March 9, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 189 
Iricts the rain water becomes charged with deleterious acids to 
such an extent that it is quite unfit for using. 
Near the sea rain water is often charged with common salt 
to large extent. From this source land near the seacoast is 
always charged with this compound, so that there is no need 
in such localities to apply salt, or, when other nitrogenous 
matters are supplied, nitrate of soda. These substances, how¬ 
ever, in inland districts often have a wonderful effect, for land 
may be sterile for want of these salts. Being so soluble they 
are easily washed out by waterings and drenching rains. It is 
well, therefore, to bear this in mind when the application of 
salt to land is premeditated. 
Not long ago we had occasion to note the luxuriant growth 
of plants in a conservatory. The water used was largely col¬ 
lected from the roofs of the various buildings connected there¬ 
with; On these roofs starlings and pigeons habitually crowd. 
The rain which falls on such roofs must be rich in plant food. 
Forgetting this, the gardener in charge had been in the habit 
of further charging the water with stimulants. The effects 
were not satisfactory ; when only the “ pure " water was given 
the results were very satisfactory. The lesson is obvious.— 
Single-handed. 
VINES AT LONGLEAT. 
(Continued frtm page 170.) 
EXTENSION OR RESTRICTION? 
The life of these young Vines was begun with the 
intention of allowing tliem to extend a little each year. 
Once already had we been thwarted in our designs, 
when the temporary plants in the middle of the house 
blocked their way. Now there was a second block, and 
the question was once more brought prominently for¬ 
ward whether there should he a continuance of mode¬ 
rate extensions or whether restriction should now he 
practised. 
It is very convenient to have these different epochs 
in the life of a Vine, when we can look round, take 
stock as it were, and have it entirely at our pleasure 
once every few years to decide afresh which plan we 
will follow. Had my enthusiasm for the extension 
system been damped I could now have proceeded 
with the restrictive one which had once more forced 
itself in my way (for he it remembered that when a 
Vine is cut close iii to the old wood at its terminal 
shoots as well as its side shoots it is no longer grown 
on the extension system whatever its present size may 
he); on the other hand, did I wish to go on extending, 
there need be no limit to that for some years. 
It was a momentous question, and one which had to 
he debated within myself more than once. This sort of 
debate often crops up between “ blind enthusiasm ” and 
the evidence of “plain facts.” In this instance B. E. 
would say, “ Extension of course is the plan to follow. 
It is the one you have followed so far with success, it 
is at once the most natural and most beautiful; the 
plants must be longer-lived, and you will become 
famous for growing them.” “ All very well,” says 
P. F., “ but at present the best Grapes have been 
grown on restricted Vines. Extension may only mean 
growing timber, and that is not the main point. You 
have good Vines and good fruit. ‘ Best and be thank¬ 
ful,’ what more do you want? You are on safe ground 
now, but if you move far along you will be on that 
which is unexplored and consequently full of unknown 
dangers.” “ More danger, more honours,” whispers 
B. E. “ It is nothing to grow Grapes nearly as well as 
other people do ; try and beat them.” And in the end 
I decided on giving the extension system a further trial 
without committing myself wholly to it for the present. 
The mode of proceeding was something like this—A 
Vine at each of the four corners of a compartment was 
brought down and trained lengthwise of it on one of 
the lower wires. In doing this four or five other Vines 
had to be crossed, and these were henceforth temporary 
ones. Their lower shoots, where they interfered with 
the growth of that which was to be a permanency, were 
rubbed off as they appeared, and shoots were trained 
up at regular intervals from and at right angles to the 
horizontal Vine. No great space was made bare at 
one time, but a sharp look-out was kept, so that there 
should be at least a foot clear before every new rod. 
These new rods grew very fast, and were treated pre¬ 
cisely in the same way the young Vines were during 
the first year of their existence— i.e., the side growths 
were kept pinched in to one or two leaves, and the 
terminal shoots were stopped when they had made as 
much growth as they were likely to ripen, and at prun¬ 
ing time were merely shortened to a good eye. 
That this treatment suited them is testified to by an 
engraving from a photograph of the Muscats which 
appears in the Journal of Horticulture for December 
21st, 1876. In the notes which accompany this en¬ 
graving it is stated that on the opposite side to that 
shown, “the number of plants were reduced to four 
last spring with very satisfactory results. A photograph 
of that side was taken ; but as it was from the other 
end, and consequently in opposition to the sunlight, it 
did not come out satisfactorily.” In the same notes 
the measurements of the stems of the largest and 
smallest of the four corner Vines are given as follows— 
“ The circumference of the largest is 13 inches, and 
that of the smallest 10£ inches, measured just above 
the ground. At 2 feet 6 inches from the ground the 
largest measures 8q inches, and the smallest 75- 
inches.” It is added, “ So much for the wood; now, 
what about the fruit ? Well, all the fruit is perhaps 
above the average for Muscats, but that on the re¬ 
stricted Vines will bear no comparison with the rest. It 
did not colour so early or so well, and is inclined to 
shrivel in places, while that on the large or extension 
Vines is perfect in every respect. This is not because 
the large Vines are not carrying a fair crop; they 
ripened from fifty to fifty-three large bunches each, 
averaging considerably over 2 lbs. a bunch.” These 
notes were written by myself, and possibly I did not 
say quite as much in praise of the fruit as a friendly 
visitor would have done. But it will be seen that I had 
already become a confirmed extensionist; and I said in 
concluding those notes “ that all fruits in my opinion 
are better when the plants which bear them are allowed 
to extend somewhat every year.” This opinion I still 
hold, even as far down the scale as to include Goose¬ 
berries and Currants, and I carry the idea still further 
by invariably growing Melons and Tomatoes on the 
extension system. Only the four corner Vines are now 
left of the Muscats, and shortly the question will have 
to be decided again, Is it to be extension or restriction ? 
There is not much difference in the measurements of 
the four stems now, and the smallest is 18 inches in 
circumference just above the ground. Strange to say 
the order in size is reversed, which I account for in 
the following way—At the time of the former measure¬ 
ment, which was a little more than five years ago, the 
young man who was entrusted with the pruning did 
not look favourably on some of my eccentric innova¬ 
tions, and from the best of motives no doubt (which I 
