JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 16, 1882.] 
127 
rootless heads. Of course my opponent would he ex¬ 
pected to follow what is now generally considered the 
correct method, and I should want to be allowed to make 
my method as I proceeded, according to circumstances. 
The first part of it, however, would he something in 
this way—a length of stem, say a yard or 2 yards 
long, would he buried just below the surface, merely 
leaving the upper end or the middle part out, and I 
should expect some vigorous growth to start from it in 
more than one place ; hut be it remembered I have not 
tried the plan, and it only occurs to me just at this 
moment. But I will endeavour to give my reasons for 
believing it would succeed. Whatever may he the case 
with other plants, the Vine’s principal storehouse is 
not in its roots, but in its stems and branches, and 
these, if some means could be found to keep them 
merely supplied with water, would probably be inde¬ 
pendent of the roots through a great part of the grow¬ 
ing season. At any rate we know that there is no 
visible root-action till many of the leaves are fully 
grown, and the stem (if a single one and healthy) is 
from 9 inches to a foot long. The moment the roots 
begin to make such growth as would be visible were 
they uncovered can be told by the foliage, which rap dly 
changes from something like pea green to a rich dark 
healthy colour. The colouring matter, at first almost 
blue, may be seen in blotches, and then as it mixes with 
the yellowish colour already in the leaf and produces 
the bright green we have a sure index that there is 
perfect harmony between root and branches, and that 
each will now help the other. 
But “what about those plants which are cut down 
to the ground and where no stem is left ? ” There 
may be very little visible stem, but there is something 
underground besides roots which one able writer lately 
called “ underground stems,” and I think he is correct 
in so designating them. Those which are roots at first 
become enlarged, and then can only act as connecting 
channels between the roots and tlie branches : they, 
having no spongioles or feeders, can do nothing of 
themselves unless it is to imbibe moisture through their 
epidermis. True, they have the power to form roots 
speedily should any accident befall the roots proper, 
but so has any part of the stem of the Vine if covered 
with soil or any material which will keep it moist; and 
very often, as we know, it will not wait for this to be 
done, but will form them in the air if the latter is more 
to their taste than the border is. Cutting down the 
stem of a Vine does not add to the vigour of the growth 
produced in the same way or in the same proportion as 
cutting back does in the case of the Apple, Peach, or 
other fruit tree. The superiority of the shoot made 
when a young Vine is cut down which has ample roots 
to sustain a large amount of stem and foliage is more 
apparent than real, as may be seen afterwards when 
it comes to ripen, for the stem will generally be found 
flattened, the pith in large proportion, and the cells 
drawn out to an undue length with their sides nearly 
collapsed, and this state of things is never wholly 
obliterated, but may even now be detected in half the 
Vines in the kingdom. It seems to me that water and 
pent-up energy play a too important part in such cases. 
The growth at the end of a young healthy Vine left 
12 feet long will not compare unfavourably even at 
starting time with that of a similar Vine which is cut 
down to the ground. I mean it does not lose size in 
the proportion many of our teachers would lead us to 
expect, when it is taken into consideration that all the 
lateral buds have to be sustained, while the cut-down 
one will have only the terminal shoot. Then if we 
pass on a little further to the time when root-action 
commences in earnest, and the long Vine has its side 
shoots stopped to two or three leaves, it has altogether 
the best of the race. 
In the case of the Peach, Plum, or Apple it is not so. 
Cut back a Peach tree which is healthy but rather weak, 
and you would at once have growth comparatively solid 
and of good quality twice or thrice the average strength 
of that which was removed. The growth of the roots 
of the Peach tree having preceded that of the top by 
some weeks, the steam is up as it were in anticipation 
of spring, and its full force is at once applied to such 
parts of the tree as may be left. 
It must always be remembered, then, that while the 
roots of other fruit trees precede the top growth, and 
are ready at the summons of spring, whether it be a 
natural one or such a substitute as we can make in 
our houses, the Vine has nothing but its stored-up 
material to start with; and I believe this is equally 
distributed throughout its stems be they above the 
ground or below it, and hence whether a Vine is trained 
in what is generally supposed to be the best way for 
the sap to flow— i.e., with a gradual incline throughout, 
or whether some of its branches are horizontal or even 
bent down the reverse way, provided the plant is 
healthy, is not mutilated overmuch, and the main 
stem is sufficiently large for the requisite supply of 
water, you get nearly as strong a growth at 60 feet 
from the root, even on rods bent the reverse way, as you 
do on those situated near the roots and trained in such 
a manner as would, if they were like non-climbing 
plants, give them a decided advantage. 
It may also be taken for granted that a thousand 
branches are just as easy to supply as one, but as in 
the case of supplying a town with gas or water we must 
have a good main—and building up the main was one 
of my principal aims from the first. I have endeavoured 
to take my readers with me in imagination during its 
construction, and the next thing will be to consider to 
what length that main is perfect and suitable for the 
enormous supplies it will afterwards be called on to 
furnish. I find on examination it is perfect to all out¬ 
ward appearance to the length of 7 or 8 feet. Shall I, 
then, gain anything by cutting it down to 2 or 3 feet ? 
Coming to actual measurements I see by the marks 
still present on the Muscats that they were not cut to 
any regular length at the first pruning, the shortest 
being about Gl feet, and the longest 9 feet.—W m. 
Taylor. 
(To be continued.) 
THE GLOXINIA. 
It is my opinion that the Gloxinia has not yet come to the front 
as a winter-flowering plant. It must be understood that I am an 
advocate for producing flowers during the winter months, and 
endeavour to grow such plants as will bear cutting without any 
permanent injury to their future well-being ; and. besides, where 
a daily supply of cut flowers is required it perhaps saves the 
mutilation of such valuable plants as Camellias, Azdeas, and 
other plants. More than that, it behoves every gardener to pro¬ 
duce all the flowers he can, and according to my experience the 
Gloxinia will help him. 
Obtain some seed from a reliable source, and sow the first batch 
in March in a shallow pan, or, if a deep one, well drained, with 
not much scil. The seed must be very slightly covered, and the 
soil sandy and light but firm. Place the pan in heat, and cover 
