LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
245 
too prevalent amongst those who have vines under their care, and that 
is, they lay in an unnecessary quantity of wood in the summer. I have 
seen vineries where the wood has been laid in three times thicker than 
it ought to have been, which of course weakened the vine, and rendered 
it unfit to bear and mature good grapes. Besides, all superfluous 
wood is supplied from the roots, and must, therefore, necessarily tend 
materially to weaken the vines. 
I am further of opinion that vines often suffer much from bad 
management in the summer. Some persons think this part of the 
business but of little consequence; but it should be remembered that 
the future crop of grapes very much depends on the present summer’s 
management. A few weeks ago I heard a gardener say, that he did 
not pay much attention to the thinning-out of the shoots in the sum¬ 
mer, for he thought it was not of much consequence. Whilst such an 
idea as this prevails, it is not to be wondered at that vines are found to 
be weak, their fruit inferior, and shanking making great ravages. 
In conclusion, I beg to observe to those who are about to plant vines 
—be sure to lay your borders dry, (by draining, &c.,) and do not allow 
your vines to bear too soon. After they begin to bear, never leave 
more on them than they can bring well to maturity. Never lay in 
unnecessary wood. Paint the wood-work of the house every year, and 
whitewash the walls, putting a little sulphur in the wash. Dress the 
vines with a mixture of soft-soap and sulphur: this should be done 
after the winter pruning. Syringe the vines often, but not when they 
are in flower. After they have begun to change colour, never force 
them. 
If the above be attended to, shanking will not trouble your vines. 
I am, Sir, yours truly, 
W. Denyer. 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
LETTER THIRTEEN. 
The admirer of rural scenery enjoys a continual feast while residing 
in the country in the early months of summer. The progress of vege¬ 
tation is so strikingly observable on every rising morn, that it adds 
fresh charms to every object of the garden and field. Were I to fix on 
any period of the revolving year at which the beauties of the vegetable 
kingdom are in the greatest abundance and variety, I should say 
between the twentieth of May and the fifth of June. Within that 
