358 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 21, 1889. 
foot into a trap. To just set a trap or two in the open, uncovered, is 
very seldom successful, but to set a trap to catch a rat one must use a 
little stratagem. Eats, when they settle down to a place, soon make 
visible runs, and are very wary about using new and uncertain ground. 
In the first place traps must be in good condition, so that they will go 
oil at a slight touch on the treadle. To ascertain this, set it, and see if 
the catch is in the right form, very slightly bevelled outward. The 
strength, or weight, required to let it off may be ascertained by trying 
it with the thumb underneath the jaws. If it goes off hard, a rat’s 
weight will not let it off, and it must be slightly filed and greased. 
Notice the most used runs, and take out sufficient ground to let the trap 
into the earth on a level with the run, and make up as natural-looking 
as possible by placing fine earth gently, and by degrees, on the treadle, 
and between the jaws and the treadle ; at the same time see that suffi¬ 
cient does not work or run under the treadle to take a bearing to 
prevent going off. In buildings it is just as requisite to use deception 
to insure success. A little bran or chaff, or the soil scratched out in 
burrowing, is used to cover the traps and make up on a level with the 
surroundings. If a rat accidentally lets the trap off without getting 
caught, set the trap in a fresh position, as they are very wary of a 
second attempt.—J. Hiah. 
GRAPE GROWING FOR PROFIT. 
THE RED ROSE VINERIES, CHESTER-LE-STREET. 
In the counties of Northumberland and Durham there is no name 
better known amongst horticulturists than that of Mr. Joseph Wither¬ 
spoon. Primarily he is a Grape grower, and a remarkably successful 
one, but there are other fields of action in which his influence has been 
felt. Wheelwright, political economist, editor, engineer, florist, and 
Grape grower, Mr. Witherspoon’s life has been one of more than usual 
variety and interest. Chester-le-Street, where the Red Rose Vineries are 
situated, is a quiet little town in Durham, and within a few miles of the 
county town, famous, a native informed me, for two things, mustard 
and old maids. There is a good service of trains from Newcastle-on- 
Tyne, southward bound, and the town once reached all else is plain 
sailing, for vineries and Vine grower are equally familiar to everyone. 
I have referred to Mr. Witherspoon’s many-sided career. It is a curious 
fact that in the same town whence come his now famous market Grapes 
he commenced business life as a working wheelwright many years ago. 
Not only so, but a large portion of his youth and manhood were devoted 
to this calling. An inherent love of horticultural pursuits had, how¬ 
ever, been growing. By-and-by it took tangible form. The first step 
was flowers, the second fruit, the third the final abandonment of plane 
and chisel in order to earn a livelihood by marketing Grapes. No doubt 
there were early disappointments, perhaps partial failures, but sturdy 
perseverance triumphed. There can be no doubt of the absorbing 
interest of Grape growing, and one has only to glance at the space re¬ 
quired for dealing with the doubts and difficulties of Grape growers in 
the correspondence columns of this and other journals to appreciate its 
importance. Mr. Witherspoon proceeded step by step, acquiring ex¬ 
perience, and digesting it thoroughly, and I believe he is satisfied, now 
that the third score year of his life has passed, that he is on the right 
path, and after seeing splendid examples of his fruit in the great 
fruiterers’ shops at Newcastle, and long ranges of glass, bearing wonder¬ 
ful crops at the Chester-le-Street vineries, he would be a bold man who 
would declare the veteran wrong. 
The first feeling of surprise is awakened on entering a house some 
150 feet long to find fine crops of Black Hamburgh, Black Alicante, 
Gros Colman, and Gros Guillaume (miscalled Black Barbarossa) grow¬ 
ing side by side. A few of the first named are grown, about double as 
many Alicantes, and about six times the number of Gros Colman. This 
Grape is Mr. Witherspoon’s sheet anchor. He sends thousands of 
bunches into the market, excellent in form and colour, and thinned to 
perfection. No one can be surprised that the great fruit-buying public 
are attracted by Gros Colman more than by any other Grape when 
bunches are put before them perfect in symmetry, enormous in the size 
of the berries, and finely coloured. Gros Colman is not only the first 
of all market Grapes from its commanding appearance when well grown, 
but it comes in when the glut of Hamburghs and Alicantes is past. 
Hundreds of pounds are realised by the sales of this variety alone. A 
constant demand and the highest prices are sufficient evidence of their 
adaptability to market wants. 
