ilMj IS, 1873. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



385 



EVENING JITJSINGS FOE PLAIN PEOPLE.— No. 4. 



VLVES AND OTHER TOPICS. 



N previous evenings consideration has been 

 given to the different classes of plants suit- 

 able for culture under the shade of Vines, 

 and if so cultivated they cannot fail to give 

 plea!;iu:e. I ■will now notice -what, in con- 

 junction with Vines, cannot fail to give 

 profit and -which entail the least possible 

 amount of skill in management. 



It is an admitted fact that the last ten 

 years have ■witnessed extensive erections for 

 Vine-culture by way of profit, partially or solely. PubUc 

 incUnation is still groviing in this direction, and even 

 many tradesmen have a disposition to give some of their 

 spare time to an exercise which they deem enjoyable, 

 and especially if it is profitable. One can hardly err in 

 encouraging a disposition of this kind, both on account 

 of the fuller supply of the best of aU fruits at a reasonable 

 price for town and city consumption which ■will result, 

 and also in fostering home pursuits pure and pleasurable 

 in their nature. As it may be more practical to muse 

 on what has been done, rather than what may be done, I 

 will give a brief history of the beginning and completion 

 of a structure for Vine-culture, with a notice of the general 

 results not merely attainable but actually attained. 



Five years ago a neighbour solicited my advice in the 

 matter of building a vinery on a plot of ground, which by 

 many years of hard work he had won as his own. Like 

 many others, he wanted to see his way to a httle gain 

 rather than loss by his undertaking. He had no doubt 

 as to the Vines eventually being remunerative ; but wliat 

 until they became so, and what of the lost space in the 

 house ? If I could teU him how to turn to account and 

 utilise to a profit this space at once he would commence 

 building forthwith. The house, a lean-to, -with a 19-feet 

 rafter, and nearly 70 feet long, was?, to him, no small 

 undertaking. It is erected, is in full profit, and is a suc- 

 cess, but not until after some failures. 



It may be useful to notice these. The first was a 

 Cucumber failure. Owing to the length of rafter a pur- 

 line was necessary. This is supported by a row of pillars. 

 These were made the framework for a temporary trellis 

 on which to grow a hedge of Cucumbers. The height, 

 12 feet, and length approaching 70 feet, were calculated 

 to carry a large amount of frmt. This was to give the 

 first interest on outlay pending the growth of the ^'ines. 

 A ridge of good soil was provided, and stout plants put i 

 in it at the end of Slay. He had instructions respecting 

 airing, watering, and syringing, and especially as to fresh 

 appUcations of soil as the roots reached the surfece. The 

 progress of the plants was remarkable, the trellis was 

 covered with luxuriant gro-wth, hundreds of &uit were 

 swelling, several had been cut. A reward appeared cer- 

 tain. Perhaps the freer growth begat negligent atten- 

 tion ; at any rate he forgot to add sufficient soil to the 

 roots or to water them thoroughly, and a burning day 

 in AusiiKt save the plants the coup de grace. When the | 

 No. ess.— Vol. XXIV., New Sbeizs 



patient was dead he ran for the doctor. On arriving, the 

 ' soil was beautifully moist at the surface generally, but 

 in a puddle round the stems. Underneath it was dry as 

 dust, and the extremities of the roots— the feeders — were 

 shrivelled and dead. It was man — well, not quite — but 

 Cucumber slaughter, certainly. A few recovered, but the 

 loss was signal. Had he acted exactly according to^in- 

 structions that crop of Cucumbers would have paid him 

 better interest on his outlay than any building he had 

 before erected, and such were not a few ; but he de-viated. 

 I slightly as he thought, but ruinotisly. JFrom such sUght 

 deviations, shpping instructions, not fully and completely 

 carrying out orders, a presumptive superiority of know, 

 ledge — arise failures generally. Young gardeners may 

 think of this and beheve it to be true. Old gardeners 

 know there is no doubt about it. Ncghgence of what is 

 erroneously regarded as little things is the root of half, 

 and more than half, the evils that flood the world. The 

 old tale of master and coachman is suggestive. " How 

 near can you drive to danger'?" "A toot, sir.' "And 

 you?" " An inch, sir." "And you?" " I drive as far 

 off as I can, sir." " You are the man for me." He who 

 makes friends -with risk and chance is in dangerous com- 

 pany. He who would achieve success must act precisely, 

 exactly, and at the right time. It may be useful tor young 

 professionals and inexperienced amateurs alike to keep 

 this in mind. To be safe, drive as widely as possible off 

 danger. To succeed, adhere rigidly to instructions. Do 

 not say of an apparently simple order, " There is no sense 

 in it ;" it ■will be far more sensible to accept it as neces- 

 sary and carry it out. W"hen a man, by inattention, 

 only loses his own, as in the case of the Cucumbers, it 

 does not so much matter ; but how many men — young 

 men — have the property and reputations of others in 

 their keeping? On these it is absolutely incumbent to 

 act in strict obedience — accurately, promptly, cheerfully, 

 and correctly. 



By incorrectly or only half obeying instructions my 

 pupil lost his Cucumbers, but by the same cause had a 

 far greater loss than this in bis essay at Grape-growing. 

 That loss will be noted by-and-by. He has surmounted 

 both and succeeded. I have no occasion now to teU him 

 twice over what to do. A hint is no sooner given than 

 acted on ; he has bought experience by failure, and finds 

 it no longer safe to play experiment with necessary ad- 

 vice. If he had done this first instead of last, it would 

 have put pounds in his pocket. Too many find the same 

 thing out only when " too late." 



Alter recording a failiire I ■will now record a success. 

 On clearing out the withered Cucumbers the soil was 

 levelled, and other good material mixed in, and in the 

 autumn the enthe border was planted with early Pota- 

 toes, and sowed over ■vriih Eadishes. The success of this 

 in the spring was a complete atonement for the Cucumber 

 massacre. Besides the pleasure of tending a prosperous 

 crop, it brought interest for the money — a good return on 

 capital invested in the erection. Up to the present time 

 the owner continues the Potatoes. Although the Vines 

 cover the roof and carry hxmdreds of pounds of Grapes 

 Ko. 1285.— Vol. xi.ry , old Sebies. 



