268 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
be unnecessarily cropped or the foliage destroyed, as they continue to grow 
and develope their roots for some time. Artificial heat may he withheld, hut 
the gradual progress of the plants should he permitted until they sliow r the 
usual symptoms of maturity, hy the discoloration of the leaves. The leaves 
should not he cut off, hut allowed to remain for the more perfect develop¬ 
ment of the buds upon which the ensuing year’s crop depends. 
I have not referred to the best means of heating a vinery, as I believe the 
question has long since been decided in favour of hot water as against brick 
flue, and that, wherever the former can be conveniently adopted it is always 
preferred. It is better, and after the first outlay it is cheaper to keep going 
than the flue system. However, it is of less importance with Vines than 
with other artificially-grown crops, inasmuch as they are so hardy and luxuri¬ 
ant when they are properly manured and carefully trained. Some of the 
finest Grapes I have sent to Covent Garden Market were grown and forced 
with a common brick and pipe flue, of a still more common style of con¬ 
struction—aye, common-looking enough to excite most indignant contempt 
of a liot-water apparatus manufacturer. Still it was so : the Vines very 
healthy, the bunches ranging from 4 lb. to 2lbs. weight, and the berries large, 
plenty of them, and of the very best colour. 
Simple and beautiful as the course of Nature is, her progression is 
undeviating and certain, and so are the means to be practised for the develop¬ 
ment of her resources. Art must be the handmaid of Nature ; and the more 
correct the judgment we form as to adopting means to assist her, the more 
certain we shall be of success. A fine grapery with an abundant crop of 
fruit, the bunches hanging from the roof intermixed with the foliage in 
the most luxuriant manner, is a beautiful sight. Purple, black, and amber- 
colour, with green—what pretty contrasts to feast the eye upon ! not to 
say a word as the intrusion of the thought, ‘ I wonder how they taste.” 
Jersey. . C. B. S. 
ACPvOPHYLLUM VENOSUM. 
« HIS is generally considered a very difficult plant to cultivate, but by 
following the plan I am about to describe, I have always found it to 
f grow freely, and produce abundantly large spikes of its fine Spirea 
like flowers. Procure a young healthy plant in a 48-size pot; shift 
into a 82-size, using good fibry peat, broken into small pieces, and 
well mixed with a liberal quantity of silver sand. Provide ample drainage, 
over which place a layer of rough fibry peat, and pot firmly. Place the 
plant in a cool airy greenhouse, and never subject it to a high artificial 
temperature. Pay great attention to watering, as the plant must never be 
allowed to suffer from want of water at the roots, so that a fresh supply 
must be given before the ball of earth becomes dry; damp the foliage 
