MR. ErvRTNGTOX ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE VINE. 53 



is undoubtedly tlie best late grape in the kingdom in every 

 re.spect. It is not sufficiently known at the present time, 

 nor its habits sufficiently understood ; added to which there are 

 spurious kinds under cultivation. It is a grape which will 

 endure as much heat as a Tokay, and might be planted in the 

 same house. Still with me they are classed witli the Hambros 

 for latest purposes, and have to endure a very moderate tempera- 

 ture ; however, I never knew one to shank, and I consider it the 

 safest colouring grape in cultivation. The flavour is moreover 

 exceedingly brisk and rich, and the bloom, when syringing is 

 withheld, is most beautiful. On its own root it is apt to make 

 slender wood, especially for the first three or four years ; it is 

 also liable to wither at the point of tlie growing young wood, at 

 intervals during tlie growing season, during that period. This, 

 I liave no doubt, arises in a considerable degree from the same 

 cau.se as " shanking," according to my ideas of that evil, as before 

 described. However, as the border becomes more full of roots 

 this evil departs altogether — at least it has done so with me — for 

 those undei" my care, at first liable to shrivel in the wood, have 

 now been perfectly free from it for years. 



I would here beg to recommentl those who are inclined to grow 

 the St. Peter's, to graft it on the Black Hambro' stock. This 

 was pointed out to me some years since by the Earl of Sefton's 

 gardener at Croxteth (Mr. Balmer), and 1 have found his opinion 

 to be correct. Mr. Balmer had pushed the cultivation of this 

 grape to a great extent some twelve or fifteen years ago, and 

 used to produce at that period some of the most splendid fruit I 

 ever saw. Two reasons appear to me to recommend this prac- 

 tice : first, the Black Ilambro' root is hardier or better adapted 

 to stand the low ground temperature of this climate ; and, 

 secondly, the Black Hambro', through this circumstance, has a 

 later action of root than most other vines, and consequently the 

 berries are longer fed with the ascending current. This is, I 

 think, tolerably manifest from the circumstance of the Hambro', 

 in a mixed house of vines, being the last or nearly so to fade. 



The Muscats will also, I have no doubt, be found to do better 

 when treated tliis way, for the same reasons. 



Syringing not only may but ought to be dispensed with after the 

 grapes are " set," if a fine bloom is desired ; a sufficiently humid 

 atmo.sphere may at all times be maintained without the .syringe. 

 One of the most simple and efficient plans is to enclo.se the return- 

 pipe, if hot water be used, with a cemented brick trough, with a 

 plug at the end, to empty its contents into a waste-drain when 

 necessary ; the top of the cemented trough, of course, left open. 

 As for the arguments in defence of syringing, such as the 

 danger of Eed Spider, &c., they will all fall readily before an 



