284 
ON THE COILING OF VINES, 
underneath the soil will add nothing to the commonwealth, but will 
monopolise all for its own individual use, and will never, whilst we are 
in want of support, give one particle to the well-being of the intended 
object, I have long ago tried it. “ Buds will ” (not) turn to roots/' 
although they may increase the vigour of those contiguous to them;— 
they serve to plunder the main object, instead of adding anything to¬ 
wards its support. It is true, the bulk of a tree is most increased by the 
greatest proportional quantity of branches and quantity of foliage ex¬ 
posed to the light and solar influence; but in studying the economy of 
the sap in the coiled vine, I have another object in view. I should 
wish that &i\ocro<pog would try his own suggestion, and retain the 
buried buds, and he will be much better able to judge whether he or I 
be in error. 
He states that u a vine of old or last year’s wood, coiled from three 
to four feet into a sixteen or twelve pot, one eye only being permitted 
to approach to within half an inch of the surface—the whole, however, 
being covered with light vegetable earth, made open by bruised bones, 
and being well drained at bottom—will push vigorously, and may pro¬ 
duce shoots twelve feet long, and nearly half an inch in diameter in 
one season: such a shoot, well trained, will support from six to twenty 
clusters (according to its kind and the shortness of its joints) in the 
second season/’ I fear that, unless <htXo<ro0o£ adopts my practice a 
little farther than what he states above, he will come far short, the 
second season, of producing so many clusters of prime, and of the 
choicest kinds of grapes. 
I have already stated in the Register my method of successfully per¬ 
forming that practice, and, therefore, I am unwilling to trouble you 
with any superfluous remarks upon the subject. I hope the world is 
more enlightened and liberal-minded than when Dr. Harvey dared to 
tell the world that the blood circulated. What abuse, what contumely, 
and even insults, did he not receive from the faculty of his time ! What 
can we think at this period of those learned heads ? 
I beg it to be clearly understood, that my first impulse to enter upon 
this subject was in defence of the pot-culture of the vine ; and any 
discovery to promote expeditious culture is undeniably of great service. 
By this method, the fruit may be supplied for the table, in the greatest 
perfection, the whole year round, when the proper means and skill are 
employed. Even when grown in pots of moss , with common clear 
water, excellent fruit are produced. Pot-culture of the grape vine will 
soon become one of the greatest pleasures the amateur of gardening can 
enjoy. It is the only means of making him early and well acquainted 
with the habits of the vine, and of all its choice varieties. 
