JanoAry 17,1896. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
55 
one Bpecies of which, under its name of Christmas Rose, is a 
welcome flower at this season, represent “backbiting” or slander ; 
and their relative, the Winter Aconite, with its green frills and 
yellow centre, tells of “ misanthropy.” The Columbine, a native 
plant, of which we have some pretty garden varieties, stands for an 
emblem of “ folly,” through a fancied resemblance of the petals lo 
a fool’s cap and bells. That was not the only fancy it suggested, 
for the English name reminds us the flower was also likened to a 
nest of young doves, and the Latin one indicates that to some it 
suggested the talons of an eagle. Chaucer, the father of English 
poetry, speaks admiringly of the Columbine ; and Spenser remarks 
upon its variety of colour. In this family, however, the Monk’s 
Hood, a flower which might be wisely banished from our gardens 
because of its poisonous qualities, represents “ chivalry,” the hood 
having also a resemblance to a knight’s helmet. Amongst the 
flowers that were carefully gathered by our forefathers in summer, 
to be kept for display in winter, the Amaranth was conspicuous, 
sacred to love or friendship, and a symbol of immortality. 
—J. R. S. C. 
PEELING VINES. 
Many of your middle-aged readers will bear witness that I 
have been a strenuous opposer of stripping Vines of their bark ; 
possibly some of them will even give me credit for making some 
barbarian pause before he continued the cruel practice. What will 
my friends say then when I confess that last winter I stripped all 
my Vines of every particle of outer bark ? At ary rate there is 
this advantage, I can say something about both sides of the 
question. Then what is the excuse for this acknowledged 
barbarity ? 
For some years now I have been very much troubled with red 
spider. It may be from mismanagement, but certainly it is not 
the result of laziness or lack of attention. I have had to do with 
this enemy on several occasions before I undeitook my present 
charge, but I could generally manage to dislodge it before the 
season was out, and start the following spring with a clean bill of 
health. But now it is different. Not only does the detested little 
thing take possession of indoor plants, but it also claims in warm 
seasons many of the common weeds in the hedgerows and neglected 
spots, especially Nettles and Bindweeds. 
I think the lightness of our soil has something to do with it, 
and when I say that before the physical condition of our Vine 
borders was changed by adding a large amount of clay, they had 
often to be watered twice a week during the summer, while those 
at Longleat would go with advantage without water for three weeks 
at a time. It will be seen there is a considerable difference. The 
latter also have 10 inches of drainage entirely across the house, 
while those I am now dealing with have no more drainage than a 
ploughed field, in fact only one drain pipe through each border. 
But to return to the spider. During 1893, after dressing the 
stems in the winter with petroleum and other things thought to be 
obnoxious to animal life (we cannot dress them thoroughly in the 
autumn while the leaves are green, or the thing would be simple 
enough, because the fruit is always in the way of that), painting 
and reglazing the house, besides removing everything likely to har¬ 
bour insect life, we found in the early summer that the enemy again 
showed a very bold front. Every leaf in two large compartments 
was sponged on both sides with soapy water four times during that 
memorable summer, but although we worked as those only work 
who intend to win, I must confess that the spider was the victor, 
and many of the leaves were rendered useless when they were 
wanted to give the finishing touch to the Grapes. 
After pruning and dosing the stems rather heavily we started 
searching for the enemy’s winter quarters. Loose bark was stripped 
eff, but nothing could be seen. Then we proceeded further, and 
with the handle of a budding knife a commencement was made to 
take off carefully everything to the inner bark, and then we found 
the enemy in force mostly in the axils between the spurs and the 
main rod—not eggs, but bright scarlet fellows snugly laid up for the 
winter where neither cold nor damp could reach them. We then 
determined to proceed, and after stripping the poor Vines of their 
jackets they were operated on with scrubbing brush and soapy 
water. I am happy to say that some of the Vines have not had a 
red spider on them since, and we are encouraged to hope that this 
season, as there is as yet no rough bark on the stems, we can 
complete the victory. 
So much for the spiders, now what about the effects of the 
operation on the Vines ? Well, they started vigorously, and looked 
very promising, so much so that I began to think that perhaps 
after all the stripping was not quite such a bad thing as I had 
imagined. But as growth proceeded and the weather became 
warmer it was seen that the leaves which were large as usual showed 
signs of flagging. I forgot to say that the stems were dressed with 
a paint made of clay, softsoap, soot, and water. This was to shade 
them, as well as to make them distasteful to insect life. 
