JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
118 
[ August 5, 1880. 
flowers normal and the rest those of Peloria. L. origanifolia is a 
dwarf species of somewhat decumbent habit, bears small blue 
flowers, and is well adapted for the rockwork, but being scarcely 
hardy it requires the protection of a frame during winter. L. Cym- 
balaria must not be omitted, as it gives a very pleasing aspect to 
rockwork. L. pilosa is somewhat rare ; it belongs to the same type as 
L. Cymbalaria, and the flowers are similar, but the leaves are pilose 
and the habit tufted. It is admirably adapted for rockwork, and 
ought to be in every collection of alpines. L. alpina is an old 
and well-known species and one of the most beautiful, its blue 
and orange flowers being extremely attractive. It is of biennial 
duration, but reproduces itself freely from seed. 
Among the annuals there are many of great interest, but I 
know of none that equals L. reticulata, Desf, variety aureo-pur- 
purea, and the var. luteo-aurantiaca, both found in Algeria, the 
seeds of which were transmitted to this country in 1876 by Cosson, 
a French botanist. L. maroccana, IIk. fil, is also a very pretty 
species with purple flowers. I have saved seed of it, and this 
season I notice a plant among the seedlings with magenta-coloured 
flowers. It is quite distinct from the rest of its congeners, and I 
trust that it will ripen its seeds. The last three grow from 12 to 
15 inches high. L. triphylla is a well-marked species. It varies in 
height from 9 to 12 inches or more. Its flowers are purple, yellow, 
and white, which give it a very striking appearance. L. spartea 
bears lax racemes of yellow flowers. L. Perezi is another pretty 
species. It has small yellow flowers, and becomes attractive from 
its small dense foliage. All Linarias thrive best in light soil well 
exposed to the sun.—M. 
AUTUMN MANAGEMENT OF GRAPES. 
What “An Old Grower” says on page 52 about allowing 
the temperature to become too low at night and neglecting to 
ventilate early in the morning resulting in scalded berries I have 
no reason to doubt, but why not leave the vineries open all night ? 
It is certainly cheaper than maintaining a temperature of 70° by 
fire heat, and if the Vines are started early in the season there is 
no difficulty in having the Grapes ripened. The late Grapes here 
are now colouring, and as I think that a larger crop of better- 
coloured Grapes can be secured by cool night temperatures than 
otherwise, the ventilators are at no time entirely closed. During 
summer, fire is not employed unless in dull weather. 
It is somewhat strange that the Grape Vine should be almost 
without exception treated as a tropical fruit, when it withstands 
our coldest winters out of doors, and in the south bears fruit 
freely. What is said about the necessity of frequent dampings of 
internal surfaces reminded me of a remark made by a gardener 
last year when three of us were inspecting his magnificent crops 
of Grapes. The surfaces of the borders were literally swamped 
with water, and the gardener expressed his opinion “ that any 
less water applied to the surfaces would result in the crops being 
scorched and destroyed by red spider ! ” These Vines were five 
years old and growing in the natural soil, which was one admir¬ 
ably adapted for fruit-production. If they produce good Grapes 
ten years after this it will be in spite of the atmospheric moisture 
supposed to keep them alive. My system is very different from 
this, yet there is no red spider or thrips on the Vines—only the 
remnant of a colony of mealy bug, which can now scarcely be 
called troublesome ; yet the Vines are neither syringed nor the 
surfaces damped. The soil is one on which red spider ought to be 
at home, and the Vines ought to be worn out in ten years ; never¬ 
theless they are carrying better crops to-day than they did five 
years ago, and I see no reason why they should not continue to do 
so as long as the vineries themselves stand, provided they are 
treated to a cool temperature and the soil kept sufficiently moist 
at all times. 
I was much surprised last year when pulling out an old Vine 
border, which had been made in what was previously an inside 
pit for plunging Pines, to find one of the Vines, which had always 
been most robust and prolific, had some of its main roots under 
the pit and in some rubbish where the roof water was drained. 
Though the Grapes on this Vine did not finish so well as the 
others, yet the crops it produced were wonderful. I am more 
convinced than ever that keeping borders constantly in a moist 
condition, and keeping the atmosphere of the house constantly 
changing, are the principal means of maintaining either young 
or old Vines up to the highest pitch of fruit-production without 
wearing them out through overcropping. It must be borne 
in mind that the majority of Grape Vines are cropped to their 
utmost, and the gardens where the crop is limited to eight or 
ten bunches on a Vine rod, say 21 feet in length, are very few 
indeed. When it is considered that ten years of the former 
system of cropping is sufficient in many cases to exhaust Vines there 
is obviously something radically wrong. If young Vines were 
gently dealt with for the first few years of their existence they 
would bear well at the time it is generally most required of them— 
viz., when they settle down to the production of “ family ” Grapes. 
