182 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 30, 1883. 
side to side, and now that the crop of fruit is hanging, the 
house resembles a tunnel of Grapes. How many hundreds of 
bunches there are it would be difficult to estimate, but when 
ripe they are cut often at the rate of forty or fifty a day for 
giving away to friends of the family and hospitals, and at this 
rate the supply is maintaiue 1 over many weeks. The hunches 
are medium-sized, berries good, well-coloured, and not a shanked 
bunch to be seen. It is not an exhibitor's crop—that is, a few 
very large bunches, but rather what might be termed a first-rate 
market and family crop, consisting of a vast number of bunches 
rang ng from 1 to 2 lbs. in weight, yet sufficiently meritorious to 
win prizes at the Crystal Palace fruit shows. The varieties are 
chiefly Black Hamburghs, but Black Alicante and Mrs. Pince are 
well represented. They are not, however, ripe enough for 
exhibiting at the Palace this year. 
The roots of the Yines have no doubt found their way into 
the kitchen garden, which is naturally well drained, the soil 
resting on gravel, and fertile by good cultivation Yet the fact 
remains that the Yine border cost nothing in the formation, 
and all that is done to support the Yines is a heavy annual 
dressing of manure on the narrow strips inside the house. 
This is no mere sprinkling, but a covering quite 6 inches thick, 
always kept moist, and in this the roots multiply and feed. 
They also penetrate the gravel, and if flower boxes or pots 
stand there for a time, thus keeping the gravel moist, they 
form on the surface like a network. This is a hint for those 
who practise digging their borders to keep them light and open, 
thus effectively preventing the increase of surface roots which 
it is desirable to encourage. 
Observing the cleanliness of the foliage of the Yines in 
question, the gardener was asked how often he syringed them. 
His reply was significant; he observed, “ I have been here seven 
years, and they have never been syringed yet; with all the work 
in this garden I can spend my time better than in syringing 
Yines.” It is certainly only by extraordinary industry that all 
the “ work ” can be done so well, and it is equally clear that the 
Yines have not been neglected. The floor of the house is kept 
moist, and the practice of damping does not cease when the 
Grapes commence colouring. One Yine, and one only, has been 
slightly attacked with red spider during the very hot weather. 
This rod was less vigorous than the others and will be cut out, 
another cane having been provided fi-orn a stronger Yine for 
taking its place. Thisisan excellent practice—that is, removing 
any weak Yines and taking additional rods from others that are 
strong and vigorous, as such Yines will support from three to 
six rods as well as one. Yery few of the Yines in question 
are limited to one or two rods, and they are trained where there 
is room for them, the plan obviously being not to waste any roof 
space yet never to crowd the foliage. At one end of the house 
Mrs. Pince is thriving admirably, but all the bunches are not 
filled equally well. Those at the bottom when in flower were 
dusted with Hamburgh pollen, and these are all that can be 
desired, but those at the top that it was thought needed no such 
assistance contain a few small berries. 
That good Grapes can be grown where the soil is naturally 
well drained and fertile without expensively made borders is 
quite evident, for there is little doubt that at the least five thou¬ 
sand bunches have been cut from Mr. Wallis’s vinery during as 
m any years, while not a pound was spent in making the border. 
—J. W. R. 
THE GREENHOUSE AND ITS INMATES. 
(Continued from page 143.) 
PASSIFLORA. 
No plants are more easy to grow than Passion-flowers. They may be 
grown in pots, but we decidedly advise the amateur to plant them out. 
If a hole can be made anywhere in the greenhouse floor and a pailful of 
soil placed in it, or even outside the house, by all means do so and put 
the plants out. If the roots are to be outside, a hole must be made 
through the wall and the stem introduced to the inside through it. 
During hard frost the part of the stem which is exposed should be 
covered with some straw and a mat over it. The shoots should be 
trained up the rafters to the top of the house, along the apex, and down 
the back wall, until a main rod is attached to the apex of the house and 
down each rafter. From these main rods young shoots should be 
allowed to grow in spring, and to the leading stems all growths should 
be pruned in autumn, for during winter the spray would ob truct too 
much light. The shoots should be allowed to festoon the roof and hang 
perpendicularly. When so allowed to ramble the effect is charming. 
Some trimming and tying may be necessary, but the less the better. 
Tying the shoots up in neat bundles is bad taste. They are not quite 
suitable for small houses, as they are robust growers, but where room can 
be afforded them they should always find a place. 
P. ccerulea racemosa is the commonest species, and is a very strong 
grower. P. Campbelli and P. cinnabarina are more moderate in growth, 
and are, therefore, better fitted for small houses. P. edulis is strong and 
produces eatable fruit. P. Innesi is a very beautiful free-flowering 
variety, and perhaps the best for a small greenhouse. P. Lawsonii and 
P. Munroi are also fine greenhouse Passion-flowers. 
PLEROMA. 
