December 27, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
551 
' A ^ ew the most forward bunches are thinned each day. Some 
berries on two or three of the most forward bunches measure a 
quarter inch through, and this is only the thirteenth day since 
the first flower opened. Think of this, you who allow a fortnight 
or three weeks to pass before commencing thinning, and judge 
how much you lose in size of berry. One point lost now means 
many lost by the time the fruit is fully grown. 
We commenced watering again to-day, not that the border 
which was last watered on the 7th and 8 tli is considered to be 
dry,, but several other houses will need watering during the 
coming week, and at this time it is better to water too early than 
too late. Clear water is used at a temperature of about 60°, and 
without any stimulant this time ; the same quantity is given as 
before. A few sublaterals have to be stopped, otherwise there is 
th ry y- ttle n ° W k es ^ es thinning in the way of manipulating 
April 4th.—The berries now measure three eighths of an 
inch, and the branchlets of the forwardest bunches, which have 
hitherto stood out at right angles to the main stem of the 
bunch, show signs of drooping. This is caused, I presume, by 
* 7 .® " eight of the fruit, as those which are not so forward are 
still m their original position. I hope to see the upper branchlets 
riot only come out to where they were before, but to curve 
inwards towards the upper part of the stem and nearly hide it. 
ihis will happen when the berries are swollen sufficiently large 
to force the ujiper ones out of their present position. The power 
to do this is lost when the bunch is thinned too much, and it 
will under such circumstances, always remain in a loose 
condition. 
^ke 6 th, although the minimum thermometer only indicated 
4- , brought with it a very cold wind. The sun shone brightly, 
but the wind was sufficient to keep the temperature of the vinery 
from going too high. It reached 93° at 'A p.m. Abundance of 
water was sprinkled about, and the house felt very comfortable. 
The occupants did not find out there was a cold wind at all. 
It is a great advantage to be able to keep the house closed on 
such a day as this, 'the berries continue to swell at the rate 
of one-thirty-second part of an inch in twenty-four hours, and 
now measure seven-sixteenths in diameter. 
O n the i th the minimum thermometer indicated 27°, while 
that on the grass had been down as low as 18°; the wind was 
even colder, than the preceding day. No air was given, and 
our vine rejoiced in a temperature of 92° at 2 p.m., and kept as 
high as 80' J till after 5 o’clock. Altogether these cold bright 
days are perfect for forcing purposes. There is just sufficient 
f' 1 . 1 " trough. the laps to prevent the interior reaching too 
high a temperature, and yet the apertures are not sufficiently 
large to allow of the moisture escaping very freely. 
. Note, December 17th.—I have received some complaints from 
fnends as to the manner and contents of this diary, and as it 
is sometimes useful to know how “ others see us,” though we 
cannot possess the power of vision the poet sighed for, and 
use other people’s optics for that purpose, I feel grateful for 
such friendly hints as I have received. 
No. 1 says my remarks will be of little use to him, as he does 
not want to start a vinery on New Tear’s day. Why did I not 
give the particulars of one started in March, as that is the month 
nine out of ten vineries are started ? 
No. 2 thinks I have a great deal too much to say about the 
weather and outdoor tempei'atures; and No. 3 thinks, and not 
over-delicately hints, that I am somewhat monotonous and dry. 
To the last indictment I must plead guilty, but I think there 
are extenuating circumstances. 
The notes given were made on the dates placed against them, 
and they are transcribed verbatim except when something is 
omitted. The vinery in question I attended to personally, 
nothing was done in it without my direction from day to day, 
and every operation of any importance was chronicled and is 
here reproduced. AVhen notes are made daily of the same sort 
of work there must of necessity be some repetition. I could 
now make my notes much more readable, but I do not think 
they would then so well convey the actual ideas and aims 1 
had at the dates mentioned, The outside weather is always my 
guide, and my aim is now to show that if that is watched and 
the houses are worked according to it, what a very simple 
matter it is to grow good Grapes. By going on wrong principles 
many amateurs give themselves ten times as much trouble to 
grow third-rate fruit as a proficient cultivator does to produce 
the most splendid results. It may be taken for granted that 
any of the routine usually carried on in vineries and not 
mentioned by me has not been practised and is not considered 
necessary. Much of it, indeed, is positively mischievous: 
Calendars of operations can never be strictly followed, 
because the calendar writers not being Zadkiels cannot gua¬ 
rantee the sort of weather they are writing for, consequently 
to be successful the cultivator must in a great measure depend 
on himself, and I should like to teach every cultivator to be to 
some extent self-reliant. Let him get all the advice he can fi‘om 
current literature and friendly practitioners, but after all he 
will always find his own a peculiar case for which there has 
been no rules laid down that will exactly suit. 
