184 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Sip'.embsr 1, 1837. 
Who objects 1 I went so far in the opposite direction as to assist him 
with evidence, helping him forward. What more could any reasonable 
man desire 2 Seemingly it is not enough to satisfy “ Experientia docet,” 
hence the re-opening of the whole question, in view, no doubt, of another 
review. 
To introduce the statement into a discussion on Vines of their being 
“ no more naturally adapted to the spur system of pruning than 
Peaches are,” can have no other effect than to provoke controversy and 
argument. The Vine never forms spurs naturally or culturally, but the 
Peach left to Nature produces its fruit mainly on spurs. Comparisons 
of that kind are very unorthodox. Then we are asked to believe that 
“a modified extension system of pruning would result in far better 
crops of Grapes than some Vines can possibly bear when the bearing 
wood is cut off close to the main rods.” Who would expect Grapes 
when the bearing wood is cut off ? The practice if it obtain is clearly 
unorthodox, and “ modified extension ” is simply the orthodox rod 
disguised. 
The Cole Orton Grapes prove conclusively the great advantages of 
the orthodox rod system of pruning in securing gold medals, fed as the 
Vines were with the right food, in proper quantity at the right time. 
This with a properly made border, the roots being confined to a brick 
pit, therefore, perfectly under control, and high cultivation, led to the 
winning of £300 in prizes. Who would slight such proofs of high cul¬ 
tural attainments ? 
“ Modified extension,” “Experientia docet” states, I condemn on 
page 320. Manifestly our friend stumbles or makes the final plunge in 
despair, for I confess to not knowing what “ modified extension,” as he 
employs it, means. Perhaps it is the “ long-pruning,” marked the “ no 
system or no principle, yet principle of pruning to the best buds, let 
them be situated' where they may,” that only being granted for the 
guidance of the unorthodox seekers of Grapes. “ Modified extension ” 
is clearly a departure from long-pruning, a move backward, all the same 
in the right direction—viz., toward the short rod and spur. 
I have never stated that an extension of young canes leads to un¬ 
satisfactory results, except when the roots are in an unfavourable root¬ 
ing medium, and to that I adhere. I believe in a favourable soil for the 
rooting of the Vines, and unless that is accorded no satisfactory results 
can attend any system of pruning, and cultural skill on such is mis¬ 
placed. Properly made borders lie at the root of all successful Grape 
culture, and to state otherwise is misleading. Not that costly borders 
are necessary, for the Vine is not at all fastidious, only it likes good 
pasturage which any ordinary garden soil affords, or may afford by add¬ 
ing suitable material and feeding at the surface. 
“ Experientia docet ” is at a loss to know where I got the informa¬ 
tion from anent the old Vines at Cole Orton. If they were all right, 
why did Mr. Henderson make a departure from the spur system and 
adopt the rod 2 It does not require any great insight in Grape cultiva¬ 
tion to become aware of such obvious facts. 
“Experientia docet’s ” explanation of “orthodox nonsense” is 
characteristic of his indebtedness to an opponent for facts as well for 
subject of controversy. Your correspondent is welcome to all the con¬ 
solation he can derive from what I have written about Vines, even the 
Chiswick Vines, if it suits his purpose to make me the author of the 
term “ modified extension system,” which I take to in anticipation 
with a profound bow, as I claim for the Grape cultivation as it obtains 
in the great vinery, every good system and principle of orthodox Vine 
pruning—viz., the spur, the short rod, and long rod, and not on indi¬ 
vidual and peculiar Vines only, but all, in some instances on the same 
Vine, so that there is no question of the soundness of any of the 
systems. How anyone can claim any system of Vine pruning as 
unorthodox is not nigh, but quite “ incomprehensible.” 
Now for the “ turn round.” Your astute correspondent asks why I 
should turn round on myself. The fact is, it is “ Experientia docet ” 
that has turned round. Long pruning was advised as a cure for Vines 
that from \veakness or excess of vigour did not produce satisfactory 
crops of Grapes, the roots not being under control, indeed nothing could 
be done to better the condition of the rooting area. The only instance 
of a cure of this kind is given by myself, for “ Experientia docet’s ” was 
a case of border renovation, and though the one Vine, perhaps a hundred 
years old, had the roots straight down, quite below the bed of the new 
border, we may safely infer that it would push fresh rootlets into the 
fresh material and so be benefited by the fresh compost. That is all the 
evidence, so far, in respect of keeping Grapes by long pruning wheTe 
the roots were not under control. In Mr. Henderson’s case they were 
not only under control, but well fed and skilfully managed. The same 
obtained with those in the great vinery at Chiswick, Mr. Barron being a 
great advocate of surface roots, of proper and judicious feeding. At 
The Firs, Mr. Sanders not only let the Vines extend, but applied lime, 
fresh soil, and manure, and these your correspondent admits had some 
effect, but the chief cause of the improved condition of the Vines and 
crop was the long pruning. The lime, fresh soil, and manure are so 
little accounted of, that they are all but left out in the cold. To take 
credit for long pruning alone we must ask for it where the roots of the 
Vines are not under control, otherwise how are the results to be 
estimated 2 
What does “Experientia docet” think of the figure and description 
of the Manresa Vine 2 If evidence is wanted of the virtue of the spur it 
is placed before him incontestibly—his long pruning has never figured 
so ^conspicuously. But lettiDg that pass, allow me to ask upon what 
“ Experientia docet ” relies for the production of Grapes 2 The bud 2 If 
so, what does it signify whether it be the first, second, or third from the 
base of the current or preceding year’s development ? Now, a bud can 
only be a bud. Are those best on shoots that do not carry fruit 2 I havo 
Vines with canes over 20 feet long, others of 6 to 12 feet, and I wish te 
know how I am to tell the best eyes on those rods, so as to cut back to a 
safe one at the autumn or winter pruning. It seems to me strange that 
we should encourage young canes, and for the sake of cutting them off 
at the winter pruning. The wood removed represents so much matter 
taken from the soil and wasted when cut away. The whole bud question 
is very little understood, anyway I know very little about it in so far as 
regards bud formation. The most I know is that it is a most interesting 
and instructive study. Can anyone tell me how to distinguish the best 
bud or buds on the 20 feet, 12 feet, and G feet canes 2 If no one comes 
forward with a satisfactory reply to those lengths of cane, perhaps they 
may tell me the best eyes to be found on the shoots that are stopped a 
few joints beyond the fruit. I may say that I have Vine shoots stopped 
at the second' joint, and should very much like to know which of these 
buds on the laterals are best from a fruiting point of view. Either 
there is or is not a proper bud to cut to in order to have the best show of 
Grapes. The unorthodox state there is a best bud, but it is “ any¬ 
where but I am orthodox enough to believe there is nothing without 
cause, and only guidence is needed to find it.—G. Abbey. 
