334 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 27, 1881. 
of growth all over the house, including the back walls? We, oE 
course, ail know it is done with the idea of filling the border with 
roots in proportion to the top growth, and in this success is almost 
certain. But, I argue, what is the use of encouraging all this 
growth of roots—roots of the grossest kind, and which quickly rob 
the iiorders of much of their fertility—when the whole, or, at all 
events nearly the whole, of the top growth at pruning time is cut 
away ? Do all those roots maintain their vitality ? and if they do, 
would not one-third of the number meet all the requirements of 
the Vines ? Unless I am much mistaken, a great per-centage of 
the roots perish during the winter; and if they do not, they at 
all events remain inactive in the spring, simply because there is 
insufficient top growth to set them in motion. 
In a little scientific work at hand we are told, “The roots . 
(not Vine roots in particular) extend themselves in all directions 
beneath the soil in search of food they require, and chiefly by 
means of their extremities imbibe water containing mineral sub¬ 
stances in solution. By means of the trunk and branches, but 
chiefly through their external layers, called alburnum or sap- 
wood, this crude sap is transmitted to the leaves, in the cells of 
which it is destined to undergo a great change.” Prior to that it 
is stated, “The bark consists of a somewhat similar arrangement 
of tubes to that of the wood, by which the elaborated juices called 
the true sap are conveyed from the leaves back to the branches, 
trunk, and roots, by which their volume is enlarged, or, in other 
words, by which the growth of the plant or tree is effected.” I 
might quote further to prove the necessity of reciprocal action on 
the part of the leaves and roots ; but from the foregoiug it is 
evident if it requires a houseful of top growth to fill a border 
with roots, it requires equally as much foliage to restart the same, 
and this, if realised at all, is not till late in the season. If the 
Vines invariably started well the second or third season, and in 
addition perfected comparatively heavy crops, I might consider 
science at fault; but according to my experience they do not 
always start evenly and well, neither is it safe to crop heavily in 
the case of young permanent Vines. The very fact of undue 
encouragement of laterals also sometimes results in the canes 
swelling to .such an extent as to loosen the footstalks of the 
primary leaves, which are thus liable to fall before performing 
their functions—viz., perfecting the buds, the consequence being 
an uneven break the next season. A newly planted Vine with 
ordinarily fair treatment will form roots and sap in sufficient 
quantities to meet all its requirements at the commencement of 
the next season’s growth, and, unless unduly forced, the root- 
action will recommence and continue in proportion to the top 
growth—in this case not half in vain. To be plain, the roots will 
be “extending in all directions in search of food” when the said 
food is most required, and will not therefore impoverish the border 
in order to perfect growth destined to be burnt. 
Were I to plant a house with Vines next season 1 should employ 
newly struck Vines, these being previously shifted from the small 
pots in which they were rooted into t)-inch pots, and planted when 
the mots were reaching the sides of the pots. The balls of soil 
should remain intact, care being taken to have them in a moist 
state when planted, and to keep them so till long after the roots 
had spread into the borders. But few roots would be twisted, 
and even if there were many it would not much matter, as well- 
tended Vines invariably produce many of their best roots from 
near the base of the stems during any season, but especially 
during the second year. Vines thus planted and grown steadily 
will form canes of the best description, the laterals being stopped 
at the second or third joint, and again when they meet on the 
trellises ; in the case of any weakly starters, stopping these when 
about 4 feet in length in order to strengthen the stems, and 
allowing the remainder to grow unchecked till about two- 
ilrirds up the roof, then stopping. Supernumeraries would be 
stopped when about 8 feet in length, and would not be shortened 
the next season, when they would perfect a valuable crop ; the 
permanent Vines to be cut back to near the commencement of the 
trellis, afterwards receiving the same treatment as in the first 
year, with the exception of being allowed to grow to a greater 
length. The next season these would be shortened to about one- 
third of the length of the roof, and a fair crop taken, and so on, 
the canes ultimately attaining their intended length the fourth 
season. I am quite aware there is nothing original in my prac¬ 
tice, and I am equally aware there are many, if they would only 
take the trouble to write as much, who have most successfully 
practised it. 
When strong “cut-backs” are planted they are apt to make a 
very vigorous start, especially if well rooted, and this also occurs 
if hard pruning is resorted to in the case of those grown un¬ 
restricted the first season—too strong, in fact; the result, in some 
instances, being a pithy growth, the reverse of what should occur, 
especially if the Vines are to remain in a good bearing state for 
an unlimited time. If it can be proved by adopting the above 
practice of rapidly filling the borders with roots much heavier 
crops in a given number of years can be safely secured than by 
the method briefly advocated by me, I will readily admit I am 
wrong. At present I fail to see the utility of allowing so much 
unrestricted growth, which I might mention is persisted in by 
some, though in a lesser degree, even when the rods are in fail 
bearing.—W. Igguldex. 
