Pot Culture of the Grape. 501 



between Mr. Mearns and Philosopher, regarding the roots 

 pushing only from the eye joints. It will be recollected that Mr. 

 Mearns contended that roots issued more freely between the eye 

 joints. I turned the barren plants out of the pots, and found Mr. 

 Mearns had been perfectly correct, as there were plenty of vi- 

 gorous roots between the eye joints, more so than from the eyes. 

 1 brought all my young men in the gardens to witness it, as they 

 had read wdth great interest (in Paxton's Horticidtnral Register) 

 the debate between Mr. Mearns and Philosopher; but were at a 

 loss to know which was right, not having had an opportunity 

 of seeing any proof of it before. Philosopher must submit to 

 Mr. Mearns on that subject, as Mr. Mearns's observations must 

 have been practical, and Philosopher's only imaginative. 



The vines that had bunches on them I kept plunged in the 

 tan-bed, where they set their fruit well. The berries swelled 

 to a good size, according to the sorts ; and they are now quite 

 ripe ; but I am ceitain not one of the bunches will be requii'ed 

 at my master's table, as I have abundant crops, on established 

 vines in borders, of the muscat of Alexandria, Frontignan, 

 Hamburg, &c. ; several of the bunches two and three pounds 

 weight, and the berries the size of small plums. 1 would ad- 

 vise those who have not given the coiling system a trial, never 

 to attempt it ; as I am certain the best of success will be disap- 

 pointment to the cultivator, and perhaps insults from the 

 employer. 



The shriveling of grape berries is very important. Several 

 methods have been pointed out for its prevention ; yet I never 

 observed the malady decrease. Over-cropping a vine, a damp 

 bottom, and the foliage being destroyed by red spider, certainly 

 have a tendency to bringing on shriveling. My opinion, from 

 practical observation, is, that light crops suffer most. If the 

 flowers, when coming into blossom, do not expand over all the 

 bunch in less than twenty-four hours (be the crop ever so light), 

 that bunch will shrivel. When vines expand their blossoms in a 

 lingering state, as a shoulder one day, the other shoulders the 

 ne^it day, and the extremity of the bunch the third day, such 

 bunches are sure to shrivel, as the berries that set first begin to 

 swell immediately, and so keep the lead. They form the seed 

 stone before the last-set berries; and, when swelling off, and 

 colouring to maturity, the first-set berries rob the last-set ones, 

 and cause them to shrivel and decay. The best ir.ethod I ever 

 found to prevent shriveling is, to keep a high moist heat when 

 the vines are coming into blossom, so as it may all expand at 

 once; and, in thinning, to cut out all the small berries, leavino- 

 those on the bunch as near a size as possible. I will comment 

 at greater length on shriveling in a future Number. 



Blagdon, Northumberland , Sept. 13. 1837. 



K K 3 



