478 



JOUKNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



( December IC, UW- 



beating. The electric thermometers are eo arranged that the 

 Jbell will ring when any degree of heat is reached at which 

 they may be Bet. The invention is a very clever one, and 

 must prove of great service to gardeners wherever glass hoaeeB 

 are in use. It is patented by Mr. Saxp. The electric wire 

 above mentioned is laid from the battery in the maneion, which 

 was fitted np with the electrical bell and Mr. Saxe's patent 

 indicating tablet two years ago. The importance of these io- 

 genions contrivances cannot be too highly appreciated, and 

 this application of electricity ought to made more known. — 

 Edwakd Coveney, The Gardens, Kenjield Hall, Petham. 



GLAMIS CASTLE, FORFAKSHIRE. 



Thk Seat of the Eari. of Stkathmore. 

 (Continued from page 415.) 



Grapes are at once the pride and the glory of Glamis, and 

 not only of Glamis, but of the whole of Scotland. It was a 

 proud day to Scotch gardeners generally, to Mr. Johnston in 

 particular — the day of tho late International Fruit Show in 

 Edinburgh, to find that but with few exceptions the home pro- 

 ductions had carried off the palm, no less than eleven of the 

 first awards falling to the share of Mr. .Johnston, he being 

 first with every exhibition except one. Never was such signal 

 success achieved, never were eo many honours bestowed on 

 any one individual in any special class before, and never, 

 magnificent as our exhibitions have been, was there such a 

 splendid exhibition of Grapes as that which was seen in Edin- 

 burgh in September, 18fi9. It is an honourable distinction at 

 any time to obtain a prize for Grapes ; it would have been 

 glory sufficient to have obtained a single one in such a tourna- 

 ment, where some really good cultivators failed to find a place. 

 How much more so, then, was this the case with Mr. John- 

 ston, who, as it were, " cleared the decks " with his magni- 

 ficent productions ! How much of interest, also, is there not 

 awakened within us as to the mode of their cultivation? 

 Deeply interested as we feel in all that relates to the cultiva- 

 tion of that kingly fruit, the Grape, we paid our visit to Glamis 

 to see and judge for ourselves, and report to our readers. We 

 did not visit Glamis in the expectation of finding anything 

 mysterious, or new and startling, in the method of Vine 

 culture practised, and which had produced such splendid re- 

 sults, and we were not disappointed. Those, therefore, who 

 may expect a revelation, we are sorry to doom to disappoint- 

 ment. Here we found no new theory or practice in operation, 

 threatening to revolutionise our own, which we have yet a 

 little faith in. Here we found no peculiar dogma, or narrow- 

 minded crotchet as to the necessity of this or that precise 

 method of heating, or this or that description of soil, &c., 

 such as is often made to account for success. Here, however, 

 we fotmd in operation all that science and practice have re- 

 commended, in the broadest sense, for the well-being of the 

 Vine. 



So much discussion has lately taken place with regard to 

 Vine-border making and heating, and even the adaptability of 

 particular soils for our Vines, that we feel bound to make 

 Bome remarks on these subjects. 



First, then, we shall look at the borders at Glamis. They 

 have been formed on the plan of those at Castle Kennedy, 

 which, under the able management of Mr. Fowler, have proved 

 so satisfactory. The first principle considered seems to have 

 been ample scope for the roots. Borders are formed both out- 

 side and inside all the houses as far as we recollect, those in- 

 side being If. and 18 feet wide, and those outside of a like, or 

 probably greater extent. About that space of ground is, at all 

 events, devoted to them, and in front, forming a margin to 

 the walks running parallel with the houses, there is a pretty 

 border of flowers, thus taking eft the bare appearance of the 

 Vine border itself — a practice which we must highly commend. 

 We did not inquire about the depth of the soil or drainage. 

 To the latter, however, we were informed very special attention 

 was paid, as will be seen from the following particulars. First 

 an abundant supply of brickbats and similar open materials 

 was used, then near the top of this a series of transverse lines 

 of open drain tiles were laid, communicating with the outer 

 and the interior atmosphere. Such is called an airated border, 

 which means neither more nor less than a well-drained one, 

 with the air passing to and fro at the bottom, if it will, or when 

 it is permitted. In this, some will say, lies the secret — aerated 

 borders from henceforth ! Here, however, they will be mis- 

 taken, for Mr. Johnston confessed to us that these aii drains 



were blocked up and never used. Theory, which is often 

 beautiful, called for an ai rated border, and it was made ; 

 practice, however, has managed to beget succees without it. 

