Culture of the Vine in Pots. 61 



feeders tlian animals. It is ohvious tliat water, in its meanderings alonp the 

 rich surface of meadows, and whilst depositing iis grosser sediment, as it is 

 filtering through the herhage, takes np in its progress, all the food that vege- 

 tahles need. It hecomes strongly impregnated with the fertilizing exhala- 

 tions from the earth, and with the various important gases evolved by the con- 

 stant [)rogress of decomjiosition constantly going on at the surface, as well as by 

 those subtile nutritious |)articles contimially afloat in the atmosphere and which 

 are borne down by attraction, gravitation, wind, rains, and by dews; where 

 they lie upon the surface till dissolved and taken np by the fluids .is fcwd for 

 vegetation, and are borne along in abundance by the surface waters, where it 

 is fitted for our important purposes. With such water I supply my vines 

 plentifully at a time, but never more than once a day, and then, not unless 

 they stand in need of it, which is obvious from the plants inclining to flag 

 for want of food. I have then a sure criterion that I can give them plenty 

 without danger. In the last stage of swelling, they take up much, and if ju- 

 diciously snp|)lied, will swell ofi" to a fine size, provided plenty of air l>e jii- 

 dicously admitted to them, and a due vapor be kept np whilst the j)it is closed. 

 It is very important to give large jiortions of air to every ])lant under forcing; 

 nearly taking the lights ofl' in fine weather, and closing them early in the 

 afternoon ; but at bed time, admit a circulation of night air, and keep up the re- 

 quired temperature by a little fire, or a stronger lining. Early in tlie morning 

 close up leaving only sufiicient at the top to allow the condensing vapor to ])ass 

 ofl'; let it thus remain till the glass rises from seventy to eighty degrees, before 

 more air be given. Then give it at two or three difierent times, if the day 

 be fine, till the pit or house is as much exposed to the influence of tJie atmos- 

 pheric air as it conveniently and safely can be. 



I think it novel and of much importance to those who have sweet water 

 vines, Miller^s Burgundy, Muscadines or others which are common upon walls, 

 to know that they can cut oft' branches from them, and have a good crop of 

 fruit the first year in pots. 'I'ake a cutting of any length, from five to twenty 

 feet; no matter if at the extremity, it be five or six years old; drain 

 the bottom of the pot well, coil the branch round and round \\\e \\\sii\e of it, 

 from two to five or six times, according to the length of the branch ; and 

 leave above the pot a length of stem suitable for the accommodation. Then 

 fill np the pot firmly, to within an inch of the top, with a good mellow com- 

 post, and place a neat stake to steady tiie shoot in the direction most suitable; 

 <ind to prevent tvaporation, and to encouraii-e roots all over the stem, wrap it up 

 neatly with moss, and keep it constantly moist, till the grapes are safely set. 

 Then clear oft" the moss and roots, and encourage those in the jiots by proper 

 warmth and shifting; and, if it caii be dojie, tliey should be ]»lace-d in a bot- 

 tom heat till the grapes are set, at least. 1 have had fine and well perfected 

 grapes from a Muscat cutting this season, treated as I have descril)ed, and 

 those from a cutting ten feet long ; as well as from a Ulack Damascus and 

 Black Trijmli, the berries of all being finely swelled, and of fine flavor. 



The vines are now extremely fine, and the wood well prepared for a plen- 

 tifid crop next season. The eyes are as fine as I could wish them ; tlie wood 

 is from one inch to one inch and a quarter in girth. I have one vine coiled 

 into a pot, but not more than eight or nine inches at)ove it, which has got a 

 young shoot, twice stopped, eight feet long, and is one inch and a tpiarter in 

 girth ; if I had not stopped it, I have no doubt of its being from twenty to 

 tliirty feet long; but should not so certaiidy have accomplished my object, 

 in having it a fine bearing shoot for next season, which it now {)romises to 

 be. 



It is known to the experienc«;d grape-grower, that his only certainty of 

 fruit buds depends upon such shoot springing from an eye of the previous 

 year; if that be not attended to, and it spring direct from old wood, without 

 « previously prepared eye, however fine tlie shoot may be. it is generally 

 abortive. This can be obviated, and a year may be gained by culling thei 



VOL. I. NO. II, 1 



