16 THE FLORIST AND 



are on record where decaying orchards have been revigorated by draining 

 alone. We think chemists are somewhat to blame in this matter, in direct- 

 ing attention too exclusively to the chemical constituents of the soil, regard- 

 less of its physical condition, which every practically experienced man knows 

 to be, to say the least, of equal importance. 



Grape culture is fast becoming a feature in American horticulture, and 

 their management is also well understood — at least so far as they are grown 

 for the manufacture of wine. The management of foreign kinds under glass 

 is also being placed on a definite basis. Much discursive matter has ap- 

 peared relative to the composition of soil most suitable to them. A liberal 

 application of animal matter is considered by many to form a valuable com- 

 post for this plant. Others again consider such matter unnecessary, and 

 sometimes injurious. That the roots of plants in contact with decomposing 

 animal substances will also partake of its decaying properties has often been 

 proved. That dead carcases may be applied with advantage when properly 

 decomposed, does not admit of a doubt ; but that better fruit or heavier crops 

 nave ever been produced by its use than have been secured without it, re- 

 mains to be shown. It is the opinion of many that the grape plant is a 

 gross feeder. The exact meaning of this expression is somewhat obscure. — ■ 

 It may be doubted whether those who use it have a clear idea of whatls to 

 be understood by it. If it means anything else than that the grape, like 

 most other plants, will grow better on a rich than on a poor soil, the fact 

 should be communicated. Instead of enriching the soil so excessively at 

 first, which is well known to be injurious to all fruit-bearing plants, we"pro- 

 pose a system of feeding troughs, whereby the plant can be stimulated'! at 

 Certain periods when it stands in need of such assistance. These feeders 

 Would be in the form of drains filled with charcoal, so arranged that at cer- 

 tain times they could be filled with water, and drained off vrhe ^required. 

 The facility of applying liquid manures by this method is obvious. That 

 some such system will ultimately be adopted, instead of the present very ex- 

 pensive one that many have of forming borders, there is little reason to 

 doubt. 



In undertaking to give a monthly course of 'hints' for vegetable and floral 

 management, I have again to remind the reader that they are not intended 

 to point out all that should be done — such an object can be reached by no- 

 thing short of a complete treatise on gardening, and scarcely then. Still I 

 hope to bring monthly before the reader a few hints and observations sea- 

 sonable and practicable ; and indeed in the major part describing courses of 

 culture in which the writer is actually engaged. Detailing rather the prin- 

 ciples of these operations than the modes, each will be better able to modify 



