114 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 5, 1885. 
bourhood of the pipes. I grant that a few of the hunches nearest to the 
pipes may he ripe a few days earlier than those situated midway on the 
Vine; hut this, while having no injurious effect on the Vine, is an 
advantage, and it is the first time I have known the fact to be referred to 
as an “obstacle.” After the Vines have been pruned and, with the 
house, thoroughly washed with softsoapy water (at the rate of 4 ozs. to 
the gallon), the Vines are suspended horizontally over the front pipes 
from the trellis, and in this position, owing to the temporary check given 
to the flow of sap and the uniform amount of heat and moisture accorded 
to them, our Vines break regularly enough, the shoots at the top of the 
rods being as forward as those at the bottom. Furthermore, the staging 
which is generally placed over the front pipes for growing Alternantheras 
and other useful plants during certain periods of the Vines' growth 
without in any way interfering with the due development of the latter, 
when properly managed serve to diffuse the heat before it comes in contact 
with the foliage of the Vines. 
I agree with Mr. Molyneux in saying that a pathway made of Portland 
cement is hard, durable, and easily cleaned ; but I certainly do not agree 
with him in putting such a one in a vinery in preference to either the 
cast-iron grating or sleeper pathway referred to at page 24. Besides, 
when we come to make our borders and to plant the Vines in the houses 
in question later on (and in reference to which, as already stated, a paper 
will be written for this Journal) we shall require the space necessary for 
the formation of a cement pathway for a better purpose—viz,, for soil in 
which to plant a set of Vines to furnish the hip roof, one to each rafter.— 
H. W. Ward, Longford Castle. 
THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS. 
A SOMEWHAT peremptory request for “some more thoughts” on the 
passing topics of the day, as recorded in the Journal, induces me to put 
on my “ considering cap ” and dwell momentarily on a few of the subjects 
in the last two issues. I cannot go further back because one of my neigh¬ 
bours has borrowed the others and not yet returned them. I have nearly 
made up my mind to lend no more books or papers, as they are so often 
absent when wanted through the temporary lapse of memory on the part 
of considerate people who “would not cause any inconvenience for the 
world.” 
Opening the issue of the 22nd ult. at random, I rest on Mr. Mclndoe’s 
su SS es fi ve note on Gros Guillaume Grape. The crop, he mentions, is an 
unusually heavy one, representing about 5 lbs. weight of Grapes to each 
lineal foot of rod. But the significant point in his communication is 
embodied in the gentle rebuke he conveys against the babit that is too 
general of training Vine rods of the different varieties of Grapes at one 
uniform distance apart. If we think over the matter for a moment we 
cannot but admit that the rebuke is merite 1. There is no more justifica¬ 
tion for the practice of limiting the space for such Grapes as Gros 
Guillaume, Gros Colman, and Gros Maroc to that usually accorded to 
Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria than there is for planting 
Enfield Market Cabbages and Drumhead Savoys at the distances suit¬ 
able for Early Yorks and Little Pixies. 
The strong-growing nature of the varieties mentioned should, I think, 
not be overlooked by amateurs or persons who only possess small vineries. 
They may possibly covet large Grape*, but will fail to produce them for 
many consecutive years on the crowding system, which is so prevalent 
when the luxuriant growers are included. Unless the Grapes in question 
have ample space for leaf-development the Vines will very soon refuse to 
bear on the spur system at all, and the varieties are then denounced as 
shy bearers, when at the same time their shyness is the result of an error 
on the part of the owner or cultivator. Half the failures in Grape culture, 
as in other things, are the outcome of one class of persons expecting too 
much, thus driving another class to attempt what is under the circum¬ 
stances practically impossible of attainment. The true course, as it seems 
to me, is to first estimate the resources of a garden as accurately as 
possible, and then act accordingly. 
Grapes again ! When will gardeners tire of writing and reading 
about the princely fruit ? Probably not in the time of the youngest 
reader of these notes. It is not easy to say anything that has not been 
said before ; still, even time-honoured advice often comes with whole¬ 
some freshness when its opportuneness is apparent. Of this nature was 
M.. Abbey s reminder on page 60 that late Vines are often neglected at 
the roots, because when the fruit is cut the period is not considered 
suitable for the renewal of the borders. But as a more favourable oppor¬ 
tunity cannot come by waiting why not act at once in the needed renova¬ 
tion : When the roots are in inside and outside borders the work as Mr. 
Abbey suggests is easy, and whenever confined to one border it is not very 
difficult to effect a needed improvement by an intelligent system of 
procedure on the lines indicated in the article referred to. Taking out old 
inert soil from Vine borders and adding fresh fertile loam can afways be 
done by careful workmen without any ruthless disturbance of the roots ; 
and for one fat fleshy feeding root now a hundred may readily be had in 
time for supporting the next year’s crop of fruit. Let persons who have 
late Grapes “ no better than they should be ” think about this matter- 
think and act. 
