Reviews and Extracts. 73 
an accessary in its luxuriance. Viewing tlie honey-dew on the leafage of the 
hop-bine, as the prcsag-e of decay and index of disease, and that this disease has 
been occasioned by some withering- blight, consequent on a Meteorological change 
in the atmosphere, because a new flux of air in ils pneumatic relations, which are 
simply mechanical, could produce no such morbid change; and as this niorbitic 
meteorological feature in the ataiospluM-e might certainly be modified or controlled 
byconducting-wires attached to t!ie hop-poles, in the form of-paragrelcs; it follows 
that copper wires so attached, would in all probability, ward off those causes which 
determine such devastation in hop plantations. The experiment is easy, and the 
expense trifling, and if carried into practice, the writer seems to have no doubt 
but the contrast will decide in favour of their universal adoption. 
2. — Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Societv. 
Vol. 4, Part 11. 
Page 478. — Article 56. On the means of Renovating Plantations of Asparagus., 
and on the ntilify of Top-rlressiiigs. By Mr. Daniel Robertson, Walken- 
shaw. Read September 17th, 1816. 
Mr. Robertson says, in the year 1813, he found his asparagus quarter very 
much exhausted, by reason of the ground being too coarse and poor, and the 
shoots having been too severely cut in former years. Having a quantity of 
furnace ashes which had lain for some years, he had them sifted, and mixed 
with a small portion of vegetable earth, formed from tree leaves ; this compost 
was allowed to lie for about two months, and at the latter end of the month 
of October he commenced top-dressing, by taking off the old soil to about the 
depth of from six to nine inches ; at least as deep as could be got without in- 
juring the plants. The above compost of leaf-mould and ashes was then laid 
on, so as to cover the crowns of the plants, about four inches deep. On the 
approach of winter, the quarter was covered with stable dung, to prevent 
their being injured ; and frequently, during winter, he poured as much of the 
drainings of the dunghill as could be collected; and by using these means, Mr. 
Robertson says, the shoots have been the best both in size, quantity, and 
quality, that he ever beheld. 
The top-dressing compost might be thus made: — 
One-fourth sandy peat-moss, from the surface of a dry heath. 
One-fourth furnace ashes, well sifted. 
One-fourth vegetable mould, formed from tree leaves. 
One-fourth well-rotted stable dung, with a small portion of quick lime, 
the whole well mixed together. 
Page 500. — Article 61. O.i the kinds of Grape-vine, hest suited for Hoi'ivalls , 
in Scot/and. By iViR. George Shiells, Erskein House Gardens. Read 
November 2nd, 1827. 
The sorts Mr. Shiells considers best, after seven years' experience, are the 
White Muscadine, and Black Hamburgh, and next to these he prefers the 
July Black Cluster, and Currant Vines; he alsolhinks the Frankindale Grape 
would do well, but has not proved it. 
Mr. Shiells applies no fire in the spring, but leaves the Vines un-nailed and 
projecting from the wall, until the month of May. When the clusters appear, 
the branches are nsiled to the wall, and protected at night by a screen being 
drawn over them: he applies no fire heat until the beginning of July, when a 
little is given in the evening; and in wet and cloudy weather continued 
throughout the day, to protect the flowers, and promote the setting of the fruit. 
Voi-.l, No, 2. L 
