Culture of the Vine in Pots. 39 



Register, and the accounts of their very excellent management have 

 attracted the attention of many amateurs and gardeners, who have 

 added their experience to the practice. The late discovery of Mr. 

 Mearns, called the coiling system, which was read before the London 

 Horticultural Society, and also communicated as above, and in Lou- 

 don's Magazine, has revived attention to the subject. Various exper- 

 iments will be tried, the coming spring, in this vicinity, of the prac- 

 ticability of the method. We are acquainted with several gentlemen, 

 eminent in horticulture, who have already coiled their vines in the 

 pots, and are only waiting the return of the proper season, to proceed 

 with the system. The results of their experiments, together with 

 those which we shall make, we hope to have the pleasure of com- 

 municating in our Magazine, the ensuing season. We have copied 

 two of Mr. Mearns' communications, for the use of our readers, who 

 may wish to make a trial of his method. They will be found under 

 the head of Reviews, in the present number. 



We may be allowed, before we proceed to give the particulars of 

 the cultivation of the vine in pots, as practised by us the last season, 

 to make a few remarks in regard to the difference of the two systems, 

 and to compare their value. The great advantages of coiling vines, 

 are stated by Mr. Mearns to be, the extraordinary space of time 

 gained over the single eye system, and also to be founded on the 

 principle, that the greater number of feeders or fibrous roots that are 

 produced, the more vigorous and fruitful will be the growth of the 

 plant. This principle we know to be founded on a law of nature, 

 but how far it can be applied, in all cases, is to be determined. The 

 transplanting of trees, shrubs, and vegetables, proceeds from the de- 

 sire to increase the fibrous roots, check rapid growth, and induce 

 fruitfulness ; and hence we see, that any plant, were it to remain in 

 one situation, from its first springing from the seed, or layer, or cut- 

 ting, that its age of maturity would be proportionably slow, to one 

 which had been frequently transplanted. But there must be some- 

 thing to bring into action this vegetative principle: a plant removed 

 with its leaves or buds ready to expand, contains within itself sufficient 

 nourishment to produce and support roots; but it is only by artificial 

 means that grape cuttings can be made to produce roots in sufficient 

 quantity to nourish a crop of fruit, the first season of their growth ; 

 and this, probably, will not be accomplished, unless they are kept 

 continually excited. 



The vines, when coiled, must be put in large pots, and plunged in 

 a strong bottom heat, which will occupy much room, and the top of 

 the branch will require to be wrapped up in moss, and always kept 

 moist ; this will be a constant source of care and perplexity to the 

 gardener, who must give his whole attention till the grapes are set. 

 With the method of propagating from single eyes, it is unnecessary 

 to mention, without being too expli::it, but a few of the advantages 

 it has, in our opinion, over that of coiling. In the first place, a com- 