The flagging grew worse. Black Hamburghs and Gros Colmans 
showed it the most. We gave some of the stems a thick dressing 
of clay and cow manure, but it made no difference, and they did not 
seem to really recover before stoning time. Of course, this 
flagging told on the size of the berries, and possibly had the season 
been hot and dry like 1893 it would have had a still more marked 
effect. The Grapes mostly coloured and finished very well, but 
the loss of weight was considerable. 
I think under the circumstances it was best to take off the bark, 
but I trust I shall never have to do such a thing again. Most of 
the Vines were ten years old, and had stems thicker than a man’s 
wrist. I daresay with weakly grown Vines, such as have shoots 
and leaves only half or perhaps a third the size of mine, the effect 
would not be so marked. These have not such a large amount of 
stored up material to start with in the spring, consequently they 
make a weaker start, and when the time comes for them to 
commence drawing supplies from the roots their wants are not 
so great as Vines possessing a greater amount of vigour. —William 
Taylor. _ 
I was glad to see Mr. Charman’s note (page 29) with regard to 
cleaning Vines, and hope that someone will respond who can give ns 
some useful information. I have been much interested in the notes by 
“ R. P. R.” on Mr. Craven’s work. He does not appear to be troubled 
with mealy bug, or he would find that peeling was a necessity, however 
much he might be against it on principle. I should like to see a note 
from someone who has tried the gas tar mixture for mealy bug, to 
ascertain whether it has been successful, and if so, how it is made and 
applied.—D. R, 
I DOUBT if peeling the canes during the cleaning process is so 
detrimental to the well-being of the Vine as Mr. Craven (page 6) would 
lead one to suppose. The best Grape grower I know personally is in the 
habit of taking every particle of bark off, as he is much troubled with 
mealy bug, and I have seen him go so far as to take the scale off the 
eyes if he thought one of the enemy had escaped. Nor did he think it 
necessary to employ only his experienced men, as the garden labourers 
used to take part in the general operation ; and I think I can say without 
fear of contradiction, and I am sure Mr. Iggulden and Mr. Austin will 
bear me out, or anyone else who has visited the Bath and Bristol shows, 
when I say that for finish, size of bunch and berry, few better examples 
are shown anywhere than are those at the foregoing places by Mr. Nash 
of Badminton. 
I had the pleasure of looking round this much-improved garden last 
September, and was very much struck with his magnificent Alicantee 
and Muscats. When I say he beat that veteran exhibitor, Mr. Chaffin 
(gardener, Mr. Taylor), readers will be able to form an idea what they 
were like. I was surprised to see the inside borders covered about 
2 inches deep with soft gravel, which Mr. Nash assured me—providing 
the borders were full of roots—was a capital thing, as it kept the houses 
cool during the summer months.—W m. Potts, The Grove Gardens. 
1 REGRET that Mr. Craven (page 6), has taken my remarks 
in the light of being a “severe criticism” of his article on page 535. 
Mr. H. Charman in his remarks on page 29 has put the object of my 
remarks in a nutshell, which I trust will be carried out. Mr. Craven 
also wants my credentials. Does he not know that there is many a 
gardener who grows good Grapes which are never seen on exhibition 
tables by the desire of their owners 1 Mr. Craven is fortunately 
privileged to show, and myself and other readers of the Journal rejoice 
in his success, and I for one would like to give him a fraternal shake of 
the hand. Well, brother Craven, my right to ask a question through the 
pages of the Journal (with the Editor’s permission, which I have never 
knWn him refuse), is that I have been a reader of its pages for upwards 
of sixteen years, and an occasional contributor as well. As to my ability 
as a gardener that is quite safe in the custody of my employer. I trust 
this subject of cleaning Vines will be taken up by other growers, and 
some up to date opinions expressed. I trust, Mr. Editor, you will not 
pass a severe judgment on me when I say I pass on the Journal to my 
young men in the bothies, who are anxiously anticipating a discussion 
on this subject. In doing so I am following the example of a good 
gardener, who is still growing good Grapes.— Erica. 
[Every gardener ought to help the young men under him in the best 
way he can, and they should give the best possible services in return.) 
THE PROPOSED NATIONAL VEGETABLE EXHIBITION. 
REPORT OF THE PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE. 
This report was presented to the General Committee at a meeting 
held at the Royal Aquarium, January loth, 1895. ^ , 
In accordance with a notice kindly inserted in the horticultural 
papers, a meeting ot persons interested in the proposal to organise a 
National Exhibition of Vegetables during the present year was held at 
the Crystal Palace on September 29th last, and was presided oyer by 
Mr. Henry Balderson. A small provisional Committee consisting of 
Messrs. R. Dean, G. Goidon, G. Wythes, B. Wyrne, J. Wright, and 
