2 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 5,188*. 
ower two or three joints for strengthening the buds there, to 
which the Yines will have to be pruned ; hut all axillary growths 
above them may be removed entirely, and if the main buds push 
pinch these too, and those below will be the stronger. This is a 
simple and safe way of preventing a good deal of overcrowding 
and concentrating strength in the main leaves, on which everything 
depends. It is not the practice generally taught, and the timid 
may hesitate to follow it, but it is safe and sound for all that, as any 
one may prove by a few experiments. It is not a tentative pro¬ 
cedure with scores of good growers, and should be adopted by all 
when the laterals cover the roof rather more closely than is desir¬ 
able, as is the case in the great majority of houses devoted mainly 
to the cultivation of Grapes. 
Vinery No. 3.—This is a 20 feet long house with seven Yines in 
it, belonging to a clergyman and managed by a groom and gardener. 
He has managed them fairly well, the border outside, where the 
roots are, being thickly covered with manure. This is put on when 
the Grapes set every year and the loose raked off when they are 
ripe, an inch or two of fresh loam being then spread on the border. 
That was a new rule to me, and I am certain not a bad one. The 
Vines were in excellent health, but overcrowded, though the 
laterals were quite a foot asunder along each side of the rods. With 
such strong growth and large leaves the distance between the spurs 
should be 18 inches ; but as this cannot be very well managed now 
the man was advised to remove all the sub-laterals except from the 
two or three lowest axils, also to only allow each alternate lateral 
to bear a bunch. As the crops will then average nearly or 
quite 2 lbs. to each lineal foot of rod it will not be bad, and in fact 
much better than if twice the number of bunches were allowed, as 
in thi3 case the Vines would be overweighted, the Grapes not 
coloured, and shanking probably induced. But though there were 
many, too many, fine bunches, several of them were being spoiled, 
from a gardener’s point of view, by rough handling in thinning. 
This was in progress and ought to have been finished, for it was 
difficult to insert the scissors between the berries without touchmcr 
O 
them—a sure proof of the work being too long delayed. The 
bunches thinned, moreover, had a shiny appearance, the result of 
rough handling, and too many berries had been taken from the tops 
of the bunches. 
As the man appeared anxious to learn he was shown how to 
thin a bunch of Grapes. One was chosen that he was afraid to 
touch, as the berries were so small, yet they were fairly set, and that 
was enough. The berries stood quite clear, and it was easy to work 
the scissors between them. It was a fine bunch of the old 
favourite, the Grape of Grapes for grooms and gardeners and 
most amateurs—the Black Hamburgh. It would have been a 
symmetrical bunch and “ tapering ” but for a great shoulder 
jutting out from the top, half an inch above the rest, and half as 
long as the bunch itself. This was quickly cut off. The man 
picked it up and looked scared, but he could not put it on again, 
fortunately for the bunch, which the sprawling shoulder would 
have spoiled. It was a well set bunch, and fully two-third? of the 
berries were cut out. A cedar pencil was held in the left hand for 
gently raising the shoulders, and snip, snip, snip went the scissors 
in the right, chiefly working under the shoulders and inside the 
bunch, no berries being cut out that had room to swell upwards and 
outwards. Only quite a few were taken from the upper side of the 
top shoulders, as it is surprising how the Grapes find room there, 
curling back and piling themselves, so to say, round the stalk ; still, 
their probable size should be anticipated and room provided accord- 
ingty, though overthinning there is a common mistake, as is under¬ 
thinning beneath and in the centre of the bunches. When the 
berries are as large as good-sized peas it ought to be easy to pass 
a thick pencil round them without touching, as the shoulders 
are held up for the purpose. When they fall into position this 
could not be done, but room is provided for their swelling all the 
same, and they may safely be left to occupy it and push their way 
into the best positions. Tying up the shoulders may be necessary 
in the case of very large bunches of above 4 lbs., but a great deal 
of time is wasted in work of that kind on those that are smaller,, 
and their appearance marred rather than improved. I wonder iff 
Mr. Wm. Thomson of Clovenfords ties up the shoulders of his- 
10,000 to 20,000 fine bunches, but imagine he does not, and if his- 
average is maintained growers may be satisfied. And this reminds 
that in many vineries in which I see the best Grapes Thomson’s 
Vine manure is highly spoken of ; but let it be said emphatically 
that the effects of the best manure ever compounded and the best 
soil that can be collected are quite nullified if overcrowding, over¬ 
cropping, injudicious ventilating, and insufficient watering are per¬ 
mitted, that being the certain way to grow good crops of insects 
and bad crops of Grapes. 
