456 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 24, 1892. 
yellow, not a spot to mar their beauty, and are very effective. 
Madresfield Court and Barbarossa (Gros Guillaume) are also very 
pretty, but these two always colour well. Alicante does not colour 
at all. I remember once seeing in Selkirkshire a Vine of Alicante 
every leaf of which was as red as blood. This is the only one I 
have seen coloured. I pressed and dried a leaf and it kept its 
bright colour for years. Nothing could be more beautiful than 
these leaves for house and table decoration at this season. Ours 
are in great demand, finding a ready market for large quantities, 
averaging from Is. to 4s. per dozen. 
Although I cannot see my way to take part in the discussion 
now going on in your columns—Extension v. Restriction—still I 
may mention a few things that have come under my observation 
which may be of interest. Like most discussions taking place in 
the Journal, a great deal of sound sense is advanced on both sides. 
Good Grapes, no doubt, can be grown on both principles. A great 
deal depends on the distance between the Vines. Where the rods 
are closely planted (say 2 feet) it would be folly to allow much 
extension of laterals, as it would result in overcrowding. Where 
the rods are 4 feet apart freer growth of laterals can be practised 
without any evil effects. The aim should be plenty of good foliage 
fully exposed to light and air. Whether this can be had on the 
extension or restriction system depends entirely on the distance 
between the rods. 
Some years ago, when visiting Mr. Murray of Park Hall, 
Polmont, a Grape grower with as good a record as any in the 
country, he was then experimenting very largely with Gros Colman 
on the extension plan. He found that by allowing the laterals to grow 
unstopped the leaves did not cup so much as is the general case 
with this variety. I also noticed the same practice carried out on 
Gros Maroc, strong shoots 6 and 8 feet beyond the bunch, more 
like young Vines than laterals. At the time of my visit the Grapes 
at Park Hall were very fine, heavy crops, grand bunches, and fine 
finish. It would be interesting to know if he still follows this 
practice and what effect it had on the following year’s crop. 
Another man who could throw some valuable light on this 
subject is Mr. Hunter of Lambton, who I believe has tried more 
experiments with the Vine than any living man. He at one time 
allowed the laterals full growth. His experiments seem to have 
been carried out in a very methodical manner. He had the trellis 
wires painted different colours for guidance in future cropping of 
the shoots, which he did in alternate years. He also tried the 
system of allowing the laterals to hang down until all was a mass 
of foliage from roof to border. It would be of interest to know if 
the fine Grapes Mr. Hunter has exhibited were grown at the time 
of these experiments, or if they had anything to do with the 
extraordinary bunches of Black Hamburghs he has shown. Mr. 
Witherspoon of Red Rose Vineries, Chester-le-Street, who grows 
heavy crops of good Grapes for market, pinches very close. His 
Vines are close-planted. I think he leaves only one leaf beyond the 
bunch, but allows free growth to ramble on the border close to the 
sashes.—D. Buchanan, Forth Vineyard. 
[The leaves received from our correspondent were remarkable 
for their rich coloration, and we are not surprised to hear that 
such leaves sell freely, since we know a great trade is done in 
autumn-tinted Carrot-tops.] _ 
Seeing in the Journal of Horticulture some account of weight 
of Vine leaves, I venture to enclose three leaves taken from a rod 
of Gros Maroc Vine. They weigh nearly 5 ozs., and the largest 
leaf measures over 16 by 15 inches. I may say that the Vine from 
which these leaves were taken has carried a heavy crop for the 
last six years. With regard to stopping laterals, my practice is to 
stop three, and if room four, leaves beyond the bunch.—J. L. 
[The leaf enclosed was remarkably stout in texture.] 
While looking at Mr. A. Lloyd’s Vines at Hazelbank, Peters- 
field, recently, our conversation turned to the discussions in the 
Journal of Horticulture respecting the size and weight of leaves. 
This led us to measure the one enclosed, taken from a Gros 
Maroc which has been fruiting four years. None of the Vines 
is heavily cropped, but some of the bunches hanging are in grand 
condition, Mrs. Pince especially. Madresfield Court had been cut, 
the heavy October rains having caused them to decay. They were 
beautifully coloured, and but little cracking had taken place in the 
berries while ripening. 
The house is a span-roof, 60 feet by 31 feet, height 15 feet to 
ridge, erected for Tulip growing, the owner having a rich collec¬ 
tion, which when in bloom form a grand sight. The structure is 
not heated nor any special borders prepared, but the Vines are 
planted about 6 feet apart, so as to only partially shade the Tulips, 
ihe Vines are hard stopped, and allowed only one leaf on the 
lateral growth. The wood on all appears to be well ripened. The 
sorts that have ripened and finished off good bunches are Gros 
Maroc, Madresfield Court, Muscat Hamburgh, Black Hamburgh, 
Bruxelloise, Muscat of Alexandria, Buckland Sweetwater, Dr. 