THE ROSE ELECTION—SCRUTINY OF RETURNS. 
One of the electors, who had kept no record of his votes, re¬ 
quested me to return his paper that he might examine how far 
his opinion agreed with the general result. As there are possibly 
some others who would also desire to compare their ideas with 
those of the great body of electors, I now present our readers 
with the full result of this scrutiny. It will be seen that the 
nearest to naming the actual best forty-eight has been reached by 
one of the Honorary Secretaries of the National Bose Society and 
Mr. J. Sargeant, these two electors having marked forty out of the 
forty-eight aggregate selection, and the number gradually lessens 
until twenty only are named. Here, too, is a curious thing to 
note—that seven nurserymen out of twenty-two voters, more than 
one-third, name thirty-one of the forty-eight; but not a single 
amateur out ot forty-five is with them. On the other hand, of 
those eight who name thirty-two, only one is a nurseryman. 
The following is the complete list—Messrs. Mawley aud 
Sargeant name 40 ; Messrs. Burrell, Soames, Curtis & Co., and 
Cant, 30 ; Messrs. Whitwell, Jackson, and Merryweather, 38 ; 
Messrs, Mount, Tomlinson, Brown, and Davison, 37; Messrs. 
Baker, Waterlow, Williams, Cranston, and Farren, 36 : Miss 
Penrice, Messrs. Choyce, Cbeales, Grant, and Keynes & Co., 35 ; 
Mbs Bulmer. Messrs. Biron, Burnside. Laxton, Pochin, Sladden, 
D’Ombrain, Wakeley, Wilkins, Hinton, Coolin, and Dickson, 34 ; 
Messrs. Hayward, Fewkes, Bulmer, Frettingham, llumsey, aud 
Treseder, 33 ; Messrs. Fuller, Watson, Evans, Hall, Humphries, 
'Tranter, Pemberton, and Mitchell, 32 ; Messrs. Mack & Son, 
Mattock, Prince, Bunyard, Laing, Piper, and Durbin, 31 ; Messrs. 
Smith, Slaughter, Gravely, Griffith, and Francis & Co., 30 ; Messrs. 
Mayo, Mitchell, and Pawle, 20 ; Messrs. Jefferies, 28 ; Mr. Grubb. 
27 : and Mr. Gale, 20. 
Of the Boses that received but a solitary vote five were men¬ 
tioned by one amateur, four by one of the nurserymen, three by 
one in each of the two divisions of voters, two by three amateurs 
and four nurserymen, whilst the single mention of the remainder 
is formed of seventeen amateurs and nine nurserymen.— Joseph 
11 in ton, I Vann i / inter . 
INTERNATIONAL POTATO EXHIBITION. 
REPORT ON SEEDLINGS, 1881. 
Mu. Shirley Hibberd has further obliged us with the following 
complete list of the seedling Potatoes certificated at the recent 
Exhibition. The whole of the seedlings that were entered for com¬ 
petition at the Exhibition held on September 20th and 21st have 
been carefully examined, and their merits decided on, so far as they 
can be judged by the samples sent, and irrespective of cropping and 
keeping qualities. It will be seen that very few have been 
selected as possessing high quality, but it is proper to remark 
that with very few exceptions fair average quality prevailed 
amongst the samples, some two or three only of the whole 
number proving decidedly objectionable, and these may prove 
good in another season. A considerable proportion of the sorts 
submitted were neither named nor described. The regulations 
require “ origin and parentage to be fully stated if possible.” In 
many cases no doubt the origin and parentage of genuine seedlings 
may be quite unknown to the raisers, but the judges are bound to 
consider this point, and they will of necessity hesitate to give certifi¬ 
cates to sorts that strongly resemble known varieties, and that are 
sent without any particulars whatever. It must be understood that 
none are disqualified, and none are condemned. Those not now 
deemed worthy of a certificate may prove so hereafter, for sorts vary 
with seasons, and several that have been passed by were nearly good 
enough for a first place. 
Class Q —Seedling White Kidney not in Commerce. 
Jams’s Magnet, W.K.—Raised by Mr. Ross of Newbury, from 
American Excelsior. In size medium to large; oval or elliptical and 
flattish. Skin a little rough, brownish white with suffusion of pale 
purple, which deepens at the heel end. Flesh yellowish, of the 
finest quality, and most elegant appearance. First prize and first 
class certificate. > 
Kentish fnvicta, W.K.—From Messrs. Lott & Hart of Faversham. 
It is of Magnum Bonum type, but more handsome and of higher 
quality in every way. Medium to large, oval or elliptic, rounded at 