 One, and one only, of these Vine borders is heated— that from 

 which Grapes are required for early npriug nse. It is heated 

 in a very efficient manner by hot-water pipes below the roots, 

 amongst the drainage, and Mr. Johnstou is a warm advocate for 

 the adoption of a heated border where very early forcing is 

 required. 



The soil of which these borders are composed is of a very 

 light and sandy character, but remarkably full of fibre. It is 

 simply some of the natural soil of the place, the top spit from 

 some adjacent pasture, with a liberal admixttue of ground 

 bones and lime rubbish. No other manure excepting the 

 bones was added, partly because none was at hand ; yet look at 

 the result. It is not the soil which one would naturally choose 

 for making a Vine border. It seems far too light and sandy, 

 and wanting in that soft silky texture which is generally so 

 much of a desideratum. That it is a fertile soil we see by the 

 abundant crops of grain produced in the district, and cbemietry 

 tells us that there is a large proporticn of alkalies in the soil, 

 caused through the old practice, not vet abolished, of burning 

 the superabundant vegetation as it grows on the land, quan- 

 tities of the ashes being thus intermixed with the soil ; and 

 "those soils," says Morton, " which contain a large quantity 

 of potash in their insoluble portion, have within them a source 

 of permanent fertility, the alkali being gradually liberated by 

 the decomposition which is constantly in progress, owing to 

 the air and moisture permeating the soil." We do not, how- 

 ever, attach very special importance to any particular kind of 

 soil for our Vine borders, and this example at Glamis tends to 

 confirm our views, that A'ine soils have more to be considered 

 with regard to their porosity and their permeability to air, 

 heat, and moisture than anything else, with, of course, tlie 

 necessary supply of food. 



The vineries at Glamis are all en the lean-to principle 

 which, although the oldes: is, perhaps, the best and moat suit- 

 able for general purposes, especially for a northern latitude; 

 they receive and also retain more heat than span-roofed 

 houses, the latter, however, having the advantage of providing 

 a freer ventilation. Each of the houses is about 40 feet in 

 length, and there are five of them, two of them being 22 feet 

 in width, by 18 feet high at back and .'i in front, the other three 

 beiog 2 feet lower at bnck. Ventilation is provided by moveable 

 sashes in front, and at the back in the top of the wall ; about 

 2\ feet being glass, with moveable sashes hung on a centre 

 pivot and connected together, whereby the whole c!»n be opened 

 at the same time. These houses, then, as will be seen, are 

 very spacious, thus allowing the Vines plenty of breathing air 

 and head room, which contributes not a little, we believe, to 

 their success. 



The Vines are all planted inside the houses — one line along 

 the front, with liberty for the roots to go to the outside, which 

 they undoubtedly do ; another line against the back wall. The 

 distance apart is about ." feet, or 3 feet G inches, and this, 

 although greater than the usual width, has already proved 

 too close to allow ample development to the enormous leaves 

 and the robust character of Mr. Johnston's side shoots. The 

 Vines planted in front are, of course, the principal occupants, al- 

 though from those on the back wall some most magnificent fruit 

 has this season been produced. They have, up to the present 

 time, had a fair share of the direct influence of the sun's rays, 

 but now, as the Vines on the rafters occupy the whole space, 

 those at the back cannot be so much depended on, nor is it 

 intended. We were informed by Mr. Johnston that diuing the 

 months of May and June, 1867, the whole of these Vines were 

 planted, some being from eyes raised the same season : so that 

 in September last, when the fruit attracted so much attention, 

 and was awarded so many prizes, the Vines which had pro- 

 duced it were little more than two years planted. Two years, 

 rising three— let us repeat it again — the age of an ordinary pot 

 Vine. The present age is a fast one, and in its Vine culture it 

 does not belie its character. The Vines have all made most 

 exuberant and substantial growth, and were in bearing last 

 season on from 8 to 12 feet of their length of rod ; the leading 

 shoot, of course, having now twice reached its extreme limit. 

 The mode of pruning practised is the ordinary spur system, 

 the spurs or side shoots of this season being about the most 

 robust we have ever seen, and with such foliage! — deep green, 

 of the consistency of leather, and in the most perfect health. 

 Mr. Johnston is a firm believer in the good offices of properly- 

 developed leaves, to which he pays the strictest attention, and 



