4!94i Reb'ospective Criticism. 



stock is as far advanced in growth as the setting of the fruit. The stock 

 should then be cut down for grafting, the scion having been kept in a dor- 

 mant state. The stock having been excited, its sap is more inspissated or thick, 

 and unites with more faciUty. I believe it has been proved that the vine will 

 take grafts better when the whole of the head of the plant is cut off, than when 

 an arm, or a part of one, is taken off and the part left grafted. — J. D. Parks. 

 Dartford Nursery, Dartford, Kent, Apiil 13. 1836. 



Cutting large Limbs off the Vine. — The improper mode gardeners often use 

 in cutting large limbs olF the vine (I mean in the winter season, when the 

 plant is in a dormant state) deserves reprobation. A large branch should 

 never, at that season, be cut so low as it is finally to remain, till the sap is up ; 

 at which time it will resist the air penetrating the pores, and heal over when 

 cut. This injudicious mode of pruning is the cause of vines often having one 

 side dead and hard for some distance down. Probably Mr. C. Hoare, the 

 author of A Treatise on the Vine, can throw some additional light on this. He 

 is an old friend of mine. — Id. 



The Construction of Vineries, and the Shriveling of Grapes, (p, S^-i.) — Mr. 

 Jasper Wallace (p. 244.) advises the keeping the roots entirely out of the 

 house, considering the roots to become too much heated when inside ; and 

 that this causes a shrinking of the berries, which I conjecture is the same as 

 I have termed shriveling. If so, I cannot be persuaded of this being the 

 cause; for my experience proves to me that the disease is not in the root at 

 all. I have seen both early and late grapes planted inside, in some seasons 

 do well, and be free from anything of the kind. I should think no one can be 

 persuaded that the heat of a vinery at 70° or 80° acting on the floor of a house 

 could heat the earth so as to be injurious to the roots, if they once consider 

 what a tropical climate is, and where the vine will do well. I think vine 

 doctors are in a labyrinth, like the human body doctors, and it will take a 

 good while for them to extricate themselves. There is too much writing from 

 theory and conjecture, and taking up old beaten tracks (and some of them 

 very crooked), without sifting the matter in a proper manner. I am often 

 surprised to find how easy some persons obtain prizes and medals ; and others, 

 on a far more important subject, sink into oblivion in an instant. — Id. 



Culture of the Potato, (p. 373.) — I have read with great pleasure the remarks 

 of W. M. of East Ham (p. 374.) upon my communication respecting the 

 culture of potatoes. It was my object to excite men of experience like hiui 

 to publish such facts as they had collected, and by which they had probably 

 governed their own practice ; for I thought the culture of the potato demanded 

 more attention than it had received. W. M., however, is in error when he 

 supposes I ground my opinion on one solitary experiment : I have made 

 man}', and with various results ; for the seasons have, and always will have, 

 influence upon the crop. I made an experiment last year, but it was chiefly 

 on the kinds of potatoes, and not on the relative merit of planting sets, or 

 whole potatoes. 



I repeat, with truth, that I have never known " the dry rot," and, perhaps, 

 I have been very fortunate ; but, whether that evil proceeds from the cause 

 assigned by W. M., or from the one which I supposed, I am still of opinion 

 that in cutting potatoes for sets much skill is necessary (attainable, no doubt, 

 by some old women) ; and I am further of opinion, that a failure in the crop 

 may proceed from planting the sets too soon after they are made, and before 

 the wound is seared. 



I will now give W. M. all the information in my power relating to the 

 potato called The Agricultural. Many years ago, potatoes were discovered 

 in a field, where it was certain the farmer had not planted them. He hap- 

 pened to be an intelligent man, and took care of them. After having satisfied 

 himself of their good quality, he sent some to the Agricultural Board (Lord 

 Carrington, as I remember, being then the president). They were cultivated 

 by the Board, and, when a sufficient stock was provided, they were distributed 

 over the kingdom. By means of a friend of Lord Carrington's, I got a sack. 

 They came to me by the name of Agricultural, and so I have always 



