16 
REVIEW OF BOOKS, 
as the primer thinks the roots and the healthy amplitude of the shoots 
promise to yield a fair crop. The only difference in the procedure is, 
that, while the raspberry produces its new shoots directly from the 
crown of the roots, the vine must be trained at first with arms turned 
right and left close to the ground, to form a base whence all the future 
shoots arise, replacing each other in alternate succession. The num¬ 
bers of the bearing-shoots are two, four, or six, according to the known 
power of the root, or the thickness of the main stem, which always 
guide the manager both as to the number of the shoots, and also of the 
number of the promising buds on each ; for, respecting the latter, 
Mr. H. is quite cognisant of the old custom of thinning out redundant 
buds, as well as unnecessary shoots. 
Mr. H. expresses surprise that this simple method of treating the 
vine, which he admits is commonly practised in liot-houses, has not been 
adopted for those on open walls. We will not be certain, (not having 
the books at hand to refer to,) but we think both Forsyth and Aber¬ 
crombie advised this mode of training the vine in the open air, or at 
least a very similar modification of it. But the fact is, grapes pro¬ 
duced in the open air of this climate were never held in much estima¬ 
tion at the tables of the opulent, and therefore were never an object of 
special regard in superior gardening. Continental travellers assert that 
they never meet with a thoroughly ripened grape from off the open 
walls in English gardens; but, under the management of Mr. H., his 
grapes are not only perfectly ripened, but highly flavoured, and, more¬ 
over, arrive at such a size as is but seldom seen in our best-constructed 
vineries. This is an advance indeed, and one of the most valuable 
discoveries of the present time. 
We are quite aware that by the concentration of the vegetative 
powers of a healthy plant, any limited number of its parts will be 
greatly, if not monstrously enlarged; and that if a large system of 
roots be permitted to produce only a few shoots, instead of a great 
number, the few will be correspondingly amplified in circumferential 
bulk, in size of foliage, as well as in size of fruit. By these means it 
is quite probable that, in connection with Mr. Hoare’s incessant and 
superior manner of summer manipulations, his fruit may arrive at the 
extraordinary size and perfection which he states them to do under the 
care he bestows. 
While we highly approve of the principles on which our author has 
founded his practice as a vine-dresser, we deem it only applicable, in 
a limited degree, for a private family. Eight or ten trees managed as 
Mr. H. directs, would be as many as could be conveniently attended 
to, and would yield as much fruit as could be used while in season. 
