176 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 20, 1859. 
disgusting to the newly-developed and most tender young roots ; 
their vitality is arrested, and a severe blow given to the energies 
of the Vines. This does occur almost invariably even in June : 
nor can it he wondered at, if the Grapes on Vines so treated 
shank. This disease has been imputed to a thousand and one 
other causes; but that it was occasioned in my case by the 
removal of the covering I feci quito sure. 
I will detail tho case I allude to. We have here two adjoin¬ 
ing vineries. The one brings Grapes ripe the end of May, and 
the other about September. I have been in the habit of covering 
the border of the earlier house with dung and leaves annually, 
and always observed the shanking to commence after the re¬ 
moval of the covering. The year before last I took up all the 
roots outside the house, and had the border filled with fresh com¬ 
post, and replanted them with gi’eat care. They succeeded to ad¬ 
miration—so much so, that I allowed them to carry a crop of the 
most perfect fruit, which they did also to admiration. But I used 
no fermenting materials ; simply covering the border two feet in 
thickness with dry Fern, and then thatching it. This was done 
at the end of September, and prevented the escape of the heat 
accumulated in the border. It was not removed till the Grapes 
were as black as Sloes, and they were perfection in size and 
flavour. I have this year repeated my covering of. Fern, and I 
am sanguine of its results ; so sanguine, that I purpose making 
this my system till I can hit upon a better one. 
But, granting that early-forced Grapes do require a little assist¬ 
ance at their roots with heat, I would still forego such appli¬ 
ances as I have been speaking of, and for early Vines have my 
roots under control by having the border inside the house, and 
the same for very late Grapes; while the intermediate crops 
should have borders outside, and the roots run where they like. 
I have never quite approved of the heating and chambering 
of borders; but the Muscats shown by Mr. Drewett were a 
striking proof of success, being such as were never seen before. I 
once saw at Welbeck, many years ago, a vast scheme of this 
kind; hut Mr. Mearn’s Grapes were not better than other 
peoples’, and there were myriads of coders which were quite 
failures. Perhaps, for the sake of Muscat Grapes, chambering 
may be worth while, as it is a Grape requiring a higher amount 
of temperature than others. But for ordinary Grapes, while 
they can be done, as they are at Mr. Sneyd’s, without it, it would 
be folly to attempt it. It falls to the lot of few gardeners to have 
an employer who would undertake the expensive operation of 
chambering borders ; and when done I have never seen it com¬ 
pensate the person who pays for it. Quite sufficient provision is 
made for early Grapes by having the border inside the house ; 
and, wanting this essential provision, many will be the difficulties 
which wfll present themselves. 
The Grape Vine is one of our most noble fruit trees, whether 
we regard it for its luscious berries, or look to it as yielding a 
beverage “which maketh glad the heart of man.” It is, therefore, 
a pleasing task to study the philosophy of its culture, and to im¬ 
prove it, if possible. 
It is within my recollection to have seen old Vines bearing 
magnificent crops, always ripe early in May, whose border was 
four feet of cold, sour clay, in which there was not a root; but 
all existed in the decaying brickwork at the front of the house, 
where they found a habitat which just suited them, and proved 
to the astonished gardener how much they delight in such 
materials, and that, the wall heated by the front flue gave their 
roots a warmth which made them rejoice. 
In vain in future years, or at this present, shall the writers of 
“Calendars ’ din in my ears that “it is time to prepare fer¬ 
menting materials for the Vine-borders.” Avaunt leaves and 
dung for that purpose, unless the leaves are perfectly dry, when 
they may be used instead of dry Fern for preventing the ra¬ 
diation of the internal heat of the border. 
Let me not be misunderstood in my opinion of this subject. 
I do not maintain that heat is by any means unnecessary for the 
roots of T ines ; but I object to the usual dressing of leaves and 
hot manure which is heaped upon the border, and which can 
seldom be removed without inflicting serious injury on the Vines. 
In lieu of this, I would make the border for early Grapes entirely 
within the house, and by this means prevent the necessity for 
such applications. I fear to be thought most heterodox for my 
writing, opposed as it is to every-day practice; but beg to assure 
my readers that my present views are neither crude nor ill- 
considered, but are the result of long and diligent observation, 
and that they are, moreover, truly conscientious. 