But a pause is imperative. If I were to describe the condition- 
of the Vines in every garden entered during the past two months 
and detail the routine that led to success or failure there would be- 
no room for anything else in the Journal, and that would never do. 
The subject, however, may, perhaps, be resumed, and in the mean¬ 
time if anyone desires a hint on any special point let him state his- 
case ; if he wishes to ask any questions let him ask them ; if ho 
prefers to grumble at anything that is said let him grumble, as it 
all does good in the end.— Experientia docet. 
SELECT ALPINE PLANTS. 
ALPINE PHLOXES. 
It is not many years since that the species and varieties figuring 
under this head were comparatively few in number, and while the 
species remain about the same to-day, the varieties have increased 
considerably, bringing with them new and pleasing shades of colour,, 
while for free growing and flowering they are all that can be desired.. 
These latter remarks apply more especially to the new varieties of 
setacea, which have enriched our gardens in spring to some con¬ 
siderable extent. The whole of the varieties of setacea, as well as 
frondosa, nivalis, and Nelsoni, form dense prostrate cushions, which 
in May and June are completely hidden by the numbers of flowers 
produced. Nothing can surpass them for effect in the spring, 
garden, and where this is indulged in to any extent some of these 
Phloxes should be among the number. 
For the convenience of those desirous of securing the most 
distinct varieties, I will give what I regard as the best, all points- 
considered :—atro-purpurea, dark rosy purple, very free and a good 
doer ; The Bride, pure white, with a ring of scarlet spots in the- 
centre, a very telling variety, habit very compact, and an abundant 
bloomer. Compacta well bears out its name, and produces rose- . 
coloured flowers freely. Vivid ; in point of [colour this is- 
the most effective. It does not produce flowers as large as some, 
but is remarkable for freedom, while for colour it stands alone ; its 
rigid tufts, studded with rosy scarlet flowers with deeper centre, 
render it very conspicuous. The foregoing I consider the best and 
most distinct of the forms of setacea, apart from which there are 
several which cannot be omitted. Among these Nelsoni stands 
first, and is covered with pure white masses of bloom, a most 
charming plant ; and frondosa, with rosy pink flowers. All 
these are very similar in general aspect, quite hardy and most- 
effective. 
But what I regard as the gem of all the Alpine Phloxes is- 
P. amoena. It is a most lovely plant in effect, and so continuous 
a bloomer, according to the season, it flowering in April or very 
early in May, and continues a long time in perfection. I have had 
this one in flower for six months, and had as fine flowers in October 
as in May ; but to get this result it should be divided as soon as it 
has ceased flowering, and planted in good rich soil. Attend to 
watering and so forth, it will speedily recover, and show signs of 
flowering again. Its full height is 6 inches ; the colour of the 
flowers a bright pleasing pink, and to see a bed some 40 feet long 
carpeted with this lovely plant and in full flower, is one of the 
prettiest sights in spring. The only other that calls for mention 
now is that usually sold as verna, but which correctly is reptans.. 
It has also been distributed under the name stolonifera, but this 
species has bluish or slate-coloured flowers, while verna (reptans) 
has reddish-purple flowers. Both plants, however— i.e., stolonifera 
and reptans, possess the same habit, hence the confusion probably. 
All the varieties of setacea and their allies may be increased by 
division, either in autumn or spring after flowering. Cuttings of 
all these taken when about 2 inches long—that is, of new growth 
and with a heel attached, root readily in moist sandy soil, in hand- 
lights cr frames kept close and shaded. Amoena may be had in 