Hogg, and Mrs. Pince. Others are being tried. The point of the 
leaf got broken by accident ; it weighed with the stalk nearly 2 ozs. 
—George Nottage, Gardener to J. Bonham Carter, Esq. 
[The leaf measured 18 inches in diameter, and was very stout 
in texture.] 
ADIANTUM FARLEYENSE. 
How seldom do we see a really well grown plant of this beautiful 
Fern either in nurseries or private gardens. I have been through 
some of the leading nurseries lately where other exotic Ferns are 
to be seen in quantity and well grown, but A. farleyense presented 
a miserable appearance. How is it that so few succeed in growing 
this, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all the Adiantums ? Is 
it because growers give it too much water, or dry it off too much 
in winter ? I will not venture an opinion, leaving that to an abler 
pen than mine. As I have been successful in restoring a sickly 
specimen to health, however, my treatment may interest some 
readers of the Journal. 
When I took charge of these gardens about fifteen months ago 
the plant in question was growing in a 12-inch pot. The fronds 
did not cover the surface of the pot, they were so few. On 
examination I found the soil in a very wet condition, so I did not 
water it for a month after. Water was applied only when really 
necessary during the winter. In the spring the soil was rammed 
firm and a little fibrous peat and sand placed on the surface. Since 
that time the plant has grown freely, and now measures 3 feet in 
diameter. During the summer it had a few waterings with weak 
liquid manure. The plant is grown in a stove temperature with 
other exotic Ferns, and is never syringed. I damp between the 
pots with the syringe two or three times a day during the summer 
in preference to syringing. 
I have been trying experiments with three offsets taken from 
A. farleyense ; two I potted in fibrous peat and sand, the other one in 
fibrous loam, rough leaf mould, small river gravel, and sand. The 
latter plant has grown very freely, and is now in a 6-inch pot. 
Those potted in peat and sand are still in small pots, and have 
scarcely made any growth. I enclose fronds for your inspection. 
Those taken off the plant grown in loam are not by any means 
the largest on the plant, but are sufficient to show the difference. 
I should like to hear the experience of those of your readers who 
are successful in growing this Fern.—C. Russell, Clayton West , 
Huddersfield. 
[The frond from the plant grown in the loam is more than 
thrice the size of the other.] 
A MIDLAND PILGRIMAGE. 
There is a character in one of Hawley Smart’s novels, one of whose 
special peculiarities it was to arrive at the station a few minutes after 
the particular train he wished to catch had gone. The interesting 
developments which followed one instance of indulgence in this pleasing 
diversion are not to be dwelt upon here, but personal experience and 
observation constrain me to contend that the novelist displayed no mean 
knowledge of human nature when he made this trait conspicuous in one 
of his characters. The connection between the incident noted and a visit 
to the Chilwell nurseries of Messrs. J. R. Pearson & Sons will not be 
obvious to the reader, but it is distinctly so to the writer, and doubtless 
made itself felt with peculiar force to a representative of the firm named 
while patiently waiting at one station for a visitor who had mistaken his 
train, come a different way, and alighted at another. But there was one 
feature which the misunderstanding brought out clearly, and it is that 
whoever alights at Beeston station may rely upon close and accurate 
directions upon how to get to Pearson’s if there be anything in the shape 
of man, woman, or child to ply with queries. It seems to be familiar to 
all, and as the distance is small there is no trouble in reaching it afoot, 
albeit there are certain twists and turns reminding one of those 
negotiated by the junior Mr. Welier when guiding the illustrious 
Pickwick to a favourite house of refreshment in London. Being a 
stranger in a strange land, on a night densely dark, and the possessor of 
a somewhat cautious disposition, I thought it prudent to test the 
accuracy of instructions received on alighting by a further consultation 
at each corner that had to be turned : but this proved to be a needless 
precaution, and visitors, it would seem, have no excuse for losing their 
way when going to see the Chrysanthemums and fruit trees at Chilwell. 
The Chrysanthemum Stream. 
From the time that the Chrysanthemum season opens visitors go to 
Chilwell in a constant stream. The tide starts flowing at the beginning 
of November, and continues unceasingly throughout the month. Strong 
in the possession of magnificent houses and a’very large collection of 
finely grown plants, the firm trouble not about shows, but go in for a 
