October 29, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
379 
takes they might make. At the same time there need be no ex¬ 
clusion of varieties, and the collections staged would be as large, 
varied, and interesting as ever. The prizes offered for Grapes at 
Chrysanthemum shows are such as only local exhibitors are 
expected to compete for, and I am not at all surprised that the 
directors of the National Chrysanthemum Society should decline 
to vote such a large sum as would be needed for insuring a great 
display of late Grapes in January. And, besides, however well 
represented late Grapes might be at a show in midwinter, that 
would have no bearing on the incongruous association of varieties 
in summer and autumn and of size handicapping quality then, 
which is the real grievance with many. If there is to be a late 
Grape gathering let it be under the auspices of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society at South Kensington, not a mere offshoot of a Chrys¬ 
anthemum show at the tail end of the season. 
I have been requested to express an opinion on the subject of 
what may be termed half-pruning Vines in summer and autumn— 
that is, shortening the laterals to say half their length some time 
before the leaves fall. Mr. Iggulden, who seems to be a pioneer in 
introducing subjects for discussion, has doubts as to the soundness 
of that practice. Other correspondents have not. The differences, 
I think, may be resolved into a question of time. If a few bunches 
are cut very early with a good length of lateral, and before the 
foliage has deposited any material amount of nutrient matter in the 
stems, and at the same time the other laterals a v e permitted their 
full length and even to extend, it is conceivable that the shortened 
laterals would be weakened ; but if the foliage is quite matured, or, 
in other words, if the laterals are shortened after the fruit is fully 
ripe (say in September instead of July), the case is entirely altered. 
I am of opinion, and it is founded on observation and experi¬ 
ment, that if as soon as the foliage shows signs of change, no 
harm, but rather good, is done to healthy Vines by a general 
shortening of the laterals, and it is certainly good for plants that 
have often to be placed in houses in the autumn long before the 
leaves fall from the Vines on the roof. If the crop of Grapes were 
cut, and it was desired to fill the vinery with Chrysanthemums, I 
should not hesitate a moment in shortening the laterals, provided, 
and this is important, at least four good leaves could be left on 
the portions remaining. That is my little contribution on this 
interesting subject, and it will depend on circumstances as to 
whether I refer to it again. 
Potatoes have been to the fore again, as is natural at this 
period of the year. On this subject “A Plain Gardener ” has made 
some practical suggestions. It is certainly important to know 
within a week or two when varieties are ready for lifting, and it 
seems clear that we are no longer indebted to Americans for new 
varieties. I suspect some of those regarded by your correspondent 
as “ new ” are more extensively cultivated than he imagines. 
Reading Hero, Reading Russet, Beauty of Hebron, and School¬ 
master I have seen grown in fields for market. Perhaps, as your 
correspondent is of such a utilitarian turn of mind, he will favour 
us with a short list of varieties that he has found reliable for 
maintaining a regular supply of superior produce—a little matter 
which in his zeal for “ plain ” information he appears to have over¬ 
looked. 
Another bone of contention is thrown by “Euphrasia” for 
critics to pick at, and I may as well have a nibble before it gets 
stale. The “ bone ” is a soft one—Cucumbers. It is true they are 
often curiously judged. Sometimes it would appear as if the 
prizes were given for length of fruit, sometimes for weight, and 
occasionally for quality. It is not, I think, customary to award 
prizes to “varieties.” The best judges give them to the best fruits 
staged, and they could not well do anything else; but at the same 
time quality is the first consideration, and fresh, uniform, short 
necked and nosed examples, a foot long, with the flowers adherent, 
are placed before coarser specimens of twice that length by com¬ 
petent judges. 
