The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-25 00:00:00

finc...-kruit which is allowed to become perfectly ripe

before it Is removed from the plant Is never so richly
flavoured as when it is cut a week or so before attaining
maturity, and finished off in a cool temperature. To speak
in a rough way, all but the two bottom layers of pips should
be yellow and these should be just changing. The fruit
ahould be placed upright in a bottle with a wide mouth, or
some other contrivance, but withi lit any water. Standing
them ia water only makes them fist and iuriptit without
ilaking the slightest difference in the weight Gee an
abundance of air to plants Just ripening off their fruit, and
also to young ~,row tog stuff. VVhere the fruit is only swelling,
lea ve.;,tilati.m will be necessary, as it swells best In
moderately close and moist atmosphere.
{-toles. - It materially spoils the appearance of the berries
to dash eater against them, but rather than let the foliage
of the vines in the late house become infested with red-spider,
ply the syringe vigorously against the foliage Whether
there ix any appearnalier of red-spider oi not, thoroughly
saturate the il .or with water twice a day. This is as much
necessary for the healthy development of the foliage and
berries alt is for the suppression of vermin.
Peaches and Neearines —Where practicable, the lights
ought to be tali en entirely off the early house from which the
crop has been gathered. The dews and showers with which
we shall he favoured between now and the autumn will help
to keep the foliage clean and healthy, and swell up the buds
for neat ye..., without tile labour a Mal Is otherwise necessary
la the care of trees that cannot be exposed in this way. Crops
ripening must have plenty of air to develop the rich flavour.
Later h.inses still most hove abundance of sanitary, bath at
the roots and overhead. The b rders of ally of the houses
must not ben-me dust-dry at this moment; frequent
examinations be:ow the surface had better be Made to
prevent its recurrence.
_

Cticumbtrs —Two-thirds of the mishaps which befall these
at this semon may be safely attributed to want of attention
In keeping the young tvo wth properly stopped and semi-
toted, and in waterinu them with cold hard wean. Tee
young shoots should be pinched at one joint above the fruit,
and eupei goons ones taken away altoge.her before they get
too big. Where rain- water is so scarce as to leave no choice
but to us, pump-water, let it he paced in the opo,r air
twenty-four hours previous to using Either mix warm
water with It or stand it in the pit or house, so that It may
be the same temperature as that of the house when applied
to the plants, whether to the roots or overhead. Plants
that have been in bearing senie time, and show signs of ex-
haustion, may be rejuvenized by cutting away the principal
part of the wood, and top-dressing the bed with fresh soil.
Before this is done remove the top crust of the bed, which
has become eons from the successive waterlngs thereon.
Keep close and shaded until the young growth is starting
away, and then gradually increase the air arid lessen the
density of the shade, and finally treat the same as young
established plants.

Greenhouse.—Becsuse the hard-wooded plants which
lately occupied this structure are now turned out of doers,
It must not be thought that they require little or no atten-
tion. On the contrary, a greater degree of judgment must
be brought to bear upon the watering than heretofore. The
rains we have are never sufficient to thoroughly wet the ball
of soil right through. This misleads inexperienced cultism-
tors, and the plants suffer in consequence. The soil is eel torn
moistened beyond an inch or loon the surface, and the hew,
part of the ball Is perfectly dry. The plants should be
looked over regularly, and watered if they require it, whether
the weather is fine or not. Rapping the pot with the
knuckles is the beat indication of the state of the ball of soil
within it. The sound of each p t must be studied separately,
for some pots ring ninth clearer than others, no much to that
one will ring as much with the soil in a moist conditicn on
others will when quite dry. Speaking roughly, a ringing bell-
like sound is an indication of the plants requiring water.
Neglect of watering camellias between now and September
la the most general canoe of the buds dropping before ex-
panding, or immediately afterwards. These plants do not
evince signs of suffering so quickly as many others, but the
Injury is none the less sure, Whenever it Is heeessary to
give water, give enough to reach every particle of the ball,
and then leave them alone until the bed hi dry enough right
through to require an application of that element skein.

FRAMES.
The Chrysanthemums will soon require their last chili, for
it is not advisable to let them get pot-bound too much before
they reach the flowering-pole. Stop and train as it becomes
necessary, whilst the wood is young and soft, as it breaks
badly when It once gets firm and hard. Some growers object
to plunging the pots, but there is no positive harm in no
doing. Where labour is scarce, it is much the best way to
plunge the pots in something into which the roots can
extend ; Cat wills.° much time, and the plants will be less
likely to softer from drought. To prevent them rooting
through, stand the pots on slates, mid place about them a
few dry leaves or something of that sort.