December 27 , 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
579 
are from 4 to 6. inches in diameter at their base ; but the creeper 
apparently disdains to trust them as supports, and confines itself to 
the trunk. This support, however, will also have an end, for we 
have lost several trees, which had become quite denuded of 
branches, and only presented a beautifully tapering Ivy-covered 
»pire. 
The trunk of the tree, when deprived of its vitality, can no 
longer resist decay, and when it becomes too weak to withstand 
a high wind, its load brings the whole down. Even Spruce and 
Larch trees containing from 50 to 100 or more cubic feet of timber 
are not proof against the elements, and the downfall of the structure 
is only a matter of time. Sometimes such pillars will be blown 
down by the root, and sometimes broken off in the middle. One 
which suffered in the latter way was about 18 inches in diameter 
at the place where broken, and was not far advanced in decay. 
Such casualties cannot well be prevented except by bracing up the 
dead stem, like the mast of a ship, but doing so would mar the 
effect. — A Kentish Gaedenek. 
PRUNING AND CLEANING VINES. 
Many Vines where the vineries are limited are not well cleaned 
and pruned in winter. The reason of this is that the houses are 
almost invariably crammed in winter with all kinds of plants. 
There is no room to turn in them, far less clean and prune the 
Vines as they ought to be done. “ Well,” it is said, “ we must put 
it off until the spring, when many of the plants will be cleared 
out,” but in the meantime a little fire heat is applied to expel 
damp and exclude frost, and this goes on until the Vines are 
induced to grow, then it is seen they cannot be properly cleaned or 
pruned. As soon as the leaves have fallen this work might receive 
attention, and many are now ready for the operation. If the 
vineries are full of plants these will suffer less through being 
turned out to another house or shed now than they would do in 
the months of February or March. There is little use in attempt¬ 
ing to clean a vinery thoroughly unless everything is cleared out. 
When the plants have to be moved back and forward, and from 
one end to the other, it is difficult to do the work satisfactorily, 
particularly if insects have to be exterminated. Red spider, thrips, 
green fly, and mealy bug are the most common, and the latter is, 
perhaps, the worst of all to clear out. 
Pruning, however, should be done before cleaning, and if this 
operation is neglected the Vines will soon degenerate. The general 
disposition is to allow too much wood to remain. It is much easier 
keeping Vines clean, healthy, and fruitful where rods and side 
shoots are thinned than where they are crowded. If the main rods 
have become too crowded, now is the time to cut some of them out. 
Letthe most fruitful remain in removing superfluous rods should 
be the first operation, then go on pruning those that remain. If a 
Vine has two rods, one old, the other young and vigorous, the latter 
should be left. If young rods have been recently formed that are 
strong and capable of bearing a number of good bunches, do not 
cut them down as was done of old, but let it remain from 6 feet to 
10 feet in length. All straggling points should be cut off young 
rods, and only wood of a fruitful character left, and any little side 
growth should be removed. Old rods full of spurs from which the 
young side shoots have been emitted are pruned by cutting in these 
growths to two or three buds from where they started last spring. 
Two buds, as a rule, are sufficient to leave, as the longer the growths 
are left the longer do the spurs become, and this is not desirable. 
If any spur has produced two shoots, one at the extreme and the 
other nearer the rod, cut all back to the latter, as short spurs are 
better than long ones. As pruning is finished attend to the cleaning. 
The bark on the young rods of this year’s growth clings so closely 
to them that it cannot be removed without injury to the rod, and 
as no insect can harbour under it, there is no occasion to attempt to 
remove it, but all rods of more than one year have much loose 
bark, a favourite hiding place for insects. If mealy bug is there 
every particle of loose bark must be removed, and to do this it is 
generally necessary to employ a blunt knife around the spurs. If 
done with care the wood need not be injured in the slightest. 
In washing the Vines add two wineglassfuls of petroleum to 
every gallon of water, and a quantity of softsoap. Scrub the Vines 
with this and every part of the woodwork. Do not miss any hole 
or corner, as it is in these enough of insects may be lodging to 
restock the house immediately the Vines begin growth again. If 
the woodwork is deficient of paint, give it two coats, and limewash 
the walls thoroughly. After this some growers paint their \ ines 
with a mixture of clay, soot, and sulphur, but we have ceased to do 
this, as the paint is apt to shut in some insects if any are left, and 
they will not fail to appear as the paint goes off, whereas if the 
Vines are left quite clean it can be easily seen if any pests come out 
later on.—J. M. 
HEUCHERA SANGUESTEA. 
The species of Ileuchera most generally seen in gardens are more 
FIG. 65.-UEUCUERA SANGUINEA. 
valued for their foliage than their flowers, and at the base of rockeries 
they make beautiful clumps of green or bronzy leaves. One, however,. 