Some remarks will naturally be looked for bearing on the mode of 
treatment Mr. Witherspoon pursues to secure such results] as anyone 
may see who visits him. Perhaps he would not thank me for describing 
every detail of management, but there are some general principles 
which may be referred to. His good advice to those starting in Vine 
culture is—“ Treat your Vines as you would a young horse that you 
wish to do your work twenty years hence.” Overcropping Vines and 
overworking horses are common evils. Mr. Witherspoon fell into the 
former, but the lesson learned he has never forgotten. Our friend’s 
precepts are good, his practice still better. “ Sufficient without gorging ” 
is one of the former, which he never wearies of emphasising. Healthy 
root-action, which means vigorous growth and fruit of the highest 
flavour, depends upon it. Overfeeding is waste of material, waste of 
labour, and waste of profit. He has a firm belief in mulching ; none 
whatever in repeated waterings. The inside borders of the vineries 
whence thousands of bunches of Grapes are taken to realise the highest 
prices in the markets, are so dry as to cake and fly into dust if the foot 
is applied to the soil. If the visitor thinks this is going to extremes he 
is advised to raise his head and see if the splendid clusters above speak 
of ill treatment or the reverse. Mulchings of cow manure are firmly 
believed in. Beneath cow droppings on the driest pasture moisture is 
always found, with sufficient sweetness for the roots to retain health ; 
and so the manure is applied to the Vine borders at the same thickness 
as it is found in the fields. Horse manure is employed on the same 
principle, and fowl manure is used like guano. It is contended that if 
these quantities are doubled sour borders result, and of these the evils 
are many and serious. New borders are now all composed of turf, lime 
rubbish, and plenty of stones, especially if on a dry bottom, on the 
ground that no matter how dry the season may be a stone is damp and 
so affords moisture totally devoid of impurities. The practice at the 
Red Rose Vineries is to water in winter until the border is thoroughly 
moistened, and then to keep the mulching damp during the growing- 
period. 
Previous to thinning all shoulders are removed, and then sufficient- 
bunches are taken off to leave what is considered to be a fair crop. 
Then comes the thinning, and great as the task must be in a Grape- 
growing establishment like this, every bunch is thinned to perfection. 
Sometimes a little miscalculation leads to a heavier crop than is con¬ 
sidered desirable. For instance, hve bunches of Gros Maroc intended 
for showing were left on a 12-feet cane last year with the expectation 
that they would not average more than 3 lbs. each ; instead they 
averaged nearly 4| lbs., or a total weight of over 20 lbs., and the result 
was that they did not colour so well as they would have done had the 
bunches been of the anticipated weight. 
The Vines are restricted to single rods, and the wood is thoroughly 
ripened. Splendid bunches may be seen hanging close to the ground, 
and these are usually the best coloured. No space is wasted in these 
houses ; besides the roof Vines there are other canes trained along the 
side of the path like Raspberries to a rail, bearing good bunches, if not. 
good enough for market. With one exception there are both inside and 
outside borders, the latter being all raised and left uncropped. Mr. 
Witherspoon calls his the “ warm sweet border system,” and has both 
preached and practised it for many years. The exception referred to is- 
a new house planted this spring, and owing to a cart road running along 
the front an outside border had to be dispensed with. In this house a 
few Vines of Duke of Buccleuch and Madresfield Court have been 
planted. The former is managed well, but although cracking is not 
feared it is considered that these varieties should have a special house if 
possible. In order to make the house pay its way until the Vines reach 
a profitable stage it has been planted with Tomatoes, and £60 has been 
realised by their sale. They will be grown again next year; then the 
turn of the Grapes will come. 
Though the Grapes are chiefly grown for market purposes it is not 
uncommon to find their grower competing at the northern shows, and 
holding his own. He is also the patentee of the excellent Red Rose 
boiler, which, I helieve, is about to be made more widely known by a- 
newly formed company. 
The general lessons to be learned from an inspection of this establish¬ 
ment are well worth considering. In the first place we are shown that 
the highest possible results are achievable in Vine culture when close 
attention, untiring energy, and ceaseless perseverance, directed by 
common sense, are brought to bear in the absence of formal schooling. 
Mr. Witherspoon could not be spoken of as an amateur now, but he 
commenced as such, and taught himself what most of his contemporaries 
learned in their youth from the various masters under whom they 
served. Were Mr. Joseph Witherspoon, or any other great grower, 
asked to point out to the beginner the path of success, he would impress 
upon him that the first essentials were planting healthy Vines in a, 
fresh, wholesome, well-drained soil; the second, keeping them in health 
by ample, but not excessive, supplies of food; the third, to avoid 
shanked, unripe, stoneless, or otherwise imperfect fruit by judicious- 
cropping ; the fourth, to insure perfect ripening and subsequent abun¬ 
dant crops by a thin disposal of the foliage. These are looked upon as 
points of paramount importance at the Red Rose Vineries. Heavy 
crops are secured, at least more than an ordinary weight of fruit, from a. 
given area, but the rods are not overloaded ; they are grown somewhat 
more closely together than in most establishments. The drain upon the 
root medium is, of course, proportionately great, but the “ warm sweet 
border ” system has never yet failed.-—W. P. Weight. 
BULLFINCHES. 
A TIMELY HINT. 
I think it is about ten years since I gave some particulars in the 
Journal respecting catching and keeping these birds. I would remind 
fruit growers that the time of year has arrived when these birds 
are very easily caught in trap-cages instead of shooting them later on. 
I have taken eleven out of a trap-cage in my garden within the last 
week, and I expect to take scores between now and Christmas, after 
which it is difficult to get one into a trap. Within the past ten years I 
have trapped hundreds. They vary much in number in different 
seasons. I fancy we have an influx with our winter migratory birds, as 
I have noticed many during the past few days flying very high, and 
they may be fetched down from a height of 100 yards by imitating their 
well known call note. Last season I only caught twenty-three ; in the 
autumn of 1887 I took sixty within a few yards of the house door. I 