Much as has been been said and written on the subject of Vine 
culture, very much more remains to be done, particularly in this 
age, distinguished as it is by the community of luxury, and still 
more eminent as each succeeding year must make *us in this 
respect. The longer we live, the more we see of the futility of 
the theories of men, and the less should we be wedded with pre¬ 
judice to old notions. I would not at all value the man who is 
a weathercock, and who moves his position with every breath of 
wind ; but, at the same time, I would pity him who seems to be 
in an enchanted circle of his own practice, and cannot, therefore, 
reason on its folly, or applaud the opposite course of his near 
neighbour. 
The knowledge requisite for a gardener to possess is largely 
augmented by experiments. He should take nothing for granted ; 
but convince himself, by trial and proof, of the adaptability of 
what he reads, to practice. If he does this in the spirit of true 
humility, the sun of truth will burst upon him and enlighten 
him truly. 
I venture to hope that these brief remarks may induce some 
other gardeners to communicate their experience on the subject 
of my theme, and that some useful hints and much pleasant 
reading may be the result. Henry Bailey, Muneham. 
BED LEAD PRESERVES SEED EROM BIRDS. 
Having- read in Tiie Cottage Gardener (November 22) 
Mr. Ashman’s remarks respecting mixing red lead with seeds 
before sowing, as a preventive against the ravages of birds, and 
your opinion that it required further experiments, I beg to in¬ 
form you that I have used red lead with my seeds for tho last 
ten years, and each year has proved successful. Instead of us ing 
so many flowerpot-saucers, and allowing a night’s delay, I use 
but one, simply mixing the red lead with the seeds and a little 
water, and then sowing them immediately; and so on with as 
many sorts as I have to sow. 
Last spring, having no red lead by me, I sowed my Broccoli, 
Brussels Sprouts, &c., without it, and the birds took them all; 
so I had to sow again, but taking care the second time to mix 
the seeds with red lead, and they all came up and stood well.— 
Charles Hutley, Osmaston Mall Gardens , near Derby. 
SOME OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS. 
CAMPANULA PYRAMIDALIS. 
It cannot be denied that many of our old favourite flowers are 
now entirely neglected, and some of the most beautiful old plants 
are now scarcely ever met with. However, I trust the time will 
return when some of those old favourites with new faces will 
again occupy such a position in our gardens as they deserve. It 
it my intention to endeavour to bring into notice a few of the 
most popular of our once-favourite pets ; and I trust, by devoting 
a short article on their culture, &c., it may have the desired 
effect. 
It cannot be said that the above Campanula—the most beauti¬ 
ful of the whole tribe—occupies such a prominent position in 
our gardens as it merits ; indeed, it is but very seldom we meet 
with any specimens deserving notice, and many establishments 
cannot boast of a single plant about the place. I believe I may 
truly say that the best specimens are to be met with in the 
windows and gardens of cottagers—they do prize it; and many 
an old dame would sooner part with her last shilling than her 
favourite “ Chimney Campanula.” Certainly a very good name 
for it; for no plant is more suitable to screen tho whole face of 
the chimney than the Campanula pyramidalis. 
Strong plants well grown will throw up from five to twelve 
flower-stems, varying in height from four to eight feet, and fre¬ 
quently much taller, so as to form a sort of floral pyramid ; they 
will also produce side-branches, and these branches being spread 
out upon a frame of slender sticks in the shape of a fan, produce 
a complete sheet of flowers, so as to form a chimney-screen. 
This plant is also well adapted for the decoration of halls, 
passages, and different corners of a gentleman’s establishment; 
and if kept from the rays of the sun and from rain it will last a 
long while in perfection—but plants so treated are rendered use¬ 
less for another season. If tho rooms are very close it will be of 
great advantage to these Campanulas, and cause them to con¬ 
tinue their beauty longer, if in the evening they are set abroad for 
the benefit of the air under some cover where they will be pro¬ 
tected from wet. 
These plants are easily propagated by offsets ; but the plan I 
