1869.] FRUIT-CULTURE. 257 



L. epliemerum, from several parts of the south of Europe, is very 

 distinct from either of the foregoing species. It grows about 2 feet 

 high, with rather graceful habit, and the stems terminate in handsome 

 racemes of white flowers. The corolla is rotate, with deeply-divided 

 spreading lobes obovate in form. It flowers in July and August, and 

 is most suitable for cultivating in the mixed border or the margins of 

 shrubberies in good moist soil. 



FRUIT-CULTUKE. 



THE GRAPE VINE. 

 {Continued from page 155.) 



In this paper we propose to point out a few of the errors into which 

 amateur Grape-growers especially are prone to fall, though these errors 

 are by no means confined to them. Prominent amongst these is over- 

 cropping ; this proceeds from a very natural desire to get the greatest 

 weight of fruit possible from a given area, but it generally defeats the 

 end aimed at. 



We were once telegraphed for by a gentleman to come and advise 

 him what could be done for his Grapes, as they were red and sour. 

 When we arrived at the nearest railway station to his residence, the 

 gardener met us, and in reply to an inquiry regarding the state of the 

 Grapes, he said he believed the Vines were overcropped, but his em- 

 ployer would not allow him to take any of the bunches off. We met 

 the proprietor near the garden, and we all three went into the vinery. 

 We listened to the remarks he made about his Vines, which ran in the 

 direction of blaming the gardener for " not giving heat enough, or air 

 enough, or something of that sort." But what did we see? Why, two 

 bunches on every lateral, on some three, the berries nearly all red, and 

 sour as vinegar, with here and there a black one which was sweet. 

 They were Black Hamburgs. We at once stated that the crop left on 

 the Vines was three times more than they could bear, and that if a 

 third of the quantity had been left on them the fruit would have been 

 good. The proprietor had philosophical theories about nature guiding 

 plants in the production of only such quantities of fruit as they are 

 able to bring to maturity. We need scarcely add that the Vine is not 

 the only plant that repudiates this doctrine, though it does it perhaps 

 more evidently than any other, a notable example of which was the 

 case here referred to. It is impossible to lay down an exact rule as to 

 the number or weight of bunches that ought to be left on Vines 