Pleroma elegans and P. sarmentosa are very beautiful, easily grown 
blue-flowered plants, which thrive well in an ordinary greenhouse 
Fibry loam, peat, and sharp sand suit them well. While growing pinch¬ 
ing should be attended to, so as to cause the plants to assume a dense 
pyramidal form. Pinching should cease by midsummer, and the 
plants will bloom in autumn. Before they start into growth in spring 
any necessary pruning should be done, but if pinching has been properly 
attended to this will only consist in cutting the growth regularly back. 
POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS. 
These Narcissi are very sweet flowers, which may be had in bloom at 
the same time as the Hyacinth, with exactly the same treatment. The 
bulbs may be potted more closely together than Hyacinths, say three in 
a 6-inch pot. The following half-dozen varieties are the best grown : — 
Whites: Bazelman major, Gloriosa superba, and Queen of the Netherlands. 
Yellows : Bathurst, Newton, and Prince Albert. 
PRIMULA SINENSIS. 
Amateurs with few appliances for raising annual greenhouse plants 
which are rather tender, such as the one at the head of this note, will 
be cheaper to buy plants when only a dozen or so are wanted than to 
buy seed and undergo the trouble of raising seedlings ; indeed, the 
Chinese Primrose requires more heat than is afforded by a common 
greenhouse or cold frame, though they may be very successfully raised 
where there is a Cucumber frame on a hotbed. At the same time small 
plants fit for potting are to be had by post from those who make 
Primulas a speciality almost as cheaply as seed can be bought. We, 
however, will give directions whereby they may be raised from seed. It 
should be sown about April or May in pans or pots of light, rich, fine 
soil, and very slightly covered, and then placed in a warm house or on 
hotbed ; failing these, in the warmest corner of the greenhouse. Water¬ 
ing must be carefully done and the soil kept moist, for if it once be¬ 
comes thoroughly dry after the seeds have commenced germinating they 
will be destroyed. To prevent excessive evaporation a square of glass 
should be placed over the mouth of the pot, and the pot placed where it 
is not exposed to the direct rays of the sun. After the plants have made 
four leaves they should be pricked off into a box into soil composed of 
light rich loam, leaf soil, and enough sharp sand to make it porous. The 
box must be placed in a warm atmosphere until the plants are growing, 
when it may be removed to a cold frame facing north. Too much air 
should not be given, and the frame should be closed rather early in the 
afternoon. Of course the plants may be kept in the greenhouse if no 
frame is to spare, but they will do better in such a frame. 
By the time the plants are crowded in the boxes they should be trans¬ 
ferred into 3 and 4-inch pots according to their strength. As soon as 
these pots are filled with roots potting into 5 and 6-inch pots should be 
done. Owing to the thinness of the necks of the plants the latter are 
somewhat liable to fall. This tendency may be overcome by deep 
potting, which is better than supporting the plants with three short 
stakes inserted in a triangle close to the collar of the plants. By the 
beginning of October it will be necessary to take the plants inside, as 
they do not thrive in a low temperature. It is this which causes damp¬ 
ing during winter. To counteract this tendency a little artificial heat 
should always be kept in the house and careful waterings given. By 
careful waterings we mean thorough soakings when the plants require it, 
and not a drop when they do not. 
Double varieties require to be propagated by means of cuttings. 
This should be done in spriDg where there is a warm hotbed at work. 
The different crowns should be cut singly with a sharp knife, and one or 
two of the lower leaves cut off, so that a small piece of stem may be bared 
for insertion in the soil. Then each cutting should be fastened to a short 
stake and potted into a small pot in sandy soil. They should then be 
plunged into the bed and shaded when necessary. Water should be 
given carefully. When they are rooted they should then be treated as 
advised for seedlings. 
PELARGONIUMS. 
Pelargoniums of the Zonal type are known and appreciated every¬ 
where, so we do not need to say a word for them by way of recommen¬ 
dation. Two small houses of yearling plants are best. The best time 
to insert cuttings is in August, using boxes, and light sandy soil. They 
will at this season strike readily out of doors. During winter they may 
be kept in the boxes, where they will require very little room at a season 
when every available inch is valuable. In March they should be shaken 
out of the boxes and potted in small pots. Compost of loam and leaf 
soil, with a good sprinkling of bone meal, will suit them well. The 
centres should be pinched out when the plants are quite small to induce 
the plants to branch freely. Potting when necessary and ordinary 
greenhouse treatment otherwise are all that is wanted to insure success 
in the cultivation of this class of Pelargoniums. 
The Show or Fancy varieties should be raised from cuttings in July, 
which should be potted as soon as rooted into soil similar to that 
recommended for the other class. They should then be grown as 
sturdily as possible in a cold frame until October, when they should be 
removed indoors. An occasional syringing with soapy water will keep 
green fly from appearing, and it is necessary to keep it down, or there is 
no reason to expect the plants to flourish. Fumigating may be necessary 