With reference to starting Vines at different seasons, artificial 
temperatures for starting in spring need not be quite so high 
as for starting in winter, because the natural mean temperature 
is so much higher. I have given ample statements of tem¬ 
peratures in my treatise which appeared in these pages last 
year. 
It will be borne in mind that this series of articles is not 
intended for professionals, but is only an endeavour to make 
amateurs acquainted with my practice, and to teach them to be 
more self-reliant. 
The measurements of the berries till the stones hardened 
were taken by cutting through the centre and placing a thin 
steel rule across. When the stones hardened the measurements 
■were taken with callipers.— Wm. Taylor. 
VIOLETS MARIE LOUISE AND NEW YORK. 
I have many sympathisers in the liking for this lowly sweet flower. 
Owing to a change last spring I had to collect material for a fresh start, 
and had plants from many quarters both north and south, altogether 
securing nearly thirty varieties, or so-called varieties, which, however, I 
do not now propose to criticise ; but I received Marie Louise from at 
least three sources, and all turned out to be New York, and I consequently 
have come to the conclusion that there is a confusion of names. This is 
a misfortune, as there really is considerable difference between the two 
varieties, and as some of your many correspondents from time to time 
praise Marie Louise it is well the matter should be made clear, for should 
any from what is stated order Marie Louise and receive the true kind 
they will be disappointed. 
Marie Louise is similar in foliage to the old Neapolitan ; the leaves 
are slightly larger, longer, and more pointed, and of the same lively 
green. The plant is of free growth, and usually commences to flower in 
August, and reaches its best from late September to November, and is 
good again in February or later, according to the weather. The flowers 
are palish blue, deeper in colour than the lavender of the type, but only a 
shade, have long stalks—5 inches or more according as they are drawn 
by the frames being kept close or open, and about inch across 
in good examples, the flower having a somewhat large white space at the 
base of the petals, which gives it a rather conspicuous white eye. 
New York is freer in growth than Marie Louise. The plant forms a 
more compact tuft, does not form runners to any great extent, and has 
the defect of forming abortive crowns, which, however, is reduced to a 
minimum by putting in fresh suckers each spring or small rooted runners. 
The foliage is darker—a deep green with a bronzy tint in the centre, and 
is more leathery and persistent than any of the Neapolitans. The flowers 
are borne on stalks 5 to 6 inches long, stout, but not so stout as to 
support the flower, which from its weight becomes prostrate, hence I 
presume the name of pendula. They are large, in good examples over 
H inch across, dark slate in colour with a purple tinge, and the centre 
petals tinged and splashed with red, the base of the petals having a little 
white, but not nearly so much as in Marie Louise. It commences flowering 
early in September, and blooms through the winter in favourable weather, 
being at its best from late September to December, and in February 
onwards. I am pleased to be able to confirm the opinion of the grower, 
Mr. Beachey, who first brought this variety to the notice of the gardening 
public through your Journal—namely, that it is the best and most flori- 
ferous as well as the hardiest form of Neapolitan Violet in existence. It 
is, however, not so much liked by some as the bluer forms, whilst others 
like it better. Taste differs even in Violets. 
What difference is there between Venice, Marguerite de Savoie, and 
Princess Louise 1 In what do they differ from New York ?— G. Abbey. 
OUR ORCHARDS AND PARAFFIN OIL. 
The brief summary of the Rev. P. Punster’s paper given on page 4S3 
of the Journal of Horticulture, which comprehended the principal points 
of the writer’s argument, ought not to go unchallenged, as I do not 
believe many gardeners will be numbered among the reverend gentle¬ 
man’s converts. That he has done good service iri calling the attention 
of capitalists and agriculturists to the discreditable state of the Apple 
industry will be conceded by all who take any interest in the matter, 
but that paraffin is to work such wonders among apparently worn-out 
trees not many will believe. A fruit tree well dressed with crude paraffin 
would soon be rid of all parasitical diseases, insect or otherwise, and in 
addition would have many buds destroyed unless I am greatly mistaken 
as to the dangerous properties of the oil. The tree might yet survive the 
process, make numerous fresh shoots, and present a generally improved 
appearance ; but the question is, How long will this satisfactory state of 
affairs last ? Not long, I am afraid, unless other remedies are simul¬ 
taneously applied. 
Moss and lichens I believe are much less injurious than the above 
writer considers them. If they were capable of sending roots into the 
