364 Notes and Gleanings. 



characters are well worthy of our study ; though, being concealed in the soil, 

 they are not so patent to our observation. 



When we consider that the woody fibre itself, even to the ramifications of the 

 roots, is made up of the cells that connect the buds with the soil, we should 

 expect that the latter would impress the former with their peculiar characters. 

 If, from injury, pruning, or other cause, one side of a tree is less developed or 

 less healthy and vigorous than another, we always find that side of the bole is 

 less fully developed, and that the roots on that side are smaller than those con- 

 nected with and related to the vigorous portion of the tree. 



In the cases cited, the Fall Pippin has the more straggling form. Though of 

 strong growth, it has fewer buds at a given age than the Yellow Bellflovver, which 

 is more twiggy, but is furnished with a greater number of leaves and buds. Of 

 these latter organs, each being a distinct plant sending its radicle to the soil, we 

 should expect to find a greater number of small roots in the Bellflower than in 

 the Fall Pippin, even though the individual shoots and roots of the latter be 

 coarser and larger. 



The consideration of these root peculiarities in all our plants, and in difTerent 

 varieties, is commended to the readers of the Journal for their observation and 

 study. # * * 



Rogers's Hybrid, No. 4. — This grape is believed by many to be the best 

 grape for New England ; and it also stands high at the West, as far as tested. 

 It is steadily gaining favor, and I consider it tlie best grape in my collection of 

 thirty varieties. I had some bunches the last season that weighed a pound and 

 a quarter, and a friend of mine had one bunch that weighed a pound and three- 

 quarters. I think this grape must have improved from cuts that I have seen 

 that were taken years ago. The bunches are now many of them double-shoul- 

 dered, and are nearly as showy as the Black Hamburg. It is not quite as early 

 as the Hartford Prolific ; but it was ripe enough on my vines last season, at the 

 time of the Hartford's ripening, to be a much better grape than that variety. It 

 is the healthiest vine in both fruit and foliage that 1 have on my place. It is 

 very hardy, — the most so of any of the hybrids that I have tested. It does not 

 require covering any more than the Concord, though I am a firm believer in 

 covering every fruit-vine in our climate that can be covered. Notwithstanding 

 the persistent efforts of some to undervalue these hybrids, some of them are 

 destined to be very popular ; and I have yet to see the grape in our markets 

 that will compete in quality or appearance with Rogers's No. 4. These 

 hybrids will not bear the close pruning recommended by some. They are vigor- 

 ous growers ; and if cut back, as we read of in some of the books, they will push 

 such a vigorous growth that the fruit will be found wanting ; whereas, if the sap 

 have to circulate through ten or fifteen feet of old cane, its course will be less 

 rapid, and we shall get fine bunches of fruit. I am not a believer in the unmer- 

 ciful close pruning. If we wish to kill the bushes in an old pasture, we per- 

 sist in cutting for about three years as close as recommended by some tor the 

 grape, and we accomplish our object. /.. Bassett. 



North Haven, Jan. 9, 1868. 



