100 



THE FLOHIST AND POMOLOG1ST. 



dormant buds at the base they only last for a season, and instead of the roots 

 pushing the following spring you find them blind, and, consequently, you have 

 lost the variety altogether. If I am wrong in these remarks I shall be glad 

 if either you or some of your numerous correspondents will correct me. 



There is no doubt that many plants are propagated to excess ; for instance, 

 the Hollyhock. A new variety, which commands a high price, is not often 

 sent out until March, and then so small that it requires considerable nursing to 

 make it into a respectable plant. The other day I noticed in a catalogue, under 

 the head of Hollyhocks, that they did not practise the system of grafting ; the 

 reason assigned was, that plants so raised were short-lived. This is the first 

 time that I ever heard of grafting the Hollyhock ; but, at any rate, I take it 

 for granted, that there is a mode of propagating them that might for a time 

 suit the propagator, but which is almost valueless to the purchaser. 



Birkby, near Huddersfield. J. Riley. 



WINTERING GRAPES IN SUMMER. 



As an interesting spectator of the elegant and instructive sparring match 

 between Messrs. Thomson and Tillery, I beg your correspondent's pardon for 

 laying my hand on his shoulder and saying, " Hush J" Please, Mr. Henderson, 

 not to draw off the attention of the combatants till they have finished, and 

 kindly accept an answer to your question, at present, from one outside the 

 ropes. By the expression " wintering in summer " is meant, as of course you 

 understand as well as myself, doing the work of winter in the summer ; his 

 object being to do the work of summer in the winter without injury, as it has 

 been found by experience that both are necessary to the health of the Grape 

 Vine. The winter's work being to give rest to the plant, and to ripen its 

 new wood, his assertion is, that these results are more easily secured in the 

 hotter months of June and July than in the comparatively cooler ones of 

 August and September ; and I think he is right, and that on reflection you 

 will see that at least this is possible. A striking instance that occurred 

 a few years ago will make this plainer than any reasoning. I regret that, being 

 from home, and unable to refer to authorities, I must give it from memory, and 

 therefore may be wrong in the name and place, but the account in its im- 

 portant part is substantially correct. I think I met with it in the " History of 

 Ceylon," that Sir Emerson Tennant introduced the Vine into the Government 

 gardens in that colony, and it was found that, being there an evergreen, owing 

 to the climate being a perpetual summer, it produced no fruit. The gardener 

 then devised a plan for wintering it, and for the two hottest and driest months 

 in the year he laid bare its principal roots. The effect was a shedding of the 

 leaves, and the plant going to rest, and the following season it produced fruit 

 as in Europe. Thus in popular but intelligible language, which may very 

 legitimately be borrowed from Ireland, the Vine was successfully wintered, and 

 wintered in the hottest months of the year. 



Alford Rectory. Geokge Jeajsts. 



THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND FLORISTS' ELOWERS. 



I head that on June 11th, 1862, the following prize was given to Mr. H. 

 Norman, Plumstead, for twenty-four varieties of Pinks — 10s. ! and that on 

 May 21st, the same gentleman was lucky enough to get £2 for twenty- four 

 Tulip blooms, and Mr. C, Turner 30s. for the like number ! ! Can you inform 



