MAY. 



71 



of turfy loam round it, the young bark began to grow, and another season will 

 complete the union. My noble employer has often suggested the working of 

 this graceful shrub standard high, as a substitute for the more tender Orange 

 and Lemon, for terrace decoration in summer, than which, mixed with New 

 Zealand and Australian conifers, Chamaerops excelsa, Aloes, and Yucca 

 gloriosa, nothing could look more beautiful ; and, plunged in ashes, any 

 sheltered corner would suffice for its safe keeping through the winter months. 

 I believe it has been generally proved that the Japanese shrubs and conifers 

 passed the icy ordeal almost unscathed. Out of more than thirty varieties we 

 nave but one loss to record — Ligustrum japonicum, planted below the level of 

 the lake, was killed. This fact, at a time wben the Messrs. Veitch, with their 

 usual perseverance, regardless of expense, are introducing so many gems from 

 that country, which promise to surpass all that we have yet seen in the way of 

 conifers, must be highly interesting to lovers of hardy trees ; and I believe the 

 day is not far distant when our Sciadopitys, and Retinosporas, will be as 

 essential to the completeness of every collection, however small, as the 

 Wellingtonia introduced by that enterprising firm is at the present time. 

 Eastnor Castle, Ledbury. W. Coleman. 



HINTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE VINE. 



No plant suffers more than the Vine from excess of moisture at the root : 

 hence the necessity for perfect drainage. 



It invariably happens where the Vine is found in a bad state of cultivation, 

 that "the evil lies at the root:" therefore, I repeat again, the very great 

 importance of perfect drainage, and also the necessity of selecting materials 

 the most likely to keep up a healthy sustaining action of decomposition in 

 the border. 



The Formation and Composition of a Vine-border. — Select a southern aspect 

 for the vinery, which may be of any convenient size — say (if a lean-to) from 

 30 to 50 feet long, and 19 to 23 feet wide, constructing it so that the Vines 

 may be transplanted inside the house, also to have the opportunity of rooting 

 in the outside border. This may be done by having the front wall of the 

 vinery on arches, or plinths fixed on piers ; the border should be nearly 

 altogether above the level of the surrounding walks in the garden. Begin by 

 making a border 6 feet wide, and adding this width every three years until 

 the allotted space is filled up. Where neatness is strictly necessary, the 

 whole of the inside border may be filled in at once, which may be sufficient 

 for six or seven years ; the condition of the Vine must be the cultivator's 

 guide in this respect. Previous to putting the compost together for the Vine, 

 concrete the bottom upon which the. Vine-border is intended to be made, and 

 which must be on an incline extending from the back wall of the vinery to 

 the front of the outside border, which may be from 20 to 30 feet wide (the 

 outside border). The concrete can be made with hot lime and gravel, or, if 

 more convenient, broken brickbats or cinders : the latter must be quite free 

 from acids. Lay on this concrete 6 inches thick, and when it is set quite hard 

 it is ready for the compost. Some cultivators of the Grape Vine are under 

 the impression where the substratum is formed of gravel, sand, or any other 

 porous materials, that concreting is not necessary. I have always found that, 

 let the substratum be what it may, it is best to have the roots near together, and 

 kept under perfect control, and obliging the Vines to fill the pieces of border 

 with roots before adding fresh to them. It will be found that a mass of healthy 



