104 
PROPAGATION OF VINES. 
article: III. 
PROPAGATION OF VINES ON THE COILING SYSTEM. 
BY MR. J. MEARNS. F. H. S. 
Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Portland , Welbeck, Notts. 
I am anxious that the season for procuring plenty of grape vine 
branches, for coiling into pots, as 1 recommended in Vol. 2, may not 
be allowed to pass by. It is a most important thing to be able to 
put in a rootless cutting at this time, and so on till March, or June ; 
and to insure a fine crop of grapes the same season; even to twenty 
or thirty bunches on one vine in a pot as the sorts may be. Al¬ 
though the shoots which I have yet put into action are taken from 
very weak vines, I have some with, from ten to twenty bunches upon 
them ; and am not in the least apprehensive but they will all set, 
and swell off to a line size, and ripen very superior to those produced 
by any other method. I do not mean to say that they will ripen 
better than if upon a previously rooted vine, if well prepared ; I only 
mean so far as the bottom heat is concerned. The greater advantage 
of the coiled branch, is the extraordinary space of time gained over 
the single eye system, or the usual cuttings, or even the usual layer. 
It may suit the nurseryman, who wishes to obtain as many plants 
as he can from a single shoot; but that is not what the grape-grower 
desires : his object is very different; he aims at producing the great¬ 
est quantity of fine grapes; and under the most disadvantageous as 
well as advantageous circumstances, in the least possible time. By 
my method I shall introduce vines into any farmer’s garden in the 
kingdom, where none had previously been ; and at the expense of 
little besides ten or twelve lights of glass will insure him from 500 to 
1000 fine bunches of good grapes the first season ! If any one can 
boast the same, the fact has never been laid before the public, else 
it is likely I should have seen it. I go thus far, on purpose to raise 
a curiosity, and to excite every degree of emulation, knowing, that if 
such can be excited, the system will very soon discover itself to be 
most important to the country. The successful cultivation of the 
grape is certainly one of the simplest branches of the art, both in 
pots and in borders; if a vine be left entirely to itself it will soon be¬ 
come fructiferous; after having been for years under the most rigid 
discipline to little purpose. A vine excited to a high degree of lux¬ 
uriance, is neither the most fruitful, nor produces the finest or best 
grapes. I have seen Hamburghs, from three to six and eight pounds 
weight each bunch ! The vines comparatively weak and vine border 
very shallow; and by no means rich ! 
