DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



51 



G. assumed this charge, he found the vines in a 

 very bad state; although planted four years, 

 they had not then matured a single bunch of 

 fruit. Mr. G. soon discovered of course the 

 effects of bad soil, bad culture, or something or 

 other wrong about them, and as, like a sound 

 reasoiier, he usually goes back from effect to 

 cause, he thought the most expeditious, and most 

 certain vrny to discover the cause was to dive 

 I at the root of the matter, and to the roots he 

 went, with spade in hand, and dug them all up, 

 every vine; this was in April, 1848. He found 

 that the roots of most of the vines had rotted 

 half away, and all of them were in a sickly un- 

 healthy state, chiefly for the want of proper 

 drainage to the borders. He immediately went 

 to work, drained the borders well, got a suita- 

 bly prepared compost, and after shortening-in 

 the roots well, he replaced them again in the 

 new border. 



One of the houses had been occupied during the 

 winter with green-house plants, and the tem- 

 peratuie necessary to keep the plants from free- 

 zing, had started the vines into growth, and 

 when the operation above described was per- 

 formed on the roots, some of the young shoots 

 were from three to four feet in length, and had 

 showed some bunches of fruit ; notwithstanding 

 this, they were so managed that not a single 

 leaf flagged, and those bunches were ripened 

 the same summer. Last year they produced a 

 fair crop, and this year they can be seen in full 

 fruit. Owing to the very severe weather we 

 had a few weeks ago, Mr. G. informed us that 

 it was w'ith great difficulty that he could keep 

 the temperature sutficifintly high in the span 

 roof houses to "set" the Muscats; but how- 

 ever, they now look as promising as most of the 

 others. The house "No. 4 " was planted with 

 young vines, 17th April, 1848. Last year they 

 were allowed to bear a few clusters, and now 

 they are literally covered with fruit from the 

 bottom, half way up to the rafters. 



I have been induced to send you this commu- 

 nication, partly from having witnessed and 

 heard of so much disappointment and so man}' 

 failures in house vine culture. These failures 

 generally occur in this way: — A gentleman 

 makes up his mind to build a vinery, he puts 

 one up, sends somewhere or other for his vines, 

 gets as many varieties as he can, perhaps a 

 diflTerent sort for each rafter; the border is 

 made — i. e. the soil is scouped a foot deep proba- 

 bly, and two or three wide, and what is thought 

 to be a rich and suitable compost is put in its 

 place. The border is perhaps never examined 

 as to whether it requires drainage, or whether 

 the subsoil is of too porous a nature. Well, 

 the vines are planted thus, and probably in a 

 year or two they may show some fruit, and in 

 all probability some of them marked at the bot- 

 tom of the rafters "Black Hamburgh," or 



"Muscat of Alexandria," will prove to be 

 something else not better perhaps than the com- 

 mon Isabella of the garden. [Our correspond- 

 ent presents a picture of a very low state of 

 knowledge in vine culture, which we hope is not 

 drawn from the life, as that culture is usually 

 seen on New-York island. On the whole we 

 think the management of vineries is well under- 

 stood in this country, and there are hundreds, 

 especially about Boston and Philadelphia, where 

 foreign grapes are grown in the highest perfec- 

 tion. Ed.] 



I will close these few remarks by saying, 

 drain (if required) and well prepare your bor- 

 ders, procure from a respectable nursery, or 

 some other reliable source, a few only of the 

 best and well known varieties, (as there are 

 not more than 6 or 8 sorts that are worth house 

 room.) employ a skilful practical man to take 

 care of them, and then I think we shall not 

 hear of so much chagrin and disappointment in 

 this department of horticulture. Respectfully 

 yours, Vitis. New- York, May 15, 1850. 



Native Botany. — I was much disappointed 

 on my arrival in this country to find that compa- 

 ratively few of its inhabitants look into its indi- 

 genous floral beauty; few penetrate the woods to 

 observe the lovely grandeur of Flora's territory. 

 A few days ago I found in a wood, in the vicini- 

 ty of this city, Philadelphia, what to me was a 

 rich treat, having been more accustomed to pluck 

 the weeds which are to be met with in the British 

 Isles. I first observed in flower on the 21st of 

 April, Sangvinaria canadensis or Blood root. — 

 This plant presents a pleasing appearance, and is 

 quite abundant. It has marked medical proper- 

 lies, varying from the quantity exhibited — of the 

 order Ranvncvlacea, or Crowfoot tribe. I ob- 

 served Ranunculus hirsutus and rhomboidea; also 

 Caltha palustris and Thalictum anemonoides, the 

 latter a very singular species, and likely to mislead 

 the novice in Botany. The Hepalicas are still 

 in flower. I found a white variety growing along- 

 side the blue. Podophyllum peltatum will flower 

 in a few days. This is known as the " May ap- 

 pie," has a sub-acid fruit which is eatable and is 

 called Wild Lemon also. The other portions of the 

 plant are cathartic. Isopyrum fumanoides is also 

 here a very delicate plant, just showing its little 

 cluster of flower buds. The Claytonia virginica 

 (order Portulacece) is in full flower, and in great 

 abundance. Also Chrysospleneum or Golden 

 saxifrage, easily overlooked, but not less curious 

 on this account. The Saxifraga alba is in fine 

 condition for specimens. All who admire and 

 would preserve specimens of Nature's more deli- 

 cate offspring should be stirring now; the flowers 

 are fast unfolding and must be transferred to the 

 Herbarium, for they will not linger long. Once 

 there, we may view their shadow but the essence 

 fades. Yours, &c., Hortophilus. Jlpril 22. 



