504 



CULTURE OF VINES IN POTS. 



thought it one of the best early pears 

 grown. It is said, however, by some, not 

 to be quite as good to the north of New- 

 York; but, until we can find something 

 better, this is a variety that I would recom- 

 mend to those who are fond of early pears, 

 though, like most of the July pears, it keeps 

 only a few days, and ought to be gathered 

 from the tree to have it in perfection. The 

 wood of this sort is very dark, with long 

 branches. It is a good grower, both on 

 the pear and quince stock. The fruit is of 

 a long pyramidal shape, and has a long 

 crooked, fleshy stem. Size rather below 

 medium ; colour brownish russet, occasion- 

 ally with a dull red cheek. 



Seckel. This well known pear, when 

 grown on good thrifty trees, is always al- 

 lowed to be of very superior quality. It 

 has a peculiar flavor that very few pears 

 possess. It seems, however, that the Seckel 



pear is not always as fine as it used to be; 

 On old trees, especially, they are very often 

 small and without flavor ; and for some 

 years, in particular localities, such trees are 

 liable to drop their leaves early before the 

 fruit is ripe, which, in consequence, is 

 without flavor — [ for the want of proper cul- 

 ture. Ed.] Yet, the Seckel is a pear that, 

 will always be cultivated in private collec- 

 tions ; but it is very likely to be superseded 

 by some of the larger sorts, when profit is. 

 the object of the planter. This variety, 

 although slow of growth when young, is, 

 when grown to a good size, a tree of great 

 beauty and perfect symmetry, and can never 

 be mistaken in the orchard, or confounded 

 with any other. I have only had the Seckel 

 worked a few years on the quince stock. 

 It seems, so far, to do pretty well. Yours, 

 very respectfully, Wm. Reii>. 



New-York, February, 1849, 



ON THE CULTURE OF VINES IN POTS, 



BY JAMES STEWART, AVASHINGTON, D. C. 



Sm — In your Horticulturist for September, 

 there is an article on the culture of vines 

 in pots, extracted from the London Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle, and written by Mr. Spen- 

 cer, of Bowood Gardens. So far as the 

 article treats on growing the plants, for 

 producing frait, it is excellent, and is the 

 practice of all the noted grape-growers in 

 England ; but he does not minutely give the 

 treatment they ought to receive, in some of 

 the great essentials, to insure success. 



The most important point, in the culture 

 of vines in pots, is altogether overlooked, 

 viz., never use but one year old plants for the 

 purpose ; and as soon as they have borne a 

 crop, let them be thrown aside. This, with 

 judicious stopping, is the great secret in 



vine culture in pots. By raising your planJs- 

 from single eyes, every season, and growing^ 

 them as he describes, success is certain j 

 but it must be regarded as most essential 

 never to employ only young plants for the 

 purpose. Older plants, treated as he points 

 out, will certainly bear ; but there is no 

 comparison between them and the young 

 plants, — the latter far surpassing the for- 

 mer in quantity and quality. This is the 

 practice of Mr. George Mills, gardener ta 

 the Baroness de Rothschild, Gunnersburg 

 Park, near London ; one of the best practi- 

 cal gardeners, and successful cultivators in 

 England. Two years ago I was in Eng- 

 land, and called on Mr. Geo. Mills, {being 

 an old pupil of his , — having served my time 



