370 Azotes and Gleanings. 



appearance resembling the elm ; and may be familiarly described as an elm bear- 

 ing clierries. We have found it in but one catalogue ; and, alas! it was only there, 

 — not in the nursery. 



Its relation, Celt is crassifolia, is no less beautiful, and is equally neglected. 

 The former is properly known as the nettle-tree ; the latter, as the hackberry. 

 Will no one propagate a stock of these beautiful hardy trees, and disseminate 

 them among our citizens ? We spend hundreds of dollars in acclimating 

 foreign trees, and neglect those of far more beauty which grow in our own 

 woods. 



Fruit ix Ground-Vineries. — I find the best method of cultivating fruits 

 under ground-vineries is as follows : At one end of the vinery, a hole two feet 

 square, and of about the same depth, is dug out, and filled with a compost of 

 good loam, rotten dung, and a little road sand : these should be well incorpo- 

 rated together, previously throwing in about a peck and a half of bones, merely 

 bruised, to afford drainage to the mass ; also to feed the vines during hot weather, 

 or when the heat is so great as to rob the plant of its natural moisture. The 

 bones will likewise absorb the fluids passing down to them more readily by 

 -being bruised. All being thus prepared, the vine is turned out about the middle 

 of April, providing the weather is open and mild ; the cane being introduced, and 

 pegged down. Air should be admitted at ten o'clock, a.m.. by raising slightly 

 the hghts : this, with the additional air from the bottom of the frames, will serve 

 to check the vines from making too quick and premature a growth before the 

 season is sufficiently advanced to assist the formation of the young parts. The 

 cases should be closed again about two, p.m., if possible securing a little atmos- 

 pheric warmth ; and the vines should at this period be slightly syringed : the 

 moisture will aid the expansion of the bark and the bursting of the young buds 

 and leaves. This treatment should be continued until the flowers are expanded, 

 when syringing must be entirely suspended, and air admitted upon every oppor- 

 tunity. As soon as the flowers are set, I find moisture applied in the form of 

 vapor highly beneficial : this can be obtained by pouring tepid water upon the 

 slates. Atmospheric warmth is secured throughout the day, and causes the 

 moisture to evaporate ; thus charging the internal air with an agent highly bene- 

 ficial. As soon as the grapes have attained the size of sweet-peas, the bunches 

 should be thinned ; taking out all ill-shaped and detbrmed berries, also all those 

 which are in immediate contact with others : taking care not to remove all the 

 interior berries, or the bunches will be loose and ill-shapen. At this period 

 the structure should be kept close, and as much warmth secured as possible ; as 

 the critical time of stoning will have arrived, and a check would prove highly 

 injurious. As soon as coloring commences, as much air should be admitted as 

 is consistent with safety from chilling ; and tiie vinery should be closed sufficiently 

 early to secure, as before stated, as much natural warmth as possible. If this 

 course be pursued, I feel confident every success will attend the operator, and 

 will well repav him for the pains he may bestow : the weight and quality of the 

 fruit will equal if not e.xceed that which is grown in extensive vine-houses. — 

 R. Broome, at Meeting of Central Horticultural Society. 



