JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ January 5, 1871. 



three or four cuttings according to the size, and I find the 

 joints of the older wood make better plants than the points. 

 They have been growing without any check in a very light 

 house with plenty of moisture, and all that struck have flowered, 

 and all, except one that pushed two eyes, are in 4-inch pots. 



I intend to try experiments next summer by taking cuttings 

 at different intervals, and pinching-back the earlier-struck 

 ones, as I think if they are not overpotted, but kept growing 

 in plenty of light, and with moisture enough so as not to let 

 them lose any leaves, they may be kept very dwarf. The old 

 plants (two in number), from which I took the cuttings, both 

 pushed fresh blooming shoots, but were too tall and straggling 

 to be ornamental. I do not pretend that the floral bracts of 

 young plants treated in this way, are so fine as those on strong 

 unchecked shoots on old plants, but they are more ornamental, 

 and occupy but little space. — C. P. Peach. 



SELECTIONS OF GRAPES.— No. 1. 



Peoeablt there is nothing so perplexing to the amateur and 

 practical horticulturist as choosing from the numerous kinds of 

 fruit trees named in catalogues those best suited to his re- 

 quirements, All the varieties enumerated may be really first- 

 rate for some particular want of the horticulturist, each may 

 supply some need, or answer a particular purpose, but though 

 it may suit one person, it may not suit another, because the 

 means are different. One may have an unheated bouse, and 

 the other's house may not only be heated, but have the border 

 inside, and not unfreqnently it is furnished with chambers for 

 hot-water pipes, so that the soil can have artificial warmth as 

 well as the atmosphere. So varied, indeed, are the means or 

 conditions of culture, that instead of looking at the long lists of 

 varieties in bewilderment, I have learned to esteem them. Our 

 nurserymen are not slow in bringing into notice any new and 

 good varieties of fruits ; they cling to old and justly valued 

 kinds of proved excellence ; at the same time they are not long 

 in expunging from their lists what the popular voice says is 

 superseded by other and better kinds, as regards quality, size, and 

 productiveness. Judging from your correspondents' column, 

 some of your readers experience a difficulty when they have 

 erected a vinery in regard to what kinds they should plant, in 

 order that, with the means they have provided and can afford, it 

 shall' give them in due season Grapes in perfection. On the 

 varied conditions under which Grapes are grown in this country, 

 I purpose at this time to make a few remarks, and my doing 

 so will, I hope, elicit from others their experience. 



OuT-DOOE Gbapes. — History informs us that Vines were 

 planted on more than one southern slope of this country, and 

 Grapes grown which if not such as might be taken from the Vine 

 and eaten, were good for making wine. Though I am no be- 

 liever in the value of wine of whatever brand as a beverage, or 

 for any purpose, though it may be of value medicinally, yet 

 there are many at the present time who would, were it prac- 

 ticable, grow, as did our ancestors. Grapes for making wine. 

 " Upwaeds axd Onwaebs " has proved that some little dis- 

 tance north-west of London — namely, at Woodstock, in Oxford- 

 shire, with the aid of walls, Grapes can be grown of a quality 

 suitable for making wine little if at all inferior to many 

 foreign vintages. There can, therefore, be no doubt as to the 

 possibility of growing out of doors in this country, by the aid 

 of a wall or other means, Grapes suitable for wine-making; 

 but it remains, as far as I know, to be proved whether they can 

 be grown in any part of the kingdom without some artificial 

 aid beyond culture on southern slopes. I am in hopes that 

 such may prove the fact ; but so far as I have experience it 

 must be in some warm spots in the far south, and there only. 



So far north as here (Yorkshire) Grapes from Vines against 

 walls with south aspects, are when at their ripest so sharp in 

 flavour that few can partake of them, but I have seen Grapes 

 ripened against walls both in the north and west that could not 

 be devoid of sugar, or the wasps would not have devoured them 

 so greedily, and I have no doubt they would have made very 

 good wine. Indeed, for eating they did not compare unfavour- 

 ably with imported Grapes. From want of thinning, however, 

 they were small in berry, and the shoots not being stopped 

 sufficiently, nor due regard paid to the laterals so as to con- 

 centrate as much as possible the energies of the Vines on the 

 bunches of fruit, these did not ripen so well as they other- 

 wise might have done. Another disadvantage of Vines out of 

 doors is their often being planted in soil wholly unsuitable — 

 heavy or wet — so that they are late in starting into growth, 

 and do not ripen the long sappy shoots which are produced in 



great profusion. Under favourable conditions of soil, a light 

 and dry one, and against sunny warm walls, especially the 

 walls of houses with projecting roofs, they may be grown to a 

 considerable degree of perfection. I have known them grown 

 successfnlly on the south wall of a cottage at AVeston, in Shrop- 

 shire, and also as far north as Acomb, York. The finest Grapes 

 I have seen grown out of doors were at Oxton Hall, Tadcaster, 

 by the aid of a flued wall, about twenty years ago ; and at 

 Parlington, Brjam Hall, and other places, good examples of 

 out-door Grape-growing might at one time have been seen ; 

 but of late years glass has been so cheap that this mode of 

 Grape culture has been neglected. 



