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ON THE MANAGEMENT 



abundant roots, grow shorter jointed, are more 

 prolific, and will, if permitted* come into bearing 

 the second year. 



that we have used the method, have found no reason to think 

 that Vines can any way be raised more easily or sooner, or that 

 the Vines raised this way are, in any respect, less vigorous or 

 less perfect, either when younger, or as old as we have yet 

 had time to see them, than those raised in any other way; nor 

 do I think that old wood in the cuttings is either necessary or 

 useful, a hot-house summer, upon plants (that by being planted 

 in the bark, begin to grow a month sooner than the other hot- 

 house Vines, or even more, if you please) being fully sufficient 

 abundantly to ripen their wood, if not even almost to over- 

 ripen it. And that you might have the means of judging a 

 little better of the merit of this method, I have given you the 

 account, in the beginning of this letter, of two Vines planted in 

 that manner, winch, however, I hope to have the pleasure of 

 showing you some time this year, with the fruit upon them, 

 when you will have a better opportunity of satisfying yourself 

 about it. As to your proposal of planting the cuttings single 

 in pots with sifted tan, I have no doubt but it will do very well ; 

 but I doubt whether quite so well as in the bark without pots ; 

 for besides that I think the pots prevent the heat, &c. from 

 being quite so kindly, there may so many more cuttings be 

 planted in the bark \ and if they are four or five inches only 

 asunder, and are not suffered to grow there too long before 

 they are potted, there is no difficulty in shaking off the bark, 

 so as not to hurt the roots, and they come sufficiently near 

 together in point of time, their having shot a little, more or 

 less, not being very material ; for when they have once begun 

 to shoot, and have got tolerable roots, they will then, as far 

 as I have seen, grow very kindly in pots of earth, whether 

 they are a little more or less advanced. 



" Yours, &c. 



" Tkornhill, April 3. 1777." 



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