September 10, 13S0. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



219 



GRAFTING VINES TO PROMOTE HARDINESS. 



HE Editors having expressed a -wish to know 

 how my Vine grafting succeeded, as far as 

 time will jiermit I report progress, but still 

 under the impression very mucli has to he 

 done in Vine culture in this most important 

 direction. 



The points kept in view are, •uith the aid 

 of grafting, to avoid costly Vine liouses, and 

 tire heat as much as possible, using sun heat 

 as best and cheapest; to place the most hardy 

 roots in the soil, to endeavour to add to the yearly crops, 

 and to adopt training to poles as practised in the Hop 

 gardens of Kent. Also to improve the size of the berries 

 and bunch, and the flavour, if possible, so that hundreds, 

 possibly thousands, may enjoy many bunches of the queen 

 of all fruits, who at present are exi-luded not only by the 

 first great outlay, but b\' tlie annual cost which is never at an 

 end. I am keeping in view good useful bunches of Grapes, 

 either for the sick chamber or the daily use of a family. 



The Vines are all planted inside tlie house, trained on 

 the rafters only, and there are large squ.ares of Ul-oz. glass 

 flaps to open near the ,ground in front, and at the back 

 close to the ridge of the roof ; doors are at each end, glazed 

 to the ground to admit all the sun heat possible. I have 

 only used the common soil of the garden, and no more 

 trouble has been taken than if any other garden crop 

 were about to be planted. 



The Vines I am about to mention will only h.ave a small 

 stove inside the house. 4 feet from tlie front, just to ripen 

 ofl" the fruit at the cud of this month, harden the wood, 

 and expel damp and frost. While the Vines are hard at 

 work — that is, are bringing to perfection a good crop, I 

 refresh them with poultry (lung, guano, night soil, all in 

 solution in water, as their wants may require. 



I have splendid canes, three and four to a Vino — the 

 Vine also with a crop — Hi to 30 feet long, and Uj inches in 

 girth; joints from 3 to 4J inches apart, with eyes at this 

 time standing out from the canes like nuts. Now, as to 

 the leaves, I request the Editors to sit in judgment on those 

 I have sent, and pronounce opinion in " our .Journal." 

 Several of the bunches hanging will weigh :'v.j^ and 4 lbs. : 

 I have no insects : the lovely shining green of the foliage 

 proves sturdy health ; or, could the Vines speak, all would 

 sav. " It's just the thing." 



I have to remark tliat after the bearing rods preparing 

 for n«xt yea,r's fruiting had been stopped, one and all bro'ie 

 at the eniU with fruit ; and in four cases where an eye liad 

 burst, that also showed fruit growing out of a green cane 

 of this year's produce. I think this is not very common. 

 Does it not slioiv rather an inclination to perpetual bear- 

 iug in the Vine ? 



Lady Downe's grafted on some wild Vines from America, 

 and ou the Frani<enthal, shows fruit in this way at every 

 break. 



Jjlnck TokflT, or Alicante, worked on a wild stock, is 

 splrt.-idid. A Vine two years from the gralt, with four rods 

 (i feet long trained to poles, showed eighty-three bunches. 



1 0. l;2-Vui. XVn., New SEBltB. 



I have this on the Frankenthal and its OTi-n roots. I 

 cannot speak too highly of this Vine, 



Gros Guillaume on the wild stock is beautiful ; it seema 

 as yet to do better than on the Frankenthal. Permit me 

 to advise not to plant this on its own roots ; .5 and (i-lbs. 

 bunches can be grown like liamburghs, and it is one of the 

 best cf keepers. 



West's St. Peter's is not satisfactory worked on the 

 Black Hamburgh ; I prefer it on the wild stock. 



Ohaonch makes splendid rods, foliage, and bunches on 

 the wild stock. 



Burchardt's Prince, grafted, is very hardy. I like this 

 Vine much ; it is a pity it is not more grown. 



Foster's White Seedling is also very good under the 

 same treatment. 



Trebbiano, or Child of Hale I'?), is equally satisfactory 

 under my treatment. I note this, as it is sta'fd in the 

 catalogues to require strong heat. The Vine of Trebbiano 

 has two bunches only : I cut the rest oil'. The tivo are 

 good in shape, and will weigh when ripe about i^r,- to lbs. 



Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, as Mr. -Tames Douglas ob- 

 serves in page 0(i, is not a strong grower on its oivu roots ; in 

 fact, I have decided not t<i plant it in this form. On Lady 

 Dowue s it is also doing well with me. but I lilte much the 

 look of the eyes it is making grafted on Fra nkenthal. I have 

 grafted it on six other str)cUs. waiting for advantages if any. 



All the Vines I have mentioned have only been planted 

 two years from pots. 



I have many other Vines, including all the new intro- 

 ductions, grafted. Fancy Ims led me to double-work some 

 of these. Possibly I may write at another time. -VU mv 

 friends who have seen the Vines expressed astonishment 

 and admiration. 



A word to " K.iTE," who wrote in No. 433. Tliis lioiise 

 of Vines, of the two wanting more heat than Hambnrghs, 

 never was totally closed at night or by day, even during 

 the cold of this spring. At 5 a.m. tlie tliermometer several 

 times stood at 34", while all the Vines named showed fruit, 

 and they set so well that more than one-half of the berries 

 had to he cut out, and many bunches tot.alh' cut off. 

 Another house of Vines, all grafted, will shortly be erected ; 

 of the results I may hereafter write. — R. M. W.. 2Iouiit 

 Pisi/iih, ncnr Sheffield. 



[.Tudging from the specimens sent, your Vines are in won- 

 derful health and vigi)ur. The leaves are perfecOy glos.sy 

 on tlie upper siir''acp, and their texture is like leather. We 

 shall be obliged by further reports of your results. — Eds] 



AMONG THE ROSES. 

 Thanks, nmnv thanks, " D ," of Deal, for ren.indiug ns 

 amateurs, who iove Uie Rose, of the duty wbicii we owb 

 one another. Well may you ask. " Wiiy do nut some of 

 our amateur growers give tis ilieir excjerience of the 

 dill'srent varieties, mentioning their soils .'iiid sitimtions," 

 in order that others may profit thereby '.' For my.ielf 1 am 

 heartily ashamed that so main' months have eUpsetl since 

 I I occupied a corner of " our .TuMriinl" witli niatleis respect- 

 No. ItK 4. -Vol. XLIL. Old SKJmKs. 



