NOTES ON CELEBRATED VINES. 



81 



border plenty of drainage underneath, and placed turf fresh from 

 the field with the grass side downwards over the brickbats and tiles 

 used for this purpose. The soil of which I made the border was 

 composed of fresh turf, chopped ap and mixed with a fair propor- 

 tion of charcoal and ground bones. For a week the leaves drooped 

 very much, after which they recovered, and the vine made some 

 fresh growths before its leaves dropped. The soil being fresh turf, 

 it heated up to about 70°, and this facilitated its recovery and the 

 formation of fresh roots. I covered the border with glazed sashes, 

 which threw off the autumn rains, and prevented the destruction of 

 the recently-formed roots during the winter. In the spring it started 

 very weak, but gradually gained strength during the season, since 

 which date it has yielded an average of 400 bunches yearly, of 

 about 1 lb. weight each. The system of pruning adopted for this 

 vine is what is termed the long spur — i.e., I leave from three to four 

 eyes of the young wood annually. Last year (1868) the wood of 

 the old vine was as strong as that of our young vines, and I have no 

 doubt it will improve for years to come. The grapes colour well, 

 hang on the vine till March, and are of first-rate flavour." 



The oldest vines in Scotland are, in all probability, those in the 

 garden of David Anderson, Esq. of Moredun, near Edinburgh. They 

 -are about a hundred years of age. At one time they must have 

 been grown as single rods over pines, as there is still a large pine-pit 

 in the house. They are planted in an outside border, and their 

 roots have gone out about 130 feet, passing under a garden-wall in 

 their progress. They are in good health and vigour still. 

 ' I learn from Mr Osborn that the Finchly vine referred to in the 

 body of this work is progressing as well as can be desired, bearing 

 immense crops of fine grapes, and that the stem is now 1 7 inches in 

 girth. For its age this is perhaps the most extraordinary vine in 

 the country, seeing it is only fifteen years since it was struck from 

 an eye. 



There is another famous black Hamburg vine growing in the 

 Scottish Highlands at Kinnell, near the confluence of Loch Tay and 

 the Dochart. This place was once the seat of " The M'j^abs," but 

 is now the property of the Marquess of Breadalbane. I am indebted 

 to Mr William Gorrie, landscape-gardener, Edinburgh, for the follow- 

 ing particulars about this vine, which, he informs me, were derived 

 from his own observation, and from Mr Murray, late gardener at Tay- 

 mouth Castle, who once had the charge of it. It was planted in 

 1832 by Mr Robert Gardener — who was then gardener at the place 

 — in a small vinery. It now occupies a house 89 feet by 23 J feet, 

 covering with its wood and foliage an area of 229 superficial yards. 



F 