SEEDING AND GROWING PRIMULA OBCONICA. 
My plants were flowering with their wonted freedom, and strangely 
enough, so long as I allowed them to develop flowers, the older flowers 
would not set for seed, despite any would-be assistance with camel-hair 
brush. Some weeks ago, after puzzling myself as to the cause, I decided 
to pick off all new flower spikes as they emerged from the tufts of 
leaves. This I followed up rigidly for some time, with the result that I 
had an abundance of seed pods form, which gave a splendid lot of seed. 
I mention this since this Primula seems to be fast gaining the name of 
being a shy and uncertain seeder. Those plants which produced the 
earliest batch of seed are now ready for dividing. A fortnight or so 
since I cut off all the flower stems, so that the plants have had a slight 
rest, and fresh leaves are now pushing forth. To make the most of so 
useful a plant I treat them thus :—First shake off all the soil and lay 
the roots bare by washing them in a pail of water ; this enables the 
operator to trace how best he can divide his plant, and he will also find 
in the majority of cases that the plants will readily divide into single 
crowns, each having roots attached. Pot these singly in 2J-inch pots, 
place them in a frame, or where they will be kept close and shaded fora 
time. When they are fairly started let their treatment be exactly that 
given to Chinese Primulas both as to soil and other particulars, differ¬ 
ing only by keeping all the flowers pinched off P. obconica as they 
appear until they have obtained a good size. They will be ready for 
flowering early in December, and flower spikes will continue increasing 
in number as the days lengthen. This is a veritable gem for the con¬ 
servatory and for winter flowering, and certainly no other species in this 
extensive genus can equal its perpetual flowering qualities.—J. H. E. 
TOMATOES OUT OF DOORS. 
The extensive walled-in kitchen gardens and ranges of glass houses 
attached to Hampton Court Palace, occupied and cultivated by Messrs. 
T. Jackson & Sons, of Kingston-on-Thames, are at all times' interesting, 
not only on account of the historical associations and the excellent 
ranges of fruit houses, in which are growing splendid examples of Black 
Hamburgh and other varieties of Grapes (the former, no doubt, off¬ 
springs of the celebrated Vine in the neighbouring house at the Court) ; 
but especially so at the present time on account of the very successful 
crop of Tomatoes growing out of doors. The weather has been favour¬ 
able ; but allowing for that, this is the heaviest crop of Tomatoes I have 
ever seen growing in the open air in any part of England. No doubt 
the preparation of the plants in spring before planting out is the secret 
of success in the out-of-door cultivation of Tomatoes, and the want of 
attention to this the cause of many failures ; but here is a plain proof, 
it proof were required, that given a favourable season they can be grown 
better than most people imagine. There are two plots in the enclosed 
gai-dens, one containing about 900 plants and the other about 400. They 
are planted about a yard apart, each tied to a stake, and it is estimated 
that between 3 and 4 tons of fruit will be gathered from them. The 
plants are bowed down with fruit in clusters of from twelve to twenty 
in number, and loaded from top to bottom. The most approved sort, 
on account of the earliness, although it is not the largest, is Sutton’s 
Earliest of All. It is evidently a selection from Orangefield Dwarf ; 
from these ripe fruit have been picked for six weeks past. Another is 
Hampton Court Trophy, a selection of Mr. Latham’s (the manager), who 
has grown it for the past six years. It is a very fine and free variety, 
growing about 4 feet high, and certainly an improvement on the old 
variety growing by its side. Sutton's Perfection is a very distinct and 
clean-looking fruit: this grows about 5 feet high. The Mikado is another 
variety on trial. It is a fine large-fruited variety, but evidently too late 
for out-of-door cultivation. Optimist, although now carrying heavy 
crops, evidently in ordinary seasons would be more fitted for indoor 
work. The plants are wonderfully clean and healthy, and in common 
with the other growing crops reflect great credit on Mr. Latham.—C. 0. 
THE SEASON AND CROPS IN EAST LOTHIAN. 
Some remarks on the season and crops from East Lothian may be of 
interest at the present time. It may be premised that the rainfall here 
