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JOUKNAIi OF HORTICULTURK AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ September 80, 187B. 



road I noticed abont a dozen varieties of Clematia in pots, 

 trained balloon fashion and loaded with bloom, that would 

 have been highly admired at a London show; while a look 

 into the glass structures which crowded at the back and around 

 the house disclosed a quantity of plants of all kinds, exotic 

 and hardy, flowering and foliage, hardwooded and succulent, 

 and in fact all that a wealthy community like that of a fashion- 

 able watering place are likely to requue both for indoor em- 

 bellishment and outdoor display, and those only who cater 

 for the public wants in such places know what is really re- 

 quired. — J. ROBSON. 



VINES MILDEWED AND THEIR EENOVATION. 



A CORRESPONDENT (" B. & W.") has sought for information 

 nnder the above circumstances. We forwarded his letter to 

 an able Grape-grower who had been similarly afflicted, and 

 who succeeded in eradicating the mildew and procuring heavy 

 crops of Grapes. The following is his reply, which contains 

 practical matter which is generally applicable at this period of 

 tho year. 



It is unfortunately too clear that the Vines have been over- 

 taken by the destructive oidium, and that the attack has been 

 a most virulent one. If the Vines have developed new foliage, 

 and the wood is fairly strong and showing signs of ripening, 

 the Vines may be preserved and future crops hoped (or; but if 

 the wood is weakly and soft, and the foliage small and lacking 

 substance, theu we must advise a renewal of Vines and bor- 

 ders. In the first case proceed as follows : When the foliage 

 has fallen prune the Vines and thoroughly wash every portion 

 of them and every portion of the house — wood, walls, and 

 floor — with a solution of soft soap of a strength of at least a 

 quarter of a pound to the gallon of water, using it at a tempe- 

 rature of liO', which will destroy all fungus germs and leave 

 the house clean. Next remove the surface soil from the bor- 

 der, carefully baring the roots (but not injuring them with 

 the fork or permitting them to become dry by exposure), and 

 replace with the best turfy loam that can be obtained mixed 

 with inch bones or charred refuse, or both, and surface the 

 whole with C inches of good stable manure. If in the spring 

 heating material is at command to again cover the border, 

 raising its surface to 00% it will facilitate the emission of roots 

 into the fresh soil, and the old Vines will become new again — 

 that is, if new rods are gradually trained up. The fermenting 

 material is not an absolute necessity, but is an immense aid, 

 when carefully managed, in renovating old Vines by assisting 

 the roots into fresh soil. 



In the next case, if the Vines are extremely injured remove 

 them and the border too, and plant new canes. The border 

 being well drained, therefore simply make an exchange of 

 Boil, taking out the old and bringing in fresh loam. Bat per- 

 haps this cannot be easily obtained, and in that case take the 

 first draw of garden soil and mix with each cartload two or 

 three bushels of inch bones, and of this make the border. Do 

 this at once before the soil becomes cold and wet, and in the 

 spring plant new Vines, and mulch over their roots with sood 

 mannre. If the ordinary soil of tie garden is such as g.oA's 

 fruit trees and vegetables well, rest assured that with bones 

 added liberally and rich surface-dressings, it will, other points 

 in culture being correct, produce satisfactory Grapes, and 

 equal, in all probability, to what would be obtained by an 

 expensive importation of turfy loam. Charred material, such 

 as rubbish, thoroughly burnt, and soil scorched, is a valuable 

 addition to any Vine compost, and such a heap can generally 

 be scraped together in moat gardens in the autumn. 



A pomt of the first moment is that the border site be well 

 drained, and of equal importance is it that the soil be put 

 together in a moderately dry state, and before it has become 

 cold by winter exposure. Neglect of these two points cannot 

 be compensated for by any loam however turfy. If put to- 

 gether in a proper state, ordinary sound garden soil which 

 will produce good crops of Pears and Potatoes will also pro- 

 duce good Grapes, and the Vines may be kept healthy for an 

 indefinite time by frequently top-dressing the border with fresh 

 Boil, bones, and manure. 



inquiry we found that these Plums had been grown by Mr. 

