NOTES ON IH£ GOOSEBEOUT. 



)ition. If lie grows grapes at all, it is only for the purpose of ascertaining that 

 the vines from which lie propagates are correctly named. "With this end in view, 

 the fortunate winner in tlie instance before us built a glass sifed, or lean-to, with a 

 border and walk at the back, antl a tan-pit in front, hot water being added for 

 the necessary heat. This back border is two feet wide ; the walk, jiaved with 

 flat tiles, is two feet more, and beyond this nothing is provided for the vines to 

 grow in. As to the comjiosition of the border, it appeared to us to consist of 

 little more than the common garden soil of the nursery ground, and we understand 

 that it is nothing else. Along this back border are i)lanted the following vines, 

 in the order in which they follow, and about four feet apart : 1. Black Hamburgh. 

 2. ^Muscat of Alexandria. 3. Grizzly Frontignan. 4. White Frontignan. 5. 

 Black Frince. G. Cannon Ilall Muscat. 7. AVhite Tokay. 8. Charl«Sworth 

 Tokay. 9. Barnes' Muscat. 10. Mill Kill Hamburgh. 11. Reeve's Muscadine. 

 12. Black Frontignan. 13. Welbeck's Tripoli. 14. A sort undetermined. 15. 

 Black Barbarossa. 16. Royal Muscadine. This, we should say, is as pleasant 

 a party of vines, with different constitutions, as could be readily assembled. 



" They were planted in the narrow back border just described, in June, 1854. 

 A single rod of each was led up the back wall and down the rafters; and laterals 

 from these rods bore beneath the glass the fruit in question. Fires were, we 

 understand, commenced last March. 



" We do not pretend to explain the history of the success of the glass shed. 

 Excellent bunches were still hanging from its roof when we inspected it, and we 

 have no doubt that the prize fruit was justly placed at the head of all others. 

 Nor do we care to know why nothing better should have appeared in rivalry. 

 Great parties, past, present, or anticipated, may have caused it. What wc value 

 the fact for is, that it should teach the amateur the possibility of also growing in 

 his own small lean-to, grapes fit to take their place by the side of the first in 

 the country. The case is parallel to that of the strawberries lately mentioned." 



That will do for the present ; we shall see, ere long, who of our countrymen 

 will win the prize of a fortune by growing grapes in cheap structures. It can 

 and will be done. 



NOTES ON THE GOOSEBERRY. 



BY WM. TOMPKINS, GERMANTOWN, N. Y. 



This fruit is grown in this vicinity to considerable extent for the New York 

 market, and I believe almost any quantity might be grown, if cultivators would 

 pay more attention to the selection of soil, pruning, and, in fact I know of certain 

 plantations that happen to have a favorable soil, that have produced heavy crops 

 for several years without pruning, manuring, or scarcely any other care. 



In 1845 I got a dozen ])lant3 of this fruit from a friend, and planted in my 

 garden, which has a heavy soil. These plants were well cared for, and have annually 

 produced large crops, without showing the least signs of mildew or decay from 

 age. They were annually pruned, with a heavy hand, more with a view to get 

 cuttings than to prevent the mildew. 



All suckers wore taken off every spring, by tearing or separating with a knife 

 from the parent \ lant, in such a manner, if possible, as to detach some roots, 

 and then carefully i)lanted in the nursery, where, in two years they make good, 

 strong plants. In fact, I would rather set cuttings, with all their buds, than 

 for the reason that they add very much to the possibility of propagating, 



