THE Nfa^l'MBIl'M grKCIOSUM. 



the entire vineyard with it next season, about an inch deep. I have always plowed 

 between the rows to the depth of five or six iiielios, tu within a foot of the vines. To 

 enable me to do this without disturbing the roots, I have j>ractitcd pruning oft' all the 

 lateral surface roots to the depth of five or six inches, thus throwing the vines, to use 

 a familiar phrase, " upon their taps." To this practice, I believe, ought to be attributed 

 my exemption from mildew, far more than to any or all things else. I observed this 

 same practice prevailed in Dr. Undekhill's vineyards, at Croton Point, though I am 

 not aware that the doctor has ever given the fact to the public. If he has not, of 

 course it is because he forgot to do so; or he may have thought it would not be of 

 much interest to other cultivators of the grape. One fact is worthy of note : Dr. U. 

 has experienced no difficulty from mildew for quite a number of years past, and his 

 vines are very old ; Avhcreas, when his vines were young, he says he was much troubled 

 with its presence. Now, all who know any thing about grape culture, well know that 

 old vines, with ordinary culture, are far more subject to this difficulty than young 

 ones. To my mind, this proves that the doctor is older than he once was, as well as 

 his vines, and that he has not grown old to no purpose. 



In conclusion of this already too long article, let me say : if you do not like the sam- 

 ples of grapes sent, suppress this account of their origin and culture, for they are the 

 arginnent I most rely upon in the defence of my mode of grape culture. If this argu- 

 ment fails to produce conviction, I will yield the point ; but if you like them, you may 

 give me a hearing in the columns of the Horticulturist, if you choose to do so, that 

 others may learn by what strange means good fruit may be produced, in spite of the 

 abuse so profusely heaped upon "dead carcasses" by those who never take the trouble 

 to give them a patient trial. Should you do so, you may hear from me again, when 

 I have any other Facts in Isabella Grape Culture deemed of importance to the public. 



FLOWERING OF THE NELUMBIUM SPECIOSUM AT SPRINGBROOK. 



BY TUOMAS MEEIL^Ji, OAEDENER TO CALEB COPE, PHILADELPHIA. 



When, in the autumn of 1851, Mr. Cope was enabled to acquaint Mr. Downing 

 with the successful result of his munificent zeal in the cultivation of the far-famed 

 Victoria, I am sure he little anticipated the fact that in two short seasons he would 

 be entitled to claim from the horticultural world the credit of introducing to their 

 notice another plant of the same character — perhaps better known, but scarcely less 

 beautiful, and certainly not less interesting — the Nelumhium speciosum. 



Our climate is unsuited to the superior production, either by nature or through art, 

 of some things in which our trans-atlantic friends excel ; but, on the other hand, it is 

 adapted to the perfection of other highly ornamental objects, which can scarcely be 

 attained by them in any way, and which are calculated to give to American horticul- 

 an envied character peculiarly its own. The Ndumhiuvi, as the following account 

 success with us shows, is one of these things. Though for sixty years intro 