 Beaulah, farmer, Brackenhills, Brigg, Lincolnshire, whom 

 we know to be not only a good farmer but a successful cul- 

 tivator of fruit and an able apiarian. Mr. Beaulah has 

 grown Pond's Seedling Plum 9 inches in circumference, and 

 last year his young standard tree produced 14 stones weight 

 (14 lbs. to the stone) of fruit. The fruit was of excellent 

 quality. The synomymes of this Plum are Fonthill and 

 Pond's Purple. In colour it is a fine dark red with grey dote, 

 and is a valuable variety. 



As a successful example of amateur Grape-growing, 



we give an instance of a vinery attached to a farmer's resi- 

 dence. The house is span-roofed, 27 feet in length, and 

 IG feet in width. The roof area is 48G feet. This roof has 

 lately carried 400 bunches of Grapes, principally Black Ham- 

 burghs, varying in weight from j lb. to Si lbs. each. The 

 berries were fine and well coloured. Of these Grapes the 

 owner sold, beyond what he required for his own use, upwards 

 of 200 lbs., and realised more than sufficient to pay his fuel 

 bill and other expenses of management. The soil he used 

 was sound turfy loam and bones, and to this was added heavy 

 top-dressings of manure and copious supplies of water. 



We have received from Mr. Burry, Gray's Inn, Warwick 



Court, Holborn, a remarkably fine specimen of the Giant 

 Puff-Ball (Lycoperdon giganteum), measuring 16 inches in 

 height and 44 inches in circumference. It was grown in a 

 meadow near Bungay in Suffolk. It is edible when fresh, 

 but the fine example sent us shows signs of decay. 



VINES DESTROYED BY WIEEWORM. 

 Here we have at present date a plain and complete token of 

 their power of destruction. Three vineries which were erected 

 here in the autumn and winter of 1873 are almost a complete 

 failure. The soil was procured from good old pasture-land, 

 rather of a heavy nature, and slightly impregnated with iron ; 

 it was carted into the borders in a rough state, there chopped 

 and mixed with lime, rubbish, bones, &o. The Vines were 

 procured from a good source, planted, and when started looked 

 all right ; but it was not long ere they told that something 

 was materially wrong — the growth stood still, foliage turned 

 yellow, and for a time we were puzzled to know the cause; but 

 on examining the soil there was no mistaking that wireworma 

 were the cause, for every root was, or in the process of being, 

 eaten. Around the collar of the stems were plenty of strong 

 roots pushing for existence, but on the points of these they 

 were busy feeding. What was to be done ? Try and trap. 

 This was tried partially, still they increased. Autumn brought 

 a better growth — some canes fair, others deficient, some 

 a failure. This spring we forked over the soil, destroyed 

 what we saw of the enemy, and added some fresh soil; result 

 this season even worse than last, the borders are completely 

 swarming, and have all but destroyed the entire lot. The 

 question now is. What is to be done ? Can the present soil be 

 cleared of them, and if so by what means ? I have tried them 

 in many sorts of poisons, but they seem to live as well in them 

 as out. I would say to those who don't believe that wireworm 

 eats or in any way destroys Vineo, that they will be greatly 

 enhghtened by coming ere long and seeing them as busy at 

 the roots as boys would be in a good bed of Strawberries.— 

 John Gray, Eglinton Castle. — (The Gardener.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 We have lately seen in London some remarkably fine 

 examples of Poni>'s Seedling Plum. Taking them indis- 

 criminately, five of these fruit exceeded a pound in weight, 

 and their average size was 8 inches in circumference. On 



OUR BORDER FLOWERS— LUNGWORTS. 



At least two of this family of early-spring and summer 

 bloomers are said to be natives of England, but I cannot vouch 

 for the accuracy of the statement. I am in doubt abont their 

 nationality, and look on them as only being naturalised on 

 our island. However, be that as it may, we find them 

 thoroughly at home with us, enlivening our spring gardens 

 and borders with their cheerful presence and many-coloured 

 flowers, and in some instances with their beautiful leaves. 



What power there is in the language of flowers ! I have, 

 and no doubt others too, had the pleasurs of seeing the lan- 

 guid eyes of an afflicted one lighted up with joy when a few 

 flowers have uncxptctedly been brought. With what emotion 

 have the words burst forth from the lips of the suffering one, 

 " How beautiful, how delightful, how delicious the perfume !" 



Among flowers so welcomed are Lungworts. They are a 

 very accommodating family ; they will succeed in any mode- 

 rately good garden soil and a rather shady Eituation, but will 



