CULTURE OF THE GRAPE VINE UNDER GLASS. 
recently tried these new systems may speak 
of their achievements of one or two years, and 
they may have done more in that space of 
time than any of their predecessors ; but the 
fate of their vines at the end of such a period 
as the specimen at Hampton Court has stood, 
we have yet to learn. We may safely conclude, 
however, they will not be better; and hun- 
dreds of vines planted upon the old and well- 
tried principles, are now, under proper treat- 
ment, producing fruit which may be advan- 
tageously compared with anything produced by 
modern writers, or the best of their disciples. 
We deny the propriety of imitating nature 
in the culture of the vine, and we condemn 
altogether the idea of reconciling cur practice 
to the natural habits of the plant, except, in- 
deed, we can be satisfied with such produc- 
tions as are yielded in their natural state. 
This may appear rather a bold step; but let 
us ask the observers of fruit, whether the 
bunches of grapes produced along the banks 
of the Rhine, or in the south of France, or in 
Syria, or in Alexandria, would satisfy the 
judges at one of our English horticultural ex- 
hibitions ? Whether the muscat of Alexandria 
is ever found in its own country, or in any 
other country, equal to the specimens which 
have been seen on our nobilities' tables, or, 
indeed, in Covent-garden Market ? Why, 
then, should we attempt to found our practice 
upon the growth of plants where they are not 
grown well enough for our purpose ? As 
well might we attempt to found a system of 
cultivating celery upon the habits of the wild 
plant, or to produce fine apples by conforming 
in its culture to the natural habits of the crab ; 
but in either case we might look in vain for 
the specimens now produced under artificial 
management. 
We are not disputing generally the pro- 
priety of adapting the culture of some subjects 
to their natural habits ; we are merely insist- 
ing that all our highly cultivated plants are 
produced by means very different from the 
natural habits of the plant, and that while not 
a country in the world produces grapes natu- 
rally, so good as we can grow them by artifi- 
cial means, it is useless to attempt a system of 
cultivating them in this country, founded on 
the natural habits of the vine where it is in- 
digenous, but where its fruit is by no means 
equal to even the ordinary hot-house grapes 
in any well kept up establishment. 
The question . whether vines should be 
planted inside or outside a house, to grow the 
fruit to perfection, has been repeatedly dis- 
cussed without the subject being any more at 
rest than it was many years ago ; we have 
often heard of the fruit shanking off, instead 
of ripening, of its shrivelling, instead of swel- 
ling; and perhaps no unfavourable result was 
ever more talked about, and written about, 
that was ascribed to so many different causes. 
That the evil may be traced to the root, we 
have little or no doubt; for while the fruit is 
growing under a considerable increase of 
temperature inside, the roof- are too often 
receiving the cold drizzling showers outside, 
by which their temperature is lowered very 
considerably, and in no case do we know of a 
plant doing well under such circumstances: 
all checks of this kind must be injurious, mid 
check the fruit. On the other hand, when the 
vine is planted inside, the sun cannot pos- 
sibly reach the roots; and it is very generally 
admitted that the rays of the sun are highly 
beneficial. To steer clear of both these evils, 
we would adopt a plan by which all the bene- 
fits of the sun should be secured, while there 
should be ample protection against cold wind 
and rain at all times: this is merely to cover 
the border with glass in such way that the 
full rays of the sun can fall on the surface, 
either through the glass, or by uncovering it 
altogether, while the sun shines, and by cover- 
ing all up when it is going off, by which 
means almost every temperature may be 
maintained ; indeed, where necessary, it could 
be kept up to nearly the temperature of 
the house, by opening a communication with 
it, and no more moisture need be given than 
the roots require. This is an improvement 
upon the out-of-door planting, without any of 
the evils usually attendant upon the opposite 
course. The plan of the house in which the 
vine is to grow, or, in other words, the vinery, 
is, and must be, dependent upon the other 
uses, if any,, to which the house is to be put. 
The market-gardeners usually grow pines 
and grapes in the same bouse ; and Mr. Wil- 
mot's establishment at Isleworth exhibits this 
plan carried out to a great extent, as well as 
under several different plans of heating. Here 
may be seen the vine borders, made up with 
the richest soil, exposed to the full sun and 
air, and without any glass covering to keep 
off moisture ; and here, too, may be found, in 
their proper seasons, both these choice fruits in 
perfection of growth, colour, and flavour. Xot 
that market-gardeners are, generally speak- 
ing, anxious to grow fruit beyond the average; 
on the contrary, their object is to bring crops as 
heavy as the vine can carry, and bring all things 
quickly to market; but they can ill afford 
to risk a failure by any mistake in the manage- 
ment, or any silly experiment, so that their 
practice is for the most part sound, and those 
who want to improve upon it, have only to 
lessen the crops, and thin the branches: this 
will increase the size of the berries, and do as 
much pretty nearly as can be accomplished by 
more expensive means. But it may be said 
that market-gardeners differ in their practice, . 
