198 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Nov'r. 



Really, that a great abundance of stored-up sap for next year's cropcanCy 



r 



only be obtained by an abundance of leaves in this — the other point- 

 ing practically to the great weight of grapes their abundance of leaves 

 have produced. So in the training — the best grape growers are advo- 

 cating the horizontal training of the branches. H. W. S. Cleve- 

 land, generally the champion of the grape growers in the Chinese 

 Museum in our city; W. Chorlton, that of the Metropolitan in New 

 York; James Powell, of Philada.; and we believe J. F. Allen, the well 

 known author of a treatise on the grape vine — they also have their 

 theory and their practice. They contend that the vertical system, by 

 having the top of the vine in the highest, part of the house, where the 

 heat is the greatest, from its ascending property causes the top buds to 

 burst first, increasing the tendency to be always the strongest, and so 

 to keep the crop irregular ; while the horizontal system, assisting the 

 regular bursting of the eyes while it obviates the difficulties attending 

 the severe pruning vines on the vertical mode generally receive. This 

 is rather a new subject, and well worth much consideration. The air- 

 ing and ventilating of graperies is also raising a breeze. We believe 

 that the knowledge of the fact of the grape milder being often caused 

 bv injudicious ventilation, was first made known through our pages, in 

 the articles of Mr. Saunders, on grape culture, and in the monthly cal- 

 enders of our contributors. The fact, however, was known to our 

 Philadelphia gardeners before. Mr. John Sherwood, formerly in pos- 

 session of the extensive graperies erected by the late Nicholas Biddle, 

 at Andalusia, had long ago observed it ; but it seemed to be quite lost 

 sight of. Still there is room for abundant further observation, and we 

 should be glad to receive contributions on these subjects from those 

 having them under observation. 



The Victoria Regia. 



I frequently receive inquiries from residents of the southern States 

 respecting the growth of this line water Lily in the open air. I take 

 this mode of reply. The Victoria will grow in any place where the 

 temperature is regular, of from 70° to 90° — sudden fluctuations of 

 temperature are highly injurious to it. It delights in shade. The wa- 

 ter in which it is grown ought not to be leg's than four feet deep, and 

 ten feet is far better. Very few who have received seed from us have 

 succeeded in germinating them. When subjected to strong light, we 

 find a difficulty. In the shade they germinate in about twenty-one 

 days. We judge from this that the seed usually germinates in its na- 

 tive places in deep water ; and if obliged to sow them in shallow wa- 

 ter, we shade them till they grow. If circumstances accord with the 

 above, they might succeed in the open air in the South; in other cases 

 I fear not. Thomas Meehan. 



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