Diary of the Vine Culture at OaJchill. 547 



like all those in healthy larch trees of that year, was larger than 

 the rest; from 1826, the annular layers became very narrow ; 

 leading us to infer, that in that very dry season the disease 

 had commenced. In examining the roots, I found several 

 decayed into a soft spongy substance, within from 4 in. to 10 in. 

 of the surface ; the other roots were apparently healthy. The 

 tap root (for each had a sort of descending root from below the 

 centre) was sound ; but, on cutting it across, the heart appeared, 

 of a livid unwholesome-looking red, indicating approaching 

 decay. 



To direct public attention to this interesting subject, I propose 

 sending the two specimens described, with appropriate remarks, 

 to the agricultural museum of Messrs. Dickson and Turnbull, 

 Perth, in the hope that others will contribute specimens of simi- 

 lar trees, or rather of such parts of trees as may appear to them 

 to be likely to lead to a knowledge of the disease. My next will 

 contain my remarks on the larch succeeding the Scotch pine, 

 as I expect to have an opportunity soon of giving plantations of 

 that description, and others of the same age on similar soils, a 

 liberal thinning. Where the larch has followed a crop of the 

 Pinus sylvestris, I have but too much reason to fear I shall meet 

 with many rotten at the heart, or " pumped," a term applied in 

 this quarter for rotten or hollow hearted trees. I mention this 

 as an answer to a query, in IX. 722., by the Rev. Mr. Bree. 

 The proprietors of many larch plantations in this quarter begin 

 to get experimentally acquainted with the term. 



Annat Gardens* Jan. 8. 1834. 



Art. VI. A Diary of the Course of Culture applied to the Grape 

 Vines at Oakhitt, East Barnet, in Herts. By A. Forsyth. 



Should you consider the following diary of a course of cul- 

 ture applied to the vine here worthy of a place in your Maga- 

 zine, I should be gratified by the insertion of it. Our success 

 makes us bold to say, that we hope it may introduce a better 

 mode of culture of that much-esteemed fruit in the remote corners 

 of the kingdom, where your Magazine has been the means of 

 enlightening and instructing many an inexperienced gardener. 



The vinery is 34ft. long, 16ft. wide; with 2ft. of mason- 

 work, and 2 ft. of upright glass in front ; and the roof is at an 

 inclination of 27°. The whole interior is heated by a surface of 

 hot-water piping equal to 3 1 2 square feet. A tan pit, erected on 

 piers of brickwork, occupies the centre floor of the house, except 

 only a space of 3 ft. 4 in. all round, which is taken up by the 

 pathway and hot-water apparatus. At fcjjg back wall of the 



a q 4 



