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HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
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judgment of the ho;/ and the man, rather than in a change of the fruit. " A sound healthy graft, from 
a vigorous free, in perfect health, worked on a seedling stock of the same genus, grown in similar soil 
and climate — thus reproduced for ages, will never degenerate." 
Vine Borders. — Mr. Buist, of Philadelphia, observes that the risibilities of those who read the 
various horticultural publications of the day, and reflect on the past, must be frequently agitated by 
this subject. Nothing, from the days of Adam to Washington, can compare with the blood and carrion 
of the recent days of Grape growing. What produces the rich and luscious Grapes on the mountain sides 
of Southern Europe? What on the calcareous steeps around Paris, or the saudy alluvial of Thomeiy ? 
What gives the exuberant growth and heavy produce of the famous Vine at Hampton Court, or its 
more famous rival at Cumberland Lodge ? A dry bottom ; thin warm free soils : with a regular periodical 
stimulant of decomposed lava, mineral or vegetable substances. Of these two celebrated Vines, the 
former is said to luxuriate in an old sewer, but this a mere say-so, and not a fact. The latter grows in a 
dry sandy loam, on a sandy clay bottom that no roots will penetrate — perfectly natural soil peculiar 
to the locality, and no doubt very congenial to the Vine, which should be analyzed for the benefit of 
those affected with the carrion and composition mania. Give an artificial Vine border a dry bottom. Go 
down two feet (not more), less will do, inclining the bottom to some permanent drains. Fill in nine 
to twelve inches of stones, bricks, &c. Use a compost of four parts surface sod or loam, one part street 
manure, one part rotted stable dung, well mixed six months beforehand. A few loads of oyster shells 
or charcoal will be beneficial. Take fair weather to fill in the border, raising it twelve inches above 
the surface level. Give yearly a light top-dressing of manure, or use liquid manure freely till the 
fruit colours — not later. Some will say such a border is too poor and too shallow ; the Vines will be 
weak, and the summer sun will dry them up. What is the alternative ? "A border, four feet deep, 
drained, concreted, bury the whole animal (silver too), and asphalt it to keep down the ammonia," 
Such is the last and newest idea of this electrical age on Grape Vine borders. — {Horticulturist, vi, S6.) 
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 1. — This meeting was very fully attended, and was the richest in plants of any that we have 
seen for a long time. The most remarkable plant was a new species of Berberry, from Patagonia, 
contributed by Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Exeter, and it proves, as will be seen by our plate facing 
page 129, a remarkably fine plant. If it is perfectly hardy, of which there can be little doubt, or 
even if it should require a wall, it will still be a most invaluable plant. From the same establishment 
was also a bloom of the Countess of Orkney Camellia. Next in point of importance was a collection 
of Cut Roses from Messrs. Lane and Son, of Great Berkhamstead, consisting of some of the finest kinds 
in cultivation, and produced in the profuse abundance of a June exhibition. Messrs. J. A. Henderson 
and Co. sent a large and finely-grown collection of named Hyacinths, and several other plants — 
more especially, the Hebcelinium, or Conoclinium ianthinum, which proves to be a finer plant than we 
expected. As a novelty, Messrs. Standish and Noble's Azalea vittata, a purple striped variety from 
China, is deserving of notice as being very show}', but it is too deficient of form and substance to become 
a general, favourite. They also sent Limonia laurcola, (Skimmia japonica) sweet-scented shrub from 
the mountains of India, and a cut specimen of Viburnum mncroccphalum. From Mr. E. G. Henderson, 
of the Wellington Nursery, were two seedling Rhododendrons, and a good plant of Dielytra specta- 
bilis, a Fumaria-like plant of great beauty. A good specimen of the same tiling came also from Mr. 
Edmonds, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire, and one also from Mr. Clark. Nurseryman, of Brixton. 
Rhododendron javanicum, which proves to be a remarkably fine blooming plant, came from Messrs. 
Rollisson ; and Mrs. Lawrence sent a group of Orchids, consisting of Maxillaria Harrisonii, Phaias 
Wallichii, an Oncidium resembling Barcodes, and a new and very pretty Epidendrum with a long 
drooping green flower, which terminated in abroad, rich, orange-coloured, fleshy lip. From the same 
establishment were good plants of Enkianthus rcticulattis, Boronia tetrandra, and Mirbelia floribunda. 
Messrs. Loddiges sent a handsome rose-coloured Rhododendron, raised from Nepal seed, and Mr. 
Myatt, of Dcpti'ord, two nicely-bloomed plants of Cyclamens. The fruit consisted of tolerable Black 
Hamburgh Grapes from Mr. Rust, gardener to W. Everett, Esq., and Strawberries from Mr. Ifiggs, 
gardener to J. Barchard, Esq., and Mr. Cooper, of Yeovil, Somersetshire, the latter being a seedling 
kind. Pears from the 1'nitcd States, [lacked in separate tin eases in a box of salt, were sent as an 
experiment by Mr. Curtis, of Boston. Seven of the cases were opened, and three of the fruit were 
found sound and Hue in flavour. They were said to be ripened by a process peculiar to Mr. Curtis, the 
•« particulars of which did not transpire. From the garden of the Society a Dumber of plants were ■> 
, \,\ produced, and Mr. E. G. Henderson sent a nice set of rustic baskets and stands. 
