128 
NOTES ON THE VfNE. 
it a place in every British collection of Pines; 
though it has to be regretted that so many of 
the specimens foisted upon the unwary are 
merely cuttings grafted upon the common 
Larch, which, as is well known, is a compara- 
tively low-growing tree, and is besides a 
deciduous one. The noble nature of the 
Deodar, therefore, when allied with this ob- 
ject, is scarcely to be expected; and from the 
specimens we have seen so treated, it is al- 
ready apparent that the scion outgrows the 
stock, and that the demand upon the latter is 
more than it is prepared to respond to. To 
remedy this, as far as possible, the best way is 
to dig out the soil by the side of the tree, and 
to lay it down so that the part above the 
stock may take hold, and hereafter grow upon 
its own roots. 
The cones of this tree resemble those of the 
Cedar of Lebanon, and are ripe in the months 
of November and December, when they fall 
off like the Silver Fir cones. They may be 
crushed into pieces even with the hand, and 
the seeds are then easily picked out; the good 
ones are plump, whilst those which are useless 
are flat and shrivelled. During the month 
of May, a light friable piece of ground should 
be selected, (and in the climate of England it 
will be all the better to be shaded,) and after 
being dug and raked, the seeds should be 
sown in beds in the same way as Larch seeds 
are sown, viz. by covering them to the depth 
of two-thirds of an inch. The plants will 
appear in June, and in those beds they may 
be allowed to remain for two years, keeping 
them free from weeds; they should then be 
transplanted into lines, and treated in every 
respect the same as the common Larch-tree. 
The system of keeping them in houses is just 
as absurd as growing the common Scotch Pine 
in heat, or any other plant which is equally 
hardy. 
According to all accounts, the wood of this 
tree is very durable and easily worked; but 
as it claims attention at present chiefly as a 
landscape ornament, planters would do well 
to take advantage of this graceful object, and 
grow it around their residences, and on the 
bolder parts of their parks. The soil it de- 
lights in most is a sandy loam, and the situa- 
tion, a northern exposure. Under those 
circumstances it is already rearing its beauti- 
ful form on several hills throughout the north 
of Scotland. 
NOTES ON THE VINE. 
BY JOHN M'DONALD, CM. C.H.S. 
Dr. Lindley, a received authority at the 
present time, says, " the system of English 
Grape-growing requires to be changed." As 
I have for some years thought so too, and 
acted conformable to the idea, I may, perhaps, 
be allowed to say a few words on what I have 
in practice found to be a simple and sure 
method of growing the Vine well and pro- 
fitably. If we may judge from the commotion 
making by the Polmaise system, and Hoare's 
new work, the Vine culture, like the Pine 
culture, is destined to be revolutionized, and 
made, in the first place, a nine days' wonder 
to the mere looker-on, and perhaps many 
years' annoyance to the practical man. 
The Vine is undoubtedly accommodating 
and ductile in its nature beyond, perhaps, any 
fruit-bearing plant we possess, otherwise it 
would never do so well under such and so 
many various treatments. Still there is un- 
doubtedly a right way. My own experience, 
combined with fourteen years' observation, 
puts it in my power to say that deep borders 
of retentive or highly-manured soils are not, 
as is often maintained, the most suitable me- 
dium, nor the most profitable, in which to 
grow the Vine. It must be obvious to all 
who may give themselves the trouble to think 
or observe, that Grapes growing on Vines in 
such borders, are in general, and in cold, wet 
seasons particularly, apt to be ill-coloured, of 
indifferent flavour, and with a strong tendency 
