578 On substituting good Fines for bad, 



from the mother plant, by making an incision in the wood 

 behind the pot ; which enlarge by degrees, as fast as the 

 young plant will bear it, until it be quite separated from the 

 old one. 



The advantage of the above method is, that the vine may 

 be grown to 10 ft. or 20 ft. and upwards in length the first 

 season, with a pot full of roots ; so that it may be planted in 

 any situation where it may be wanted, without being checked 

 in its growth, as is generally the case when grown in the 

 usual way from a layer. 



The pot ought not to be less than a 24- : it must be filled 

 with rich compost ; and, if the layer be watered occasionally 

 with liquid manure, it will considerably promote its growth. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Short Grove, Essex, July, 1832. T. Rutger. 



Art. XXIIT. On substituting good Vines, either as to Kind or 

 State of Health, for bad ones, tvith the least possible Loss of Time. 

 By Mr. Alexander Gordon, late Gardener to Sir F. G. Fowke, 

 Bart., Lowesby Hall, Leicestershire. 



Sir, 



There are various causes which have a very injurious tend- 

 ency, with respect to the growth of the vine in this country ; but 

 the most general is some defect in the formation of the border 

 in which the vines are planted, which often goes a great way 

 towards annihilating their existence. Partial remedies are 

 frequently attempted, but they are merely competent to pro- 

 long a sickly existence ; seldom, if ever, effecting a radical 

 cure. When vines become sickly, I would most strongly 

 recommend a complete renovation of the border, extirpating 

 the old vines in toto, and planting young ones. That this 

 may be done with the least possible injury to the dessert, and 

 that it may receive a speedy supply from a newly built house, 

 I have adopted the system of which I send you an account 

 below. 



If an old house and the vines in it do not give satisfaction, 

 they may be forced early, and the crops cut in April and May; 

 by which time good plants can have been raised from eyes 

 propagated in the month of February. A sufficient quantity 

 of proper compost must also be in readiness. Then destroy 

 the old vines as soon as all the fruit is cut ; prepare the bor- 

 der in a proper manner, giving due attention to a proper 

 drainage ; and in a few days after all is completed, if the 

 weather is favourable, the vines may be planted : they will 



