July 18, 1878, } 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
43 
varias, Primulas, and Pelargoniums are the gems of window 
plants, and subject to green fly. To avoid the possibility of 
this grow them. slowly onwards to a certain stage in moist 
pits or frames, and insects will give you no trouble. Mice 
and other vermin care little for plants, and will disappear if 
nothing is left in their way upon which they usually feed. 
Were the limits of this article not already exceeded I should 
feel bound to separately notice such necessary operations to be 
borne in mind as cleanliness, washing and syringing ; respira- 
tion, perspiration, or evaporation ; shifting, light and shade, 
&c. ; but there is the less necessity for this, as the several points 
have been cursorily referred to in connection with other points 
as we proceeded. It now remains to mention some window 
plants, which with very limited means I have myself success- 
fully grown and flowered during the past twelve months with- 
out the use of any extra appliance but a pit with some hotbed 
manure to start seeds and cuttings in early spring :— 
1, Indispensable Window Plants.—Calceolarias, Cinerarias, 
Fuchsias, Primula sinensis, Petunia, and Verbena. 
2, Very Desirable Plants—Abutilon, Acacias, Ageratum, 
Amaryllis, Balsams, Bouvardias, Cuphea, Coronilla, Camellias, 
and Citrus family, Daphnes, Deutzia gracilis and the double 
variety, Dielytra, Epacris and Ericas, Gazania, Hydrangeas, 
Heliotropes, Justicia (I have one in flower at present in a 
window), Lilies, Myrtles, Richardias or the Nile Lily, Salvias 
red and blue, Tree Carnations, &c. 
3, Plants that with Care do better Outside—Antirrhinum, 
Auricula, Asters, Anemones, Chrysanthemum, double Primroses 
and double Rockets, Marigolds, Mimulus, Polyanthus, Portulaca, 
Pentstemon, Phloxes, Ranunculus, Sweet William, Stocks, 
Zinnias, &c. 
4, Creepers and Climbers.—These are for sides of windows 
or trailing along sides of boxes.—Cobcea scandens, Dianthus 
Heddewigii, Ipomeas or Convolvulus major, Lobelias, Sweet 
Peas, Tropzeolums, while Saponaria and Nemophila insignis 
make nice edgings, 
5, Sweet-smelling.—Musk, Mignonette, Violets, Wallflowers, 
&e. 
6, Bulbs—Crocus, Hyacinths, Gladiolus, Ixias, Sparaxis, 
and Tritonias, Tulips, with such handsome things as Tigridia, 
Scilla, Babiana, &c. 
7, Succulents.—Aloes, Cactus, Crassula, Sedums, &c. 
8, Zender Plants—With a little bottom heat to start with 
you can readily, as I have at present, tuberous Begonias, Ce- 
losias, Achimenes, Gesneras, and Gloxinias. If the three last 
mentioned never flowered the foliage would be “a thing of 
beauty ” itself, which Shakespeare calls “a joy for ever.” 
—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
GRAPES WITHOUT FIRE HEAT. 
THIS subject, mooted by “A KITCHEN GARDENER,” criticised 
by Mr. David Thomson, and reviewed by “ NortH LINCOLN,” 
is one of very great importance. Gardeners know tolerably 
well that excellent Grapes can be ripened without fire heat 
over the greater portion of England. In the extreme north of 
the island it is not expected they will so ripen, but let not this 
fact deter those residing in more sunny and favoured districts 
from erecting vineries from the fear of incurring after and 
permanent cost by the purchase of fuel. 
I can confirm what has been said by your correspondent, on 
page 22, as to Grapes ripening in Lincolnshire without fire 
heat. I have seen splendid Grapes produced in that county 
where the heat has been wholly supplied by the sun. 
The means of heating a vinery is, as has been suggested, 
undoubtedly valuable, especially for protecting plants in winter. 
But even that is not always an advantage in the case of ama- 
teurs, who are sometimes rather fond of “playing with fire.” 
An amateur of my acquaintance grew Grapes of superior 
quality without any fire heat, such Grapes that held their 
own at autumn exhibitions. Thinking to achieve still greater 
results he at considerable cost heated his vinery, and never 
afterwards produced Grapes of such fine quality as before 
when the sun did all the heating. 
I believe that Grapes may be satisfactorily grown without a 
shoyelful of coals in any sheltered situation south of the 53° of 
latitude, except, perhaps, in the dull western counties ; on the 
more sunny east coast as far as Yorkshire I know they may be 
so grown in sheltered gardens. 
deners residing further north than the locality indicated would 
state their experience on this question. I have seen very fine 
Grapes grown in Nottinghamshire without any fire heat having 
It would be instructive if gar- | 
been applied. Will they not succeed also in Derbyshire, 
Leicestershire, and Staffordshire under the same conditions? 
and what about Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, and 
other of the inland counties ? 
If evidence can be afforded that Grapes can be produced in 
the counties alluded to under the simple conditions suggested 
a great impetus will be given to the erection of plain vine- 
ries as adjuncts of the homes of many who otherwise cannot 
obtain Grapes either for their own families or for distributing 
amongst their sick neighbours. Vineries and icehouses in 
country districts are far more beneficial than alehouses, and 
every encouragement should be given for the erection at least 
of the inexpensive and enjoyable structure first mentioned, 
—A LINCOLNSHIRE GARDENER. 
SECURING GRAFTS AND BUDS. 
A LETTER from a correspondent detailing the loss of some 
much-cherished grafts by their not having been properly 
secured reminds us that many grafts and buds are annually 
broken off by the wind. Remedies are often submitted just too 
late to be of use, and warnings circulated after evil has been 
Fig. 6. 
done. Grafts are now growing rapidly, and buds of Roses and 
of fruit trees are many of them in danger of being blown out 
by the storms and gales. In many cases the stocks themselves 
may form the means of support; all that in such a case is 
required is the securing of the graft to the stock as represented 
in the engraving from the excellent work of M. Baltet, the 
stock being shortened at the winter’s pruning at the point D. 
In other cases stakes affixed in the ground and reaching a 
sufficient height to afford the requisite support are necessary, 
or in the case of standard trees and Roses stakes must be 
affixed to the stems of the trees in such a manner tkat the 
new and as yet insecure growths can be fastened to them, 
Whatever means are adopted for securing the grafts let them 
be adopted in good time, or injury may be done in an hour 
that cannot be repaired ina year. Be the grafts or buds few 
or many, it is important that they be made safe at this period 
of the year—hence this reminder, suggested by a loss that has 
caused much regret. 
ROSES. 
CouLD not prizes be offered for Roses which were cut a 
certain number of hours before the time fixed for judging ? 
This would place those competitors coming from a distance on 
an equal footing with those who live on the spot. Of course 
