Jaoo 1, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND OOTTAGfi GARDENER. 



427 



Society has the bonom'of having proiluoed one ot the best shows 

 that has been seen in London for a great length of time. The 

 prize money was prcmptlypaid during the first dayof the Show. 



VINE CULTURE. 



I CANNOT call to mind the exact date when I suggested in 

 this Journal the planting of Vines 2 feet apart, and the cut- 

 ting-down every alternate Vine yearly. Since that time I 

 have had reason to modify my plan. The principle on which 

 I founded my former plan wa3 this : I imagined that when a 

 Vine was cnt down it would have nothing to do but to grow- 

 up a stout rod which might be fruited largely. In this I was 

 correct for the first year, but experience showed me that after 

 that time the Vines lost their vigour, and the reason why I 

 came to this conclusion was as follows : — The whole of one of 

 my vineries, 110 feet in length, became infested with the mealy 

 bug. After failing to eradicate this pest by various remedies, 

 I ordered the whole of the Viuos to be cut down to the last 

 spur. The young rods grew stout and strong to the top ot 

 the house, but I found that in the course of two years the 

 Vines began to lose their health and vigour. On examining 

 the roots I found that every main root was dead, and that the 

 Vines depended entirely on their support from fresh rootlets 

 which had been thrown out in a circle. I had all the dead 

 roots removed, and took the opportunity of removing the soil 

 at the same time, and in its stead placing layers of turf, 

 decayed manure, sand, and the ashes of an old furnace which 

 existed on my premises about 1.50 years ago. The Vines are 

 now as vigorous as Ihey were before they were cut down. 

 To any person pursuing the plan of catting down Vines every 

 alternate year I should recommend preserving the three last 

 spurs, cuttiug-down two of them as soon as all the roots are 

 in action ; by thi.s time the roots will be in a condition to 

 throw their whole support into the single rod. 



I will here refer to some experiments I made Ia?t year, which 

 having proved euccessful I am now carrying out on a larger 

 scale, having given orders for the plan to be adopted in 

 vineries extending 250 feet in length. Some years ago I had a 

 conversation with the late Dr. Lindley on the storing-up of 

 Bap in the bare stems of old Vines. It had occurred to me 

 that a large amount of nutriment might he stored-up in these 

 bare stems. He informed me that be had observed in a work- 

 shop at the top of a factory a Vine which had grown-up on the 

 outside wall to the height of three or four storeys, when it was 

 admitted into the workmen's room, where it had become strong 

 and fruitful. On this principle I commenced growing half 

 rods on the old stems of some of my Vines, thus : I allow a 

 rod to grow-np from the first spur to two-thirds of the old 

 stem, when it is stopped; I then allow another rod to grow 

 from a spur halfway up the old stem, and a short rod to grow 

 from the very point of the stem. These three rods were cut 

 down at the end of last year : the first rod halfway up the 

 stem, the second rod at the end of the stem, and the third to 

 one eye. The whole of the wood has been thoroughly ripened, 

 and every eye has thrown-out from two to four strong bunches. 

 This plan seems to answer better than the whole-rod system, 

 which often broke unevenly owing to the wood being im- 

 perfectly ripened. — Observer. 



ROSE EXHIBITIONS. 



There is without doubt much that is unfavourable in Roses 

 being exhibited two days consecutively, but I think some sug- 

 gestions might bo made to meet the di£Bculty ; and unless some- 

 thing be done Rose committees would eeem to lie under the 

 imputation of giving only the faded flowers of the second day 

 for the multitude's shillings. There are some good and fair 

 reasons, not merely financial, why Rose shows may sometimes 

 be held for two days. As regards the bare expenses of the 

 one day they may be met by the sale of tickets previously to 

 the day of exhibition ; but should that one day be wet, what 

 pleasure or compensation have the poor ticket -holders V The 

 second day thtn gives the public a fair chance. 



I would suggest to the Crystal Palaca and other companies 

 who give two-day Rose shows to offer in addition to their 

 prizes a grand premium prize, say for seventy-two varieties of 

 Roses shown in the three stages of bloom — full, half-blown, 

 and in bud — three trusses of each, with their own foliage and 

 buds. This arrangement would be very interesting and in- 

 structive to the Rose-loving public, as fully exhibiting the 

 characteristics of each variety, and to this end a gentleman 



offers a prize at the West of England Roeo Show. A priz? 

 for seventy-two thus shown would be easier for nurserymen to 

 cut than the orthodox number of forty-tight trebles all in one 

 stage of growth. 



Let na look practically at the extra expense to the exhibitor, 

 so much complained of. A few more Rose boxes and a man, 

 not necessarily a foreman, to stay over the second day aud 

 dress-up the stands by removing from each treble the one 

 faded full-blown specimen and arranging in its place the others 

 half- blown and bud, now nearly expanded; and with these 

 materials to work upon, if a small hamper of fresh buds were 

 sent up by night train to the man in charge, a very good show 

 could be easily kept up on the tecond day at a comparatively 

 trifling expense both to society aud exhibitor. 



As a Rose judge I will not deny that second-day Roses and 

 buds will frequently be jaded aud unfit for exhibiting for a 

 prize, but treated in the manner suggested the general public 

 would not be so disappointed the second day. — H. C. 



FBIIRA.RIA UNDULAlTA. 

 This plant is said to havs) found its w.ay to us from the 

 Caps of Gjod Hope as far bsolc as IT.VJ. Ferrarias are plants 



Fig. 115. — Fcviaiia nntlul;],ta. 



possessing sterling merits, but are somewhat difficult to culti- 

 vate in our climate. It is no use attempting to grow this race 

 of plants unless our minds are made up to succeed. They are 

 adapted for in and out door decoration, and may be turned to 

 good account for both purposes. If intended for outdoor cul- 

 tivation, a warm and sheltered border should be chosen and 

 prepared for their reception. The soil should be removed to 

 the depth of 18 inches, and filling up the space with a compost of 

 good sandy loam and peat with charcoal dust and a little coarEe 

 sand well mixed together, raising the soil above the surface an 

 inch or two to allow for £t tiling. Thorough drainage should also 

 be provided. This should be done Eome time before plant- 

 ing, that the soil may become a little firm previously to the 

 reception of the bulbs. These may ba planted in April from 

 •1 to 6 inches deep, and are all the belter if surrounded with 

 silver sand. They should at all times be sheltered from heavy 

 rains, and when the plants appear above ground they should 

 be protected from late spring frosts. The flowers, though 

 short-lived, are both curious and beautiful. 



Plants are increased by seed and offsets. By Bome they are 

 said to be hardy, but in our uucertain climate it is much best 

 to lift the bulbs after they have perfected their growth. After 

 careful drying they may be stowed away in dry sand, kept 

 from frost, and planted again in spring. The Beed may te 