I had no idea until I read the article on page 323 that Trinity 
College Botanic Gardens, Dublin, were so extensive and richly 
furnished as they appear to be. Your correspondent, according to 
his remarks at the bottom of the page, appeared to be somewhat 
bewildered as to know where to begin, and intimated that seven 
numbers of the Journal would be required for him to say all he 
desired. I thought, Now for something exhaustive and elaborate, 
but on turning over the page the great work was condensed into 
ten lines. Perhaps, after all, it is better to describe Mr. Burbidge’s 
work in instalments. Many a good hint has been sent over from 
Ireland, and I always read Mr. Murphy’s notes with pleasure.— 
A Thinker 
The Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Insti¬ 
tution will meet early in November to consider the proposed additions to 
the pension list. Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, has been elected 
Vice-President in place of the late Edmund Wilder, Esq. 
- Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton, 27, Paternoster Row, have 
issued a little volume on Bible Flowers and Flower Lobe, which 
comprises a series of papers that originally appeared in the Jewish. World. 
It includes 151 pages, is neatly printed and bound, and gives a full 
account of the plants mentioned in the Scriptures. It is somewhat in the 
same style as Mr. J. Smith’s work on this subject, but is not illustrated. 
- Relative to the Grape John Downie, a correspondent 
writes :—“ I think both Mr. Downie and Mr. Dunn ought to take some 
notice of Mr. Mclndoe’s letter on page 310. It is said in Scotland that 
the raiser of John Downie had a black berry come in a bunch of Muscat 
of Alexandria, and the two seeds in this berry produced the two John 
Downies that are to he seen at Dalkeith. It will be interesting to know 
something more of this phenomenon.” 
- The well-known plant collector, Mr. Benedict Roezl, recently 
died in Austria at the age of sixty-two. Mr. Roezl had travelled widely 
in America, especially in the central and southern districts, and collected 
enormous numbers of plants; indeed, it is said that in one journey he 
forwarded 8 tons of Orchids to London. 
- Many florists will learn with regret that Mr. Samuel Brown, 
Crompton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, died on the 16th inst. at the 
age of seventy-one years. For more than forty years he has been a suc¬ 
cessful cultivator of the Carnation and Picotee, and has gained a much 
more than local reputation. 
- We learn that the Geneva Natural History Society offers a prize 
of 500 francs for the best Monograph of a Genus or family of 
Plants. It can be written in Latin, French, German, English, or Italian, 
and should be sent to M. le President de la Socidte de Physique Naturelle 
de Geneve, a l'Athen4e, Geneve, Switzerland. 
- A correspondent recommends the following plan of Pre¬ 
serving Dahlia Tubers, which he says is practised by M. Viards- 
Clirot, vignerc-n et forestiere de l’Aube. He pulls up the roots about 
the 15th of October, and then leaves them to dry in the sun for several 
days. He then takes barrels with one end off, places hay at the bottom 
and round the sides, and fills up the central space with the clusters of the 
tubers, which are placed one above the other, covers with hay, so that the 
barrels should be well filled, replaces the end, and stands them in a dry 
place, to be opened again about the end of March. 
- A WORK on FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES, HOME AND FOREIGN, 
by Mr. Leo H. Grindon, has just been issued by Messrs. Palmer and 
Howe, Manchester, which contains a variety of interesting historical 
particulars and folk lore relating to the principal cultivated fruits. e 
just notice the issue of this book now, but shall have occasion to refer to 
it at greater length another time. 
- Gardening Appointments.—W e are informed that Mr. . 
Wardle is resigning charge of Mrs. Joicey’s garden, Newton Hall, Stock- 
field-on-Tyne, to commence business for himself as landscape gardener 
and nurseryman ; he is to be succeeded by Mr. Dundas Macrae, late head- 
gardener to Viscount Massereene and Ferrard, Antrim Castle, County 
Antrim, Ireland. 
- Mr. F. W. Burbidge, Trinity College Botanic Gardens, 
Dublin, sends us a choice collection of Seedling Crown Anemones 
from St. Brigid’s garden on the Hill of Howth, near Dublin, and remarks 
that “ They are now (October) not so fine, of course, as they will be 
next spring (March), but still they are bright and beautiful at this dull 
season of the year. These flowers are the produce of seed sown in 
March last, 1885. They are extremely fine blooms for the time of year, 
large, full, and varied in colour, the tints being very rich and bright.’ 
- The Exeter Apple and Pear Show that was held on the 
