EDITOR'S TABLE. 



iE5Iio^'3 I^51e. 



%■ Teainixg Grapes horizontally near the ground. — We liave received from S. Oscae 

 Cross, of Sandy Hill, Washington County, N". Y., a drawing and description of a patent 

 " Adjustable and Elevating Grape Frame," which we think may prove to be a valuable 

 contrivance. It would for one thing facilitate the protection of vines that require it, during 

 the winter season ; besides, and which is of greater importance. Mildew, the great enemy 

 of the Grape in Europe and of all foreign Grapes in the open air in this country, may, it is 

 thought by many cultivators and experimentalists, be prevented by horizontal training. 

 How far this may prove true on a more extended trial, we cannot say, but we find, just at 

 this moment, an article on this subject in the Gardeners' Chronicle, of October, by Prof 

 Berklet, one of the most learned and reliable of modern writers on vegetable physiology. 

 He, it will be seen, has adopted the opinion that it is not the influence of contact Avith the 

 soil, but the mode of training which produces the results. Why may it not be both ? 



A notice was published in our volume for 1853, p. 740, respecting M. Roboam's report to 

 the French Academy of the benefit of bringing vine-branches down to the ground, and we 

 then called the attention of our correspondent to the fact, which appeared from evidence then 

 adduced, not dependent on the contact with the soil but upon the horizontal position ; at the 

 same time requesting information, provided any similar expeiience existed in this country. 

 We have accordingly been favored with three letterj on the subject by Mr. William Preston, all 

 tending to show that much benefit is to be derived from horizontal training. He has never 

 had a mildewed leaf or fruit on those vines, some twenty in number, which he has trained 

 horizontally, while the produce has been singularly good. In an adjoining house, however, in 

 which the more ordinary mode of training was adopted, the vines have been severely attacked, 

 and when the first evil had been subdued, the disease broke out a second time with equal 

 virulence. 



It is not difficult to explain the increased fruitfulness arising from this method of traiiiing, 

 which delays the descent of returning sap, to the presence of which, in an unusually concentrat- 

 ed form, the production of fruit is principally due, as is proved by tlie process of ringing; while 

 the liability of Plums and Apricots to gum, whose brandies arc trained in a perfectly horizontal 

 direction, depends upon the same abnormal accumulation of sap. This, however, has no neces- 

 sary connection with the production of tlie fungi, which, on the contrary, are generally the more 

 prevalent in exact proportion to the luxuriant appearance of a crop. If, for instance, the leaves 

 of a potato crop present a peculiarly rich green tint, it is almost sure to suffer from mildew, and 

 an attentive searcli will most probably detect unequivocal signs of the evil, while a crop with a 

 yellowish and apparently sickly appearance will entirely escape. It does not, however, follow 

 that the habits of every parasite should be the same ; and inasmuch as it does really appear that 

 vines in which the branches are horizontal do not suffer, or at least do not suffer so much from 

 mildew, the horizontal metliod, thougli it would be unwise to exjiect any complete exemption 

 from the practice, is well worth the cultivator's consideration, especially when it is considered 

 that on the continent the vines, which are kept low, without any attempt at horizontal training, 

 suffer far less than those which grow on trellises. 



Mr. Cross avUI no doubt furnish cheerfully any desired information in regard to his 

 frame. 



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