And now we change the subject. The notes of a Dorset correspondent 
cn Mimuluses in pots carried me back in thought to the period of the 
Indian mutiny, when I had the marginal stage of a conservatory a mass of 
flowers as bright a soldier’s coat. The dazzling display was the result 
of a communication in the Journal recommending Mimulus cupreus for 
the purpose to which it was applied. Seed was sown in March and the 
plants grown very much in the manner recommended on page 65, but 
when strong the pots were stood in saucers of water in cold frames, with 
the result that from the end of May and for several weeks masses of 
crimson scarlet were produced, 18 inches in diameter, that quite surpassed 
in effect the larger spotted varieties of Mimulus tigrinus, and not one of 
many visitors knew the gorgeous old plant. Possibly there may be a few 
readers who do not know it now, but if they succeed in developing its 
full beauty they will, I think, never forget it as long as they live. 
We have been so accustomed to hear Lord Napier Nectarine extolled 
that Mr. Muir’s condemnatory note was a little startling. So extremely 
successful has this variety been in winning prizes at great shows, that it 
came to be regarded as a standard variety for early use. Lord Napier is 
not quite a stranger to me, and I have had reason to speak approvingly 
both of the size and quality of the fruit, while the crops, without being 
crowded, were ample. It would appear, however, that it is not good 
everywhere, and Mr. D. Thomson’s experience in the north suggests that 
it is not adapted alike for all seasons and districts. The tree is a strong 
grower, and too much root room with rich soil are possible errors to be 
avoided in its culture. A border 3 feet wide and half that in depth is 
ample, with surface mulchings in summer to support a large tree. Too 
much root-extension and too little calcareous matter in the soil are the 
chief contributory causes of splitting—at least that is my opinion, and 
well grown, Lord Napier is, as Mr. Thomson says, a “grand Nectarine.’ 
Perhaps Mr. Muir treated his trees too generously. 
Mr. Inman, in his excellent Leeds Prize Essay on the Apricot on 
page 81, told us nearly everything that could be told in the limited space 
in which the subject was treated ; but on one point, and that as per¬ 
plexing as important, he is silent—namely the cause of the branches 
suddenly dying on the best of all varieties, the Moorpark. Can Mr. 
Inman further enlighten on this serious matter ? If he can trace out the 
source of the evil and suggest a remedy I will vote that he be awarded 
another prize at the least equal in value to that generously provided by 
Mr. Oxley. 
Most readers of these notes are familiar with the beautiful terrestrial 
Orchid, Cypripedium insigne Maulei, but many of them have not yet had 
the pleasure of admiring the still more charming C. Spicerianum, which 
is “ the most distinct Cypripedium ever introduced.” That is the verdict 
on page 83, and I think it is just and true. But those who are familiar 
with both the forms named cannot fail to recognise them in the engraving 
of Cypripedium Leeanum superbum. I have not had the privilege of 
seeing this variety, but judging from the figure the combination of the 
characters of the two parents is most striking. We admire, and justly so, 
the works of artists in the life-like representations on canvas of various 
subjects, and honour the executants for their work ; but does not the man 
who creates a flower like the one pourtrayed deserve equal honour? I 
think he does. The hybridisation of flowers is interesting and encou¬ 
raging work, whether in the production of new forms to gratify, or the 
birth of others, such as fruit and vegetables, for daily use ; and if I could 
by any means move the Royal Horticultural Society to take a step in 
advance it would be in the direction of according some mark of recog¬ 
nition to the originators of new products of merit in the vegetable 
kingdom. If a plant is worthy of a certificate I cannot help thinking the 
actual raiser of it is worthy of a certificate too. I may be wrong, of 
course, but nevertheless I claim to express my opinion on this matter. 
Mr. Laxton’s success as a hybridiser and raiser of New Peas, Roses, 
&c., is admitted. He is perhaps the author of more new vegetables than 
any other person living or dead ; and no one can peruse the record of his 
experience on page 87 in attempting to improve the Potato wi'hout being 
impressed with his patience and perseverance in a laudable object. Who 
hut he would have thought of operating with the Deadly Nightshade? 
A “ woody stem and tough foliage ” are the coveted characters he desires 
to infuse into the Potato for rendering it less vulnerable to the attacks of 
the disease-inducing fungus. Will he succeed in obtaining these qua¬ 
lities ? He may ; and if he does will he preserve them ? I doubt if he 
will. Every Potato, so far as I know, loses its “woodiness” of stem by 
the generous culture that is needed for securing good crops of tubers. 
Still, as the unexpected is always happening, we will hope a surprise may 
be in store in the direction indicated ; but remembering how many hard¬ 
stemmed Potatoes have lost, or are losing, their “ wood ”—Patterson’s 
Victoria Red-skinned Flourball, and even the Scotch Champion—I, for 
one, cannot be very sanguine that the skilful hybridist is within measur¬ 
able distance of the great desideratum ; yet I ardently wish him success. 
A correspondent, “ J. L. B.,” worthily recommends the culture of 
Alpine Auriculas for greenhouse decoration in spring. Of all dwarf 
plants they are perhaps the richest in colour, while no suspicion of 
gaudiness can be breathed against them. They are, moreover, so free that 
almost anyone having a frame may grow them, and it is a little surprising 
they are not more generally seen in gardens. Some of the Show varieties 
are also almost equally free, and quite as well adapted for the purpose in 
question—notably, the vigorous-growing Col. Champneys, and the beauti¬ 
ful self Ccarles J. Perry. These produce noble heads of charming 
