerate  growth. 
LEEKS. — Leeks  are  gross  feeders,  but  in  good  ground  with, 
ample  moisture  they  can  find  a  fair  supply  of  food,  w'hich,  how¬ 
ever,  may  be  supplemented  bj'  applications  of  liquid  manure, 
where  finer  roots  are  desired.  Soil  drawn  to  the  roots  and  round 
the  stems  largely  assists  in  the  process  of  blanching. 
ONIONS. — Onions  sowm  or  planted  in  .spring  have  completed 
their  growth,  and  may  be  lifted,  or  rather  pulled  up.  It  will 
depend  on  the  weather  as  to  the  manner  of  drying.  In  damp 
weather  place  them  under  a  shed  with  plenty  of  air  circulating. 
If  they  can  be  fully  exposed  to  the  sun  outdoors  this  treatment 
is  be.st,  and  completes  the  ripening  of  the  bulbs.  Store  in  a  eoof, 
dry  place.  Sow  another  row'  or  tw’o  of  Tripoli  Onions.  ' 
POTATOES. — ^^As  the  haulm  of  Potatoes  shrinks,  yellows,  or 
dies  down  the  tubers  may  be  lifted,  the  sooner  the  better,  should 
W’et  w'eather  prevail,  though  the  work  is  not  so  Ga.sily  carried 
out  under  such  conditions.  It  will  be  difficult,  if  not  impo.ssible, 
to  dry  them  .sufficiently  for  storing  except  under  cover,  a  dry,  airy 
shed  being  the  best  place.  When  picking  up  the  tubers  in  the 
first  instance  discard  all  the  small  ones,  also  those  affected  with 
disease.  The  tubers  selected  for  seed  must  be  perfectly  clean, 
good  shape,  and  of  medium  size.  For  eating,  the  tubers  must 
be  thoroughly  dried,  then  storing  in  a  very  cool,  perfectly  dry 
place.  The  seed  tubers  may  be  placed  thinly  in  boxes,  and 
kept  on  an  airy,  light  shelf  free  from  frost. 
CELERY. — Following  upon  early  rows  now  in  use,  more 
Celery  may  be  finally  earthed  to  maintain  a  succession.  The  later 
row's  may  be  assisted  with  liquid  manuror  first  removing  .super¬ 
fluous  leaves  from  the  base,  and  suckers  springing  around.  Tie 
the  leafstalks  loosely  but  firmly  together,  and  earth  some  .soil 
round,  breaking  it  down  if  lumpy  into  a  fine  condition.  Work 
a  good  proportion  of  soil  round  the  plants  w'ith  the  hand.  In 
the  first  two  or  three  earthings  leave  a  broad  base  of  soil  on  each 
side  the  rows  to  receive  the  next  earthings. — East  Kent. 
- 1  I - 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Rain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Grass. 
1903. 
'August. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep 
At 
2-ft. 
deep 
At 
4-ft. 
deep 
Drv 
Bulb. 
1  Wet 
Bulb. 
1 
oo 
0) 
'S) 
S 
Cfl 
V 
o 
Pnnday  ...  9 
Monday  ...10 
Tuesday  ...11 
Wed'sday  12 
Thursday  13 
Friday  ...14 
Saturday  15 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.N.W. 
W.S.W. 
S.E. 
W.S.W. 
deg. 
64-7 
61- 5 
580 
58-7 
62- 3 
60-2 
61-7 
deg. 
57- 3 
56- 2 
550 
58- 4 
57- 0 
59- 5 
55-5 
deg. 
71-5 
66-4 
64-4 
70  0 
77-7 
70-2 
64-4 
deg. 
54-7 
53- 5 
44.7 
54- 6 
47-3 
51-8 
57-0 
Ins. 
0T7 
0-38 
0-60 
OTl 
0T7 
deg. 
63  8 
63  7 
620 
61 '6 
62- 3 
63- 5 
62  6 
deg. 
61-3 
61-7 
61-7 
61-3 
61  3 
61-8 
61  8 
deg. 
58-4 
58-5  1 
58-7  i 
58-8  S 
589  1 
58-9 
58-9 
deg, 
49- 5  , 
50- 9 
37-3 
53-2 
39  ■« 
450 
50-9  ■ 
) 
Means  ... 
61-0 
57-0 
69  2 
51.9 
Total. 
1-43 
62-8 
61-6 
58-7 
46-6 
Sunday  ...16 
Monday  ...17 
Tuesday  ...18 
Wed’sday  19 
Thursday  20 
Friday  ...21 
Saturday  22 
w. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
S.S.W. 
w. 
deg. 
59- 6 
60'3 
60- 3 
57-2 
58’7 
57- 8 
58- 8 
deg. 
52-9 
57T 
58-3 
540 
E5'0 
54-7 
54 '8 
deg. 
65  7 
69  9 
69-1 
670 
63  4 
67-3 
69-2 
deg. 
51- 3 
54-3 
55  0 
53-4 
52- 2 
52-5 
52-3 
Ins. 
0-29 
0-07 
0-26 
0-03 
0-22 
deg. 
61-6 
62-2 
63-5 
62-2 
62-2 
618 
61-6 
deg. 
61-3 
61*3 
61-5 
61-5 
61-4 
611 
61T 
deg. 
590 
590 
59  0 
590 
59-0 
59-0 
59  0 
deg. 
45'3 
500 
54-5  • 
530 
47-4 
52-2 
41-4  ! 
Means  ... 
59  0 
55-3 
67  2 
530 
Total. 
0-87 
621 
61-3 
59  0 
49-1 
Dull  weather,  with  cold  gusty  winds  has  been  the  prevailjpg 
feature  of  the  week  ending  the  iSth,  with  an  occasional  burst  of 
bright  sunshine,  and  rain  on  five  days.  Strong  winds  and  slipwory 
weather  have  been  the  prevailing  features  during  the  past  week. 
