190 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Oct's. 



untile necessity of education amongst farmers, and pointed out to them™) 



r p their importance as a class. W 



At the dinner where Mr. Gowen presided, he prefaced a toast com- \ 



plimentary to the orator of the day, by alluding to the influence and 



character of the N. Y. Society, and the aid rendered by it to the cause, 



to which Mr. Johnston suitably responded. 



The ploughing match came off at the Hunting,Park, in the after- 

 noon. On the whole the exhibition was a successful one. The in- 

 crease in the poultry department was observed by the committee, as 

 they found great difficulty in judging between the different competi- 

 tors. 



Culture of Grapes under Glass. 



BY WM. CHORLTON, NEW BRIGHTON, STATEN ISLAND. 



If the cultivator in his multifarious operations were to work more 

 in accordance with the laws by which the vegetable kingdom is go- 

 verned, he would in many cases produce more important results than 

 are now generally obtained. The actual product might not be greater 

 but the results would be more certain, and the failures less in propor- 

 tion, than is too often the case. Notwithstanding our boasted excel- 

 lence and skill, there is yet much room for improvement and unfortu- 

 nately many of us have many practical prejudices to overcome. How- 

 ever liberal minded we may wish to appear, there are many dogmas 

 and much pedantry in existence amongst us. Our training has some- 

 what instilled these feelings into our minds ; we have become habitu- 

 ated to it, and the great apparent success of particular methods, have 

 in a great measure convinced us that those operations are somewhat 

 approaching perfection. It is very true that we have made great 

 progress within the last few years in the science of horticulture, and 

 have overcome many of the old superstitious set rules by which our 

 forefathers worked, but there is much yet to be done. We have some- 

 thing to unlearn, and a great amount to learn before the goal of per- 

 fection is arrived at. To goto school with ourselves, to observe and 

 take nature's laws for our guide, to woo her and coax her to give up 

 her yet hidden treasures and assist us in our handiwork, and before 

 we denounce anything that may seem to be opposed to our ideas in 

 practice, we ought to weigh calmly and consider the matter and not 

 come to too hasty a conclusion till proof of its inferiority has been 

 fully demonstrated. I am led into this train of reasoning by thinking 

 of the general way in which we grow and prune the exotic Grape 

 Vine on the one hand, and that which has been, and yet is practised 

 in some isolated cases on the other. I find that where the head has 

 been allowed to extend itself somewhat from year to year (other cir- 

 cumstances being suitable) there has been the greatest longevity and 

 more certain and permanent crops. 



It is a physiological fact, that all plants according to their struc- 

 ture increase in bulk and solidity of branches, trunk, and roots, pro- 

 portionately to the amount, healthiness, and quantity of the leaves, 

 freely exposed to light and heat, and without the observance of this 

 due proportion all are comparatively deteriorated. Take for exam- 

 ple an oak, practice upon it the same treatment as the grape vine re- 

 ceives, keep its trunk pruned to the same space every season and it is f 

 evident that in time it would become stunted in every part, its con- 9\ 

 ^stitution enfeebled and its period of existence shortened. Some may £ 



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