The foliage of Vines has always been considered by good Grape- 
growers as of the first importance in determining the fruit-pro¬ 
ducing qualities of the Vines. There are two extremes in the 
matter of the management of Vine leaves which should always 
be guarded against; the one is that of allowing the laterals to 
ramble and interlace all over the roof, and the other that of 
restricting the laterals to a particular leaf. The main rods are 
generally too near to each other, and in such cases close pinching 
is almost a necessity. 1 consider from 3 to 4 feet distance between 
the rods no more than sufficient, and I am allowing 4 feet in the 
case of young Vines lately planted. I may note here that I allow 
old Vines a moderate lateral growth, so that every available space 
is filled with foliage, and as the Grapes ripen I cut all laterals 
in to the main bearing side shoots, and subsequently shorten these 
back to a leaf beyond the bunch, so that by the end of October 
each shoot will only have from four to six of the largest leaves. 
I believe this is conducive to free bearing and healthy growth in 
two ways. In the first place, whilst the bunches are growing, 
and until they are approaching ripeness, the amount of foliage left 
bears them through these stages ; and in the second place, cutting 
away the laterals and shortening back the main shoots are con¬ 
ducive to the keeping of the Grapes, and give the wood every op¬ 
portunity of maturing thoroughly. These, then, are the principles 
I adopt in the management of Grape Vines for late bearing : 
An early start, an atmosphere kept in a healthy condition (not by 
continued applications of moisture, but by a constant supply of 
fresh air night and day), borders kept continually moist, and a 
free and full summer foliage, to be reduced as the Grapes ripen, 
in order to ensure the keeping qualities of the Grapes and a crop 
the succeeding season.—It. P. Brotherston. 
BORDER FLOWERS—THE CATCHFLY. 
In a well selected and cultivated collection of herbaceous plants 
there is much to afford pleasure at all seasons of the year, and I 
have now something to say about the Catchfly. Among the 
Silenes we have some of the choicest ornaments of our borders, 
rockwork, and similar positions. I am satisfied, however, that 
they are comparatively neglected, although we have several 
attractive native species. Silene inflata on our hedgebanks is 
very beautiful. Silene alpestris ought to be in all borders and on 
every rockery ; it enjoys the sunshine, but should have thorough 
drainage. It may be increased by seed sown in the spring in a 
cold pit, or by dividing the plants after flowering. When well 
established it is very effective. Silene maritima is also a desirable 
native ; the double variety is especially deserving of a place on the 
rockery. Silene Schafta is a grand plant for the border in the 
autumn. I think this plant might be advantageously employed as 
a bedding plant. It is in most places a fine addition to the 
rockery, and is increased by seed in the spring and cuttings in the 
autumn. One of the brightest species is Silene pumila, which 
ought to be in every collection ; it can be increased by seed sown 
in the spring. Silene Elizabeth® is very attractive when well 
established ; it is of dwarf habit and requires care in cultivation, 
thorough drainage being essential to its success. Seed may be 
sown in the spring in a cold pit or frame, or the plant may be 
divided ; sandy loam and peat are a suitable compost. There are 
many others of this charming genus, such as Silene fimbriata, 
S. pennsylvanica, S. quadridentata, and S. acaulis ; the latter is 
seen in all its beauty in its native home among the rocks in the 
Highlands of Scotland and the Welsh mountains.— Clovewort, 
AQUILEGIA CiERULEA. 
The Columbine represented in the annexed engraving is un¬ 
questionably one of the most beautiful forms in cultivation, the 
delicate tints of the flowers, the graceful foliage, and neat habit 
rendering it highly attractive. Not only is it a fine border plant, 
but it also succeeds admirably under culture in pots ; and when a 
number of plants are grown in that way they are of considerable 
value for the greenhouse or conservatory, where by a little skilful 
arrangement they may be made to produce a charming effect. 
The form of the flowers and foliage is fairly well indicated in the 
engraving, which cannot, however, convey an adequate idea of the 
plant’s beauty owing to the absence of colour. The 6epals have 
long spurs and are of a pale blue tint, which contrasts most 
pleasingly with the white petals and the rich bright green foliage. 
There is a form known as Aquilegia cserulea hybr. a, the result of 
a cross between A. casrulea and A. chrysantha, which is also very 
