21 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



The wall was literally covered from end to end with grapes. Many of the 

 bunches were also of large size, and the berries admirably swelled and coloured. 

 Mr. Darkin, the proprietor, will forward a bunch of Miller's Royal Muscadine with 

 this, to allow you to judge for yourselves. [Fine and excellent in quality ; the 

 bunch weighed 2 lbs. 11 oz. — Eds.] Many of the Ramburghs,]Frontignans, etc., have 

 been equal to those grown under glass ; and it is a singular fact that while the 

 Frontignans ripen perfectly on this wall, they never show any signs of shanking — 

 the bunches are plump and perfect, from broadest shoulder to lowest tapering 

 extremity, without one imperfect berry. 



About a ton of grapes have been harvested from this one vineyard this season ; 

 and the wood for next year is large and firm, as brown as cinnamon, and as hard as 

 buck's-horn. 



From these facts it will be seen that grape growing in the open-air is a decided 

 success at Bury St. Edmund's, and doubtless it might prove so in thousands of other 

 localities if it were but fairly tried. There seems no good reason why not only 

 dead walls, but the fronts of dwelling-houses in the public streets, might not be 

 covered with grape-vines or other trees. I resided this summer, while attending the 

 Leicester meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Rothsey, a small town 

 about five miles from Leicester. Many of the bouses in the public streets were 

 covered with grape-vines, and covered with fruit. They were planted in the pave- 

 ment, the stem carried up straight, to a height of six or seven feet from the ground, 

 and the branches then led horizontally all over the houses. Most of these vines were 

 suffering severely from mildew ; but this was, 1 understood, an accident of the 

 season, the fruit generally ripening well. Doubtless, a good deluging or two of 

 water, and an immediate dressing of sulphur, would have rid them of the pest ; but 

 the vines seemed to receive no care whatever. Most of them were old and of great 

 size, and, with the exception of a little pruning, they appeared to be left to shift 

 wholly for themselves. On one point I was satisfied upon on the spot — the fruit was 

 considered perfectly safe. No one seemed to fear having their grapes stolen. This 

 confidence might arise from the number of the vines, there being a great many 

 scattered over the town. I also observed some very fine apricot trees, laden with 

 their offerings of golden fruit. They were planted in the same manner, and endured 

 their hard feeding-ground— the street — well ; in fact no trees could have looked better. 

 "What is done at Rothsey might surely be done in hundreds of towns and villages 

 throughout England. Whole districts might be enwreathed with beauty, and thou- 

 sands of hungry mouths filled with the most luscious fruit that have now to go 

 watering away. Doubtless, at first, the temptation might prove too strong for the 

 hoys ; but, once the habit of growing fruits on the outside walls of the houses in 

 streets or public roads became general, every boy w>m)d have some of his own, and 

 would thus acquire a vested interest in protecting his neighbours'. — D. T. Fish, 

 F.R.H.8., in Gardener' 1 s Chronicle. 



Prestoe Fund. — The following circular will, we trust, be sufficient to enlist the 

 sympathies of our readers for a most deserving cause : " Your co-operation and 

 assistance are solicited in the most earnest manner towards raising a subscription on 

 behalf of the Widow and Children of thelate Mr. W. S. Prestoe, head gardener at 

 Victoria Park, who died on the 9th instant, after a few days' illness, of fever, con- 

 sequent on a cold taken during his exertions in preparing the usual yearly show of 

 chrysanthemums. There are at present six young children, to which number, in 

 two or three months, there will be an addition, and then the oldest will be under ten 

 years. A committee has been formed, with power to add to their number, and their 

 energies will be directed towards raising a sufficient sum to place her in some small 

 ■way of business, by which she may be enabled to procure a living for herself and 

 children. The Committee feel their efforts will not be in vain, considering the 

 personal respect in which her late husband was held by many friends, and the 

 pleasure the frequenters of Victoria Park have derived from his labours. The Com- 

 mittee will meet on every Wednesday evening, at half-past seven, at Mr. Steptoe's, 

 the Crown Tavern, Old Ford Road, Victoria Park, when your attendance is respect- 

 fully solicited. — A. Wentzell, Treasurer, Avenue House, Grove Iload, South 

 Hackney. W. H. Gathercole, Hon. Sec, 1, Heasman's Terrace, Sewardstom 

 Road East, Victoria Park." 



