302 THE GARDENER. [July 



CUTTING DOWN YOUNG VINES TO GET TWO 

 GROWTHS IN ONE SEASON. 



In 18G5 I was anxious to prepare a quantity of extra strong young 

 Vines in large pots, and not being very well off for a place to grow 

 them in, they were put into a Muscat-house with a high temperature. 

 This was after they had been shifted into 14-inch pots. Under circum- 

 stances over which, unfortunately, I could have no control, they were 

 allowed to remain in said house till the Muscats completely covered 

 the roofs of the vinery, and became gradually weaker and weaker from 

 the want of light and air, so that they looked more like being sent 

 to the rubbish-heap than ever becoming Vines that would bear a crop 

 the following year. I, however, decided to cut them down to within 

 a bud or two of the surface of the pot, and had them placed in a light 

 house wdth a night temperature of 70°, with 15" to 20° more with sun- 

 heat by day. Water was sparingly applied, and they very soon burst their 

 main buds, which, under ordinary circumstances, would not have moved 

 till the following year. They came away with amazing vigour, and 

 made magnificent Vines 10 feet long — the strongest I ever had under 

 my care. 



This season, on the 1 6th March, I planted a house of Muscats, and 

 the last week of May, after they had made fine growths 8 and 9 feet 

 long, these were cut down as described above. They likewise soon 

 burst their main buds, and are now twice as strong as they were 

 when the same length in their first growth. And where Vines planted 

 one year are required to yield the finest possible crop the year following, 

 I would strongly recommend this two-growths-in-one-season system as 

 one that will produce a more vigorous Vine of a given length than if 

 allowed to grow on at first. 



All gardeners who have had the charge of Vines can scarcely fail to 

 have observed how very strongly a Vine in a green unripened state, when 

 growing vigorously, bursts its main buds when the laterals are closely 

 stopped ; and the same increase of dimensions takes place when a young 

 Vine is cut down as I have described. It is necessary, however, in 

 order to get season sufiicient to ripen the second growth thoroughly, 

 that the Vines be planted in March, and that the cultivator have a good 

 command of heat in the case of Muscats especially. 



D. Thomson. 

 Drumlaneig. 