A selection of Grapes for out-door culture is as follows : — 

 Boyal Muscadine, round berries, and rather large ; this kind, 

 as far as I have experience, is the best of all, ripening with the 

 greatest certainty and perfection. Early White Malvasia; the 

 berries are much smaller than the Ptoyal Muscadine, and the 

 Vine a great bearer. Early Malingre, round or slightly oval 

 berries, small ; it is a great bearer. White Eomain, berries 

 oval, small; great bearer. Grove End Sweetwater, berries 

 round, medium-sized ; good bearer. These are all white or 

 amber-coloured when ripe. Of black or purple sorts. Black 

 Cluster, berries rouudish oblong, and small, and so the bunches 

 also are. It is, however, the best of all for out of doors. Cam- 

 bridge Botanic Garden, berries oval, rather large ; bunches 

 short; a great bearer. These two are the best black Grapes 

 for walls. Ingram's Prolific Muscat, berries oval, small. Ea- 

 piran (Esperione), berries large, roundish ; abundant bearer, and 

 hardy, but not so hardy as the two first-named black kinds. 

 These are all the kinds I advise for growing by the aid of walla, 

 and those who can afiord to cover the wall with glass would be 

 acting wisely and well to do so, the kinds named being well- 

 suited for a glass-covered wall in a cold climate, where by such 

 an aid they may succeed as well as or better than they do 

 against an open wall in a more favourable climate. 



Vines in Unheated Houses. — The houses may be of three 

 kinds — viz., 1, Ground vineries ; 2, Orchard houses ; 3, Lean- 

 to houses, or a wall with a south aspect covered with glass. 



1. Ground Vineries. — Of these I have not sufficient expe- 

 rience to warrant my giving a selection. I have no doubt of 

 succeeding with them, but I have grave doubts of some kinds 

 flourishing as they do in a house with a larger amount of en- 

 closed air. Perhaps some of your correspondents will favour 

 us with their experience, naming the kinds most suitable for 

 ground vineries. 



2. Orchard Houses. — I am equally at fault with this kind of 

 house as with ground vineries. By an orchard house I mean 

 a house constructed of wood and glass, and detached from walls 

 or other buildings. Of it, as regards Grape culture, I have 

 Eo experience. By reporting progress those who have expe- 

 rience in this mode of culture would confer a benefit on myself 

 and others. 



3. Lean-to Houses against Walls or Buildings uitli a South or 

 South-2cest Aspect. — Narrow houses sufficient only for a path 

 answer well, but there is no disputing the fact that large 

 houses are the best ; IS to 20 feet I consider quite wide enough. 

 I have seen and grown very good Grapes in houses but 12 feet 

 wide. The chief considerations to be taken into account 

 for the successful ripening of Grapes in cold houses are — 



1. To have the border considerably above the surrounding 

 level, one halt its depth above it under any circumstances, and 

 entirely when the situation is low, and water inclined to lodge. 



2. To concrete the bottom of the border, both inside and out- 

 side, with the needful incline for water to run to a point whence 

 it can be carried oil' by a drain. 3. To have as much of the 

 border inside as possible, though part outside is not bad, but, 

 on the contrary, I believe beneficial, i. To drain the border 

 well. 5. To make the border of fresh and not very rich com- 

 post, open, and not likely to settle into a close soapy mass. 

 6. To have front and top ventilation to effect by nir-giving a 

 thorough change of air, as well as to prevent damp. 7. To 

 husband the sun's heat by early air-giving, and sbutliug-np 

 whilst the sun has considerable power, always leaving on a 

 little air to prevent the scorching of the leaves. 8, To employ 

 no more wood in the construction of the house than is abso- 

 lutely needed for stability, having the fqnares of glass of good 

 size, and not being too sparing as regards its weight ; 21.oz. 

 glass is the lowest weight that ought to be used ; 26-oz. and 

 even 32-oz. will not be too heavy. Avoid the best quality of 

 glass ; 3rds will be quite good enough. Lastly. If a span-roofed 

 house be employed have it wide, not less than 20 feet, and 

 have the sides wood and glass, the light coming to within a 



