OF THE VINE. 
55 
have more abundant roots, grow lliorter jointed, are more pro- 
lific, and will, if permitted, come mto bearing the fecond 
year. The 
“ The cumberfomenefs of a cutting of fifteen or eighteen inches long, that 
“ no pot almoft will contain, was a thing one would wilh to get rid pf : 
“ The experiment was eafy to try, and no lofs if it did not fucceed ; we 
“ therefore made the experiment, and in three or four years, that we have 
“ ufed the method, have found no reafon to think that Vines can any way 
“ be raifed more eafily or fooner, or that the Vines raifed this way are, in 
“ any refpeft, lefs vigorous or lefs perfeft, either when younger, or as old 
“ as we have yet had time to fee them, than thofe raifed in any other way ; 
“ nor do I think that old wood in the cuttings is either neceflary or ufeful, 
“ a Hot-houfe fummer, upon plants (that by being planted in the bark, 
“ begin to grow a month fooner than the other Hot-houfe Vines, or even 
“ more, if you pleafe) being fully fufficient abundantly to ripen their 
“ wood, if not even almoft to over ripen it. And that you might have the 
“ means of judging a little better of the merit of this method, I have given 
“ you the account, in the beginning of this letter, of two Vines planted in 
“ that manner, which, however, 1 hope to have the pleafure of fhevving you 
“ fometime this year, with the fruit upon them, when you will have a 
“ better opportunity of fatisfying yourfelf about it. As to your propofal of 
“ planting the cuttings fingle in pots with fifted tan, I have no doubt but it 
“ v/ill do very well 5 but I doubt whether quite fo well as in the bark with- 
“ out pots ; for befides that I think the pots prevent the heat. See. from 
“ being quite fo kindly, there may fo many more cuttings be planted in the 
“ bark ; and if they are four or five inches only afunder, and are not fuffered 
“ to grow there too long before they are potted, there is no difficulty in 
“ fhaking off the bark, fo as not to hurt the roots, and they come 
“ fufficiently near together in point of time, their having fhot a little, more 
“ or lefs, not being very material 5 for when they have once begun to fhoot, 
“ and have got tolerable roots, they will then, as far as I have feen, grow very 
“ kindly in pots of earth, whether they are a little more or lefs advanced.” 
Thornhill, April 3, 1777. Your’s, &c. 
