January is, lags. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 25 
noticed about Kent now. I have observed this autumn fewer flocks 
of chaffinches than usual.—J. R. S. C. 
RAISING VINES FROM EYES. 
Young Vines may be raised in this way with ease and certainty. 
Those who annually propagate some will have the matter under 
consideration or in practice now, and others who wish to try it 
this spring for the first time must now think of beginning. Good 
wood for propagating from is of much importance. Nursery¬ 
men who have every means for simplifying propagation are well 
aware of this, and others with more limited means and experiences 
should bear it in mind. 
By good wood I do not mean that this must be the thickest, 
as very often this is the last to start into growth, and not unfre- 
quently fails. Wood of medium strength is the kind we prefer, 
and the more thoroughly it is ripened the better will be the 
growth. Vines raised from well-ripened wood will show the 
value of it all their first season, especially if they can be contrasted 
with some which have been had from immature growths. It is 
from the ends of young rods that we obtain our Vine eyes ; and, 
failing these, the side shoots which have been well exposed to the 
sun all the past summer are taken. 
At first the shoots are cut off their full length and generally 
inserted in soil in the open air until they are wanted. This is a 
good plan, as the wood soon dries injuriously if left out of the soil. 
In preparing the eyes a sharp knife is used. Above each eye the 
wood is cut straight through, and from 2 to 3 inches further 
down below the bud it is cut through in a slanting direction. As 
the required number of each kind are prepared they should be 
placed closely together in pots or boxes amongst damp sand or 
soil. In this they are allowed to remain for some weeks in a cool 
shed, and during this time they are forming a callus round the 
slanting end, which will produce roots quickly in heat. Before 
subjecting them to this we take them all out of the first material 
and pot them singly in 3-inch pots, employing a compost of 
loam and half-decayed manure—about one part of the latter to 
three of the former. They should then be plunged in a bottom 
heat of 80°, and if the top heat can be kept about G5° to 70° they 
will root quickly and soon form good shoots. 
All eyes which are to be rooted this spring should be prepared at 
once, and they must be placed in heat early in February ; then 
by the end of March they will have growth a foot or more in 
length, and when they are this size it is a good time to transfer 
them to G-inch pots. Similar compost to that used before should 
be employed, and the pots must be well drained. After being 
transferred to the larger-sized pots a little bottom heat starts 
them into growth ; but after a good beginning has been made 
the bottom heat should be reduced, or they may be taken from 
it altogether and be grown as robust as possible. Until spring is 
well advanced they must be kept in a moist warm house or pit, 
but about midsummer and onwards they will only need green¬ 
house treatment. 
Sometimes they may be raised to plant out when they have 
canes 3 feet long, which would be in May, and then the best can 
be selected for the purpose ; and when more have been rooted 
than can be grown with advantage, those with the most healthy 
young growths and roots must be retained. A score of good 
Vines will be of more service than fifty of inferior quality.— 
A Kitchen Gardener. 
REMOVAL OR NON-REMOVAL OF POTATO SPROUTS. 
I have lately been examining early Potatoes kept in a dry 
loft, for the purpose of placing some temporarily in boxes for 
sprouting. In doing this a matter occurred to me that I should, 
in common with others, like to have fuller information upon from 
any reader who may have tried the experiment ; but before 
referring to it I must note the relative progress, under similar 
circumstances, made by a few early kinds. The varieties were 
separate, fully exposed to light and air almost every day—we 
have had but two frosty days so far (3rd January) ; and with a 
pretty constant temperature, veering from 45° to 50°. Old Ash- 
leaf Kidney and its varieties, except where very fully exposed, 
had made in many instances 2 inches of sprout growth ; Early 
Rose not a fourth of an inch, and Beauty of Hebron somewhat 
less. Snowflake was barely moving, except a few underneath ; 
and Flounders had in most instances nearly half an inch of 
growth. Later varieties in proportion. From this I would con¬ 
clude under merely natural influences, and under the circum¬ 
stances, and with the varieties mentioned, that Ashleaf Kidney is 
one of the earliest, if not the very earliest Potato. But my 
present object is to ascertain more fully whether sprouts—say 
when they exceed a quarter of an inch long—should advisedly be 
removed or retained 1 And secondly, if removed, can that eye be 
relied on, and to what extent? And if not removed, how will the 
retention affect the crop as to time of maturity and produce ?— 
VV. J. M., Clonmel. 
CHOICE IRIDS. 
VIEUSSEUXIAS. 
Though not a large genus, this includes among the nine or ten 
known species several of great beauty. Their attractions chiefly 
consist in the brilliancy of the tints, distinguishing the neatly 
formed flowers ; and though these are of moderate size, like most 
of their allies somewhat fugitive, they deserve to rank amongst 
the most beautiful. By old writers most of the plants now included 
in this genus were considered as Irises. Some have also been 
referred to the genus Moraia, but they were separated by Decan- 
dolle and ranked as a genus ; and concerning this it is only to be 
regretted that he had not chosen a more euphonious name, and 
there is certainly some excuse if the advocates of English plant 
names prefer the simple but expressive popular designation 
“ Peacock Irises.” The principal botanical characters which sepa¬ 
rate the A r ieusseuxias from the Irises and Morreas are the mon- 
adelphous stamens and the relatively small inner segments of the 
perianth. The latter gives a distinct appearance to the flowers, 
as they only seem to have three ovate petals, the other divisions 
in most cases being very diminutive. 
The cultural requirements of these plants are not elaborate. 
Like the Moraeas, they can be grown either in pots or out of doors 
in a warm well-drained border, but in the majority of situations 
the former method will be found the most advantageous. Light 
sandy soil, with good drainage and abundant supplies of water 
