LETTER. 



To G. W. Brimmer, Esq. 



I return you the Treatise on the Cultivation of the 

 Grape Vine on open Walls, by Mr. Hoare, with many thanks 

 for your kindness in leaving it so long- in my hands. I have read 

 this little book with great pleasure and interest, and have derived 

 much valuable information from its pages. The general princi- 

 ples laid down by the author, although applied to the culture of 

 the vine on open walls, are, in my opinion, highly valuable as 

 fundamental rules for the treatment of this plant in all situations, 

 whether indoor or out, on open walls or open trellisses, in town 

 or country, — in fact, wherever the grape vine is cultivated as an 

 edible fruit. Although Mr. Hoare 's mode of training the vine 

 differs essentially from that commonly practised by gardeners, yet 

 the leading principle of his practice will apply equally well to the 

 training of vines on rafters in grape houses; and I am by no 

 means sure, that where the roof of the house alone is appropria- 

 ted to the cultivation of this fruit, that his mode of training might 

 not be adopted with advantage even under glass. I have been 

 for many years in the habit of raising bearing shoots from arms 

 formed in the manner described by Mr. Hoare ; but I have unfor- 

 tunately allowed those arms to extend too far from the stem of the 

 vine, and the consequences pointed out by him have been invaria- 

 bly produced throughout my grape-houses. I have eight or ten 

 vines of this description, of an age and size to be put into bearing 

 during the next year and the year after, and which have not been 

 allowed to injure themselves by bearing. I trust I may be able 

 to test his practice on these vines, by adhering strictly to his rules. 

 1* 



