Metrospective Criticism. 603 



The Colling System, by Mr. Mearns, 8fc. — Having no desire to protract un- 

 profitable discussion, I shall not trespass at great length on the patience of 

 your readers. I must, however, assure Mr. Fish, that in having "voluntarily" 

 entered the field, as he is pleased to term it, I was induced to do so wholly in 

 consequence of the uncalled-for remarks with which the prefatory part of his 

 former paper was accompanied ; and from a conviction of the injustice of those 

 remarks, as well as the luxuriant and not very dispassionate comment, which, 

 instead of leading to truth, is seldom known to have any other than the most 

 opposite tendency. It is this of which I would complain, and from which I 

 also deem it essential discussion should be " protected," if its object be truth. 

 I would further assure Mr. Fish, that he need evince no uneasy misgiving of 

 himself, for I by no means consider him " a simpleton ; " but, if he would be 

 thus indignant at the possibility of his own assertions being doubted, because 

 unattended with proof, on what principle does he demand of others that which 

 in himself he has deemed unnecessary ? I shall not, however, enter here into 

 the merits or demerits of the system in question, but shall leave others to form 

 their own estimate of it. Like all other new systems, it will be, no doubt, often 

 tried, and will be praised or censured according to the degree of success which 

 has attended each experiment. All I contend for is, that Mr. Mearns has not 

 overrated its advantages, as far as concerns his own experience. He has acted 

 as a liberal-minded man would do, by explaining the practice which he has 

 himself followed with success j but, surely, it does not follow, that, because he 

 has done this, he must needs be held responsible for the success or failure of 

 others. — Robert Marnock. Sheffield, September 10. 1835. 



Shriveling of Grapes in Vineries, ^c, • — I have read, in some one of your 

 former Numbers, that you had no doubt but that a great many persons found 

 out causes and effects at the same time ; and, for want of registering and cir- 

 culating them, a great deal of viseful information was lost. This, it is pro- 

 bable, often is the case ; and I am convinced there would be a great many 

 more experimental communications sent to your Magazine, were it not that 

 practical gardeners are often afraid their neighbours would laugh at their 

 scribble and bad grammar, &c. ; but I beg to assure my bad-scribbling brethren 

 of the spade, that I have no doubt but a great many communications, which 

 we read in your Magazine, have been thrown into Mr. Loudon's grammar 

 mould, and cast into shape before they make their appearance. I shall there- 

 fore not again attempt fine writing, but having been troubled with the shrinking 

 or shriveling of grapes, more or less, for several years, I am determined, at all 

 hazard, to add my testimony to that of Mr. Parks, that some good may be 

 effected by leaving air in the house all night, &c. &c. I have two vineries 

 under my superintendence, one of which has a succession pine-pit in it, and 

 the other a border inside for the vines to grow in that are planted on the back 

 wall, with a row in the middle, which are trained up perpendicular rods to the 

 glass. The house with the succession pit in it I commence forcing about the 

 middle of January, and the other I commence when the natural season stirs 

 the buds. This house is for late grapes, to last till Christmas, which they 

 generally do, and sometimes till after. In the early house I never had any 

 shriveling of any consequence, as the bunches of grapes off those vines, when 

 just ripe, would always roll on a plate like a melon. I should not have men- 

 tioned this house, or the grapes in it, had it not been to show the difference of 

 the interior of the two houses, as everything else, as to depth of border, &c., is 

 the same, save and except that the vines in the late house are ten years old, 

 and those in the early house are seventeen years old. But, to the point. Three 

 years ago, as soon as the grapes were stoned, I commenced leaving air in my 

 late house all night, and such a strong fire in the front flue as would keep the 

 thermometer at from 70° to 75°: this plan, lam quite sure, effected some little 

 good, though not to the extent desired. Last year I proceeded on the same 

 plan, and with some little better success. Still I was determined to persevere; 

 and, feeling confident that it was owing to accumulated damp, 1 this year 



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