June 20, 1805. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
545 
had a s^ieat deal to do with throwing this splendid Grape into the 
background, and I believe now that those Vines obtained from a 
western source have the better constitution, and as a rule this variety 
is grown better in the western counties. For ordinary practice there 
is no excuse for inducing late growth, which has to be ripened as 
well as it can be by a large amount of fuel. 
In the autumn, as the lower buds on the main stem become partially 
ripe, the laterals may by degrees be closely cut off, beginning from the 
base, and sometimes in September the Vine may be shortened to the 
length it is intended to remain, or if there is any risk of its starting 
again one or two extra eyes may be left to be cut off later. It matters 
not whether the rod is 6,12, or 20 feet grown and ripened in the way I 
have indicated. Any variety, with perhaps the exception of Lady 
Downe’s, will, if allowed to start naturally in the spring, do so from 
every eye. They should never be stinted of water to induce ripenings 
Fig. 97.—CATTLEYA GIGAS SANDER.E. 
the stem they do not return again of their own free will. The aim 
should be to induce the formation of the largest possible number of 
small roots, for large fleshy roots are comparatively useless. Every 
rootlet, however small, has near its extremity root hairs by which all 
the nourishment a plant obtains underground is taken in. Large roots 
and rampant growth mean only an excess of water ; for a real solid 
building up you must have innumerable small roots, and hard if smaller 
stem growth. 
I am in the habit of treating young planted out Vines exactly as I 
do those grown for fruiting in pots. The main stem is encouraged to 
grow till midsummer, and then, or at least early in July, it is stopped, 
the side shoots all the time being kept pinched to one leaf. Some of 
the upper buds will burst out again and again, but they are persistently 
stopped so long as there is no danger of the principal buds down the 
stem starting. A great deal of watching and discretion are necessary to 
see that they are not stopped too cL sely, and yet to take care that they 
are stopped as closely as circumstances will permit. According to my 
experience the leaf growth made after July is not worth having, and all 
the plants’ energies should be concentrated on making plump buds, 
hardened wood with small cells and wire-like roots. “ All this is 
old-fashioned,” someone will say, “ and we must go on quicker.” 
Possibly, but I am not without some experience of quicker methods, 
and one instance in particular would, I think, exceed anything recorded 
of late. The season before Mrs. Pince was distributed Mr. Meredith 
went to Exeter and procured a partially ripened plant from its owner. 
He planted it in rich soil, gave it plenty of heat and moisture, and 
it made such growth that six hundred plants were raised from it the 
following spring, the remainder of the plant carrying and ripening 
twenty-three bunches of Grapes, three of which were exhibited at a 
Netherlands exhibition, and received special notice from the Queen of 
the Netherlands. 
Mr. Meredith certainly obtained a few guineas for his Vines and 
outwitted Mr. Pince, but I have always thought that the plan adopted 
and never be allowed to become dust dry whether they are making 
visible growth or not. 
Whether Vines are allowed to fruit the season after planting should 
depend altogether on their strength. If they are sufficiently strong 
it does good to fruit them moderately ; but the fruiting should be quite 
a secondary matter, the great aim being to build up a good and regular 
framework for the future. There is frequently a tendency in young 
Vines during the second year to make irregular growth, some shoots 
being as large again as others, and frequently the leader is out of all 
proportion to the rest. All the strong shoots, including the leader, 
should have their points pinched out just beyond where they show 
fruit, and in a few days others which have overtaken them should be 
served in the same way, and by this means the plants will early in the 
season become perfectly balanced. Sometimes it is advisable to allow 
the leader to grow again ; hut never at the expense of the lower 
branches, and all the growth it is allowed to make should be completed 
before July. ... 
It will be seen that the second season is devoted entirely to laying 
