July 9, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
19 
the sub-laterals of any of his Vines after the stoning period, while he does 
not top the leading growths at all, but lets them run down the back wall 
and ramble where they like. The fruit-bearing laterals are thinly dis¬ 
posed, and care is taken that the leaves between the main rods and bunches 
are exposed to full light; this insured, the secondary growths can go any¬ 
where, and invite all the root-action they can for supplying sap to the 
berries for making them as large as possible. He is strongly opposed to 
checking the sap in any way, but like9 it to flow freely and feed the 
fruit. 
FEEDING THE LEAVES—PREVENTING GRAPES CRACKING. 
Towards evening, when the owners of the Vines and their visitors do 
not usually pass through the houses afterwards, liquid manure is applied 
strong and freely to the floor, and all convenient surfaces, and the 
atmosphere is heavily charged with ammonia, but only, as has often been 
advised in the Journal, after the Grapes are stoned. The air is pungent 
and not altogether sweet, but the Vines enjoy it, and insects keep outside. 
Strong drainings from manure are preferred for this evening feast for 
the Vines, but guano is employed in its absence. 
This evening damping and ammonia-charging is not practised where 
the Madresfield Court is ripening; on the contrary, that house was dry, 
and at seven o’clock in the evening the front ventilators were open to the 
extent of 3 or 4 inches. When the outside air is dry they are left open, 
when it is damp they are closed. In two or three years the berries split— 
a grievous disappointment. Damp air was at last found to be the in¬ 
sidious enemy, and the cause removed the evil ceased. There is no 
cracking of this Grape now, but the berries are as clear as the Hamburghs, 
as most persons know who have had to compete with them at shows. There 
has been a good deal of discussion on this matter lately, and it seems only 
right that Mr. Hudson’s experience—not his words, but his work—should 
be thrown in with the rest, and it is commended to the notice of all who 
are interested in the subject. 
WATER FOR VINES—AN OBJECT LESSON. 
“ Vines like water” has become an axiom with those who best under¬ 
stand them ; hence they say, “ Given good drainage they cannot easily 
have too much of it.” There is a very good example of Vines liking 
water in the early house in the range under notice. A square tank is 
formed under the floor covered with a lid. A root from one of the two 
Black Hamburghs in the house found its way just over the top of the 
tank, or through a fissure near the top, and dipped down into the water. 
It has been said that a resisting medium is necessary for the multipli¬ 
cation of roots, and hence in firm soil far more fibres are produced than 
in a light medium. It is not easy, however, to conceive a more extra¬ 
ordinary increase of the roots of a Vine than has taken place in this tank. 
The one root has multiplied into thousands—a thick bundle or besom¬ 
like mass of fibres, without any greater “ resisting ” medium than the 
water, for it is clearly not necessary for them to come into contact with 
the sides of the tank or each other for the increase of fibres. After ex¬ 
tending a few inches, what may be termed laterals start from them in 
beautiful regularity, and these in turn produce others, and this increase 
has been so remarkable that a good “lift” is needed to raise the mass 
out of the water. They are as brittle as glass, and as smooth as the roots 
of Hyacinths in water, but much smaller. No root hairs are visible with 
the aid of a magnifier, and Mr. Hudson has not been able to ascertain 
that any parts die corresponding with the fall of the leaf as is the case 
in the soil where the root hairs decay ; but in the water, instead of an 
alternate decay and increase, there appears to be nothing but progression. 
They remain as fresh and, seemingly, as active in winter as in summer, 
but less quick in their extension during the resting period of the Vines. 
It must be understood that the water in the tank is not stagnant, but is 
constantly being used, and it is clear therefore that water is not injurious 
to Vines or Vine roots in winter when it is sweet— i.e., aerated. 
The two Black Hamburgh Vines in the house used to ripen their crops 
together, but the one with the roots in the water has gradually crept 
ahead of its rival, until now it starts distinctly sooner and the fruit is 
ripe quite ten days earlier. It was nearly all cut last week, but not a 
bunch had been taken from the other Vine. There is not a doubt that 
such a mass of roots with thousands of spongioles constantly imbibing 
moisture must have an effect in some way, but not many persons would 
have anticipated that this would be shown in the earlier ripening of the 
crop. The case is interesting, and gardeners who may call on Mr. 
Hudson should ask to see the Vine roots in the tank. 
VEGETABLE CULTURE. 
The same thought is given in this as in other departments, and the 
same good culture manifest. It can only be said, however, that Veitch’s 
Extra Early Pea was the first gathered, leading William the First, and 
that if the ground in the distant kitchen garden were not trenched the 
supply of vegetables could not be maintained, as the crops would fail 
under dry weather. This is one of the many gardens in which deeply 
working the land is economical in saving after labour in watering; 
indeed, no expenditure in this work would produce anything like equally 
full crops in shallow soil. It is an instance of the old saying that the 
*' spade beats the water pot entirely.” In heavy soils on clay it is quite 
another matter. Mushrooms are plentiful and good. Beds are now 
just coming in, in what was once the Princess Amelia’s wine cellar, 
which is close to the boundary wall of the Rothschilds, and belonged to 
the old mansion before the property was divided. 
Mr. Hudson’s charge is not an extensive one, but in every way agree¬ 
able. He ranks amongst the best of British gardeners. He secured the 
maximum number of marks in every section at the Chiswick examina¬ 
tions, and seems to have won as many silver cups and medals as he cares 
for, and has hence practically relinquished exhibiting plants, nearly all 
the largo specimens having been “ done away with,” a greater number of 
smaller being now grown for home-decoration ; there is, however, a 
splendid example of Asparagus plumosus nanus, bluntly oval-shaped, 
perfectly furnished, and about 5 feet high. I intended calling at the 
“ big place over the wall,” but the absence of Mr. Roberts being 
ascertained the pleasure of a visit was deferred.—A Caller. 
ARNICA MONTANA. 
The genus Arnica is not an important one, nor does it contain many 
species of garden value ; that, however, shown in fig. 4 is worthy of .more 
Fig. 4.—Arnica montana. 
attention, as it is now comparatively neglected or confined to botanic 
gardens. On a rockery it has a pretty appearance, its bright orange 
yellow flowers being freely produced, and at Kew it has been attractive 
for some weeks past. Of the ordinary shades of yellow we have abundant 
floral representatives, but a pure orange is not so frequently seen, and 
contrasts with many other colours very effectively. 
THE ADVENTURES OF COMTESSE DE NADAILLAC. 
I think rosarians may be interested to hear a veracious account 
of the produce of a very small plant of Comtesse de Nadaillac Tea 
Rose, growing in the garden of a certain Rose-loving country parson. 
Oddly enough, by-the-by, one of this same parson’s boys, when 
about five years old, when asked as to his choice of a profession, 
made exactly the same answer as that recorded by Mr. Alexander in 
