514 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



practice of tearing tliem out in due time and replanting witli young 

 Vines. 



The Vines in question are not yet pruned, and it was on tliis sub- 

 ject that I have been tempted to pen these few lines. I was very 

 much pleased with a saying of our Editor's on pot-Vines, that more 

 depended upon the way in which the Vines had been prepared than all 

 else besides, which was just what I was convinced of myself; and 

 that the same theory might also be applied in many cases in our early 

 vineries to advantage, at least in worn-out ones such as ours ; and I 

 believe there are many like it throughout the country. Looking at 

 the Vines, you will find that on this year's Avood the best of the eyes 

 are a good way from the permanent rod — from G inches to 1 foot, or 

 perhaps a little more. Now in the usual mode of pruning, all the 

 shoots would be shortened in to an eye that can scarcely be seen. 

 This is the most approved way of pruning, and I quite admit that it 

 looks much in keeping with first-class cultivation ; but in the case of 

 worn-out Vines such as ours, I question very much whether it is the best 

 method to adopt. If I cut or prune in all the Vines I refer to in this 

 way, they will no doubt break well enough ; but, may I ask, will they 

 show hunches so freely ? [Very weak Vines will not. — Ed.] Now if 

 I leave the shoots a little longer, as I intend doing — for Vines can be 

 disbudded more freely by-and-by, as I only mean to take another 

 crop off — they will show more bunches probably than the Vines can 

 carry. In this w^ill be the difference between the two modes of 

 jDruning. I will have so many more chances for getting bunches to 

 show, at least from the one compared with the other. I hold that it 

 is not scientific to prune Vines to cause an extra strain upon the plant 

 to produce fruit, when naturally it is storing up material in the 

 shoots already formed, showing it in the prominent round buds which 

 are annually cut off, without ever, may I say, being in any way taken 

 notice of. Robert Mackellae. 



RANDOM NOTES ON FLOWER - GARDENING. 



Two of the driest and warmest seasons on record, followed by one of the 

 wettest, most sunless, and cold in the annals of meteorology, must be 

 regarded as extremes of the most trying order to the system of flower- 

 gardening which for many years back has been in fashion. Such 

 circumstances and their results must inevitably play a part in deter- 

 mining the future destiny of that which is popularly designated the 

 bedding system of flower-gardening. Judging from the tone of some 

 utterances, one would be apt to conclude that this system, instead of 



