THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 21, 1858. 395 ! 
i lie could suppose what the close of it would he ! How 
it behoves us to do nothing; no, not even accept a jAro- 
j fessional engagement, without seeking counsel, not of men, 
j hut of God! 
The survey was successfully made, and, at its conclusion, 
a longed-for, and delightful meeting took place between the 
attached friends. They had parted hut a few short months 
in dear old England, and now met, as by magic, under the 
burning sun of India. Already “ the changes and chances 
of this troublesome world ” had come upon them. They 
had begun, but how were they to end ? C. B. wrote to his 
mother, in raptures, of their joyful meeting, and a fortnight’s 
happiness together. His letter was written in Lucknow, 
(alas ! that awful name ! ) whither he had accompanied his 
friend on his way to Calcutta— home. He said they had 
travelled exquisitely, surveying the country, discussing 
scientific and professional matters, sitting in the door of 
their tent at evening-time, and talking of things past, 
present, and to come. To come ! What simple, yet what 
solemn words ! Oh, dear reader, have you or I ever over¬ 
taken the things we hoped would come ? or, if we did, have 
we not too surely sat down and sighed over them ? Whether 
we are old or young, let us reverently obey the precept, 
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, 
and do this or that.” 
R. G. was to visit his friend’s mother on his return, to tell 
j her of his health, and looks, and doings ; and in June, in 
fact soon after that very letter reached her hands, she was to 
expect to see him. But to this joyous letter was added a 
hurried and terrible postscript. 
Mutiny had broken out, no one knew exactly where, or 
how, but the country was in arms, and all was dismay. 
The friends parted at Lucknow, in confusion of body and 
mind, the one towards Calcutta, the other to his post in the 
heart of the country, as best they could. The beauties, the 
j luxuries, the pleasures of India, “ departed as a scroll, when 
I it is rolled togetherterror, sufferings, and death overspread 
j the land, and all was broken up and changed. 
Still, amid the surgings of that tempest of blood, un- 
I paralleled in England’s history, not one bullet flew, not one 
i sword struck, not one heart ceased to beat, no, “ not a 
sparrow fell, without our Father.” 
The rapid flight of C. B., to his post of duty displayed the 
mercy and power of Him who alone can still the tumult of 
the people. Alone, in a strange land, among a furious 
and barbarous multitude, he fled unobserved, and in safety. 
For months, exposed' to dangers, privations, and horrors, 
“ the good hand ” of his God was with him; and, although 
“ a thousand fell beside him, in battle, sickness, and violence, 
no arrow came nigh him ! ” 
R. G. has been heard of no more. One notice only reached 
his friends in England, he had “joined Sir Henry Wheeler’s 
gallant band at Cawnpore.” Since then, a deep and solemn 
silence has settled upon his brief history. His mother has 
“looked forth from her lattice” in vain. “ Why tarry the 
wheels of his chariot?” In the inscrutable councils of 
Almighty God, the one widow’s son was taken, and the other 
left! 
Deep are the Avonderful decrees of Almighty wisdom ! 
They are past finding out. How shall we fathom them ? 
No deep-sea lead can sound them, for they are hidden from 
everlasting. If the bleeding heart should cry, “ Why is my 
son smitten ? — why am I marked out for grief ? ” the 
Divine answer whispers, “ What I do, thou knowest not 
now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” 
Chance! luck! fortune! These are the atheist’s words. Dear 
reader, let them not slide into your heart. How prone we 
are to speak them ! But they are full of deadly poison ! “I 
form the light, and create darkness : I make peace and 
create evil : I, the Lord, do all these things! ” 
PROLONGED BEARING CUCUMBERS. 
I beg to forward to you, for your inspection, a. brace of 
Carter’s Champion Cucumber, cut from plants which pro¬ 
duced fruit on the 21st of December, 1857, and have con¬ 
tinued bearing up to this time (September 14). — John 
Rodgers, Gardener to W. C. Moore, Bsq.,Bcmford , Sheffield. 
[The brace of Cucumbers received Avitli this note were 
handsome, serviceable fruit, about twelve inches long, very 
tender fleshed, and well-flavoured. Carter’s Champion is a ' 
white-spined variety. The propagation of the Cucumber 
plant by cuttings, and thus prolonging its existence, has long 
been known and practised; but this bearing of a succession 
of fruit on the same plant is new to us.] 
VINE CULTURE. 
In various places the Vine is cultivated, in some very 
successfully, and in others not so well. An inquiring mind 
will naturally be led to seek the cause of this varied success. 
I have generally found, that when the Vine has been planted in 
houses in low, level situations, on deep borders, the crops of 
fruit have either totally failed, or have suffered from mildew, 
and shanking. This is beginning to be thoroughly understood, 
and in such places the Vines are lifted, the border well 
drained, made shallower, and of less rich materials. This 
has been done successfully at several places within the last ten 
years, and is still being carried out. Yet the radical mistake 
of placing the vinery in a low situation is rarely corrected by 
removing it to a higher position. In future, it is to be hoped 
this evil Avill be avoided. 
I saw, a few days ago, a fine example of the benefit of 
placing the vineries on a sloping bank. It Avas in the gardens 
of Mr. John Meredith, at Garston, near Liverpooh The 
place ought to be named Garston Vineyard, for in no place j 
is the Vine so largely cultivated, or so successfully, or brought 
to a bearing state in so short a time. 
Some idea may be formed of the extent of this vineyard, 
from the following facts: — There are two lean-to houses 
against the dwelling-house, each fifty-five feet long by eighteen 
feet wide. Also, two span-roofed houses, sixty-five feet long 
by twenty feet wide. One is planted with the Blade Ham¬ 
burgh variety, and the other with Muscat of Alexandria. 
Wherever practicable, this arrangement should be adopted, 
the latter Vine requiring a higher, drier temperature to bring 
it to perfection. 
Then there are, besides, four houses fifty-three feet long by 
thirteen feet Avide. These are for producing the earliest 
crops. All the houses are heated with hot water on a neAV 
and effective plan, invented by Mr. Meredith himself. Also, 
a house 116 feet long, span-roofed, and narrower, and one 
forty-three feet long by eighteen feet Avide. These are to grow 
young Vines in, to fruit in pots, or to turn out in the borders 
of the earliest vineries. The borders of all the houses are 
inside,—but the Vines can send forth roots, under arches, to 
an unlimited extent,—and not more than two feet and a half 
deep, formed of the best turfy loam, mixed with a small 
portion of Avell-decomposed dung. Mr. Meredith depends 
a good deal upon the application of liquid manure. 
The success achieved here may be understood by the fact, 
that it is only two years since Mr. Meredith began to put up 
these extensive works, or, if you will, manufactories of 
Grapes. The Vines were planted in June, 1857, from eyes 
of that year, and have iioav furnished the rafters, fifteen feet 
long, with well-ripened wood up to the very top; many of 
them had a large bunch or tAvo of well-ripened and AA'ell- 
coloured fruit. The four forcing houses had borne a crop of 
fruitfrom strong Vines raised in pots for the purpose. 
This place is worthy of a long journey, to see how the Vine 
should be grown. There is a railway from Manchester to 
Garston, and the vineyard is only a mile from the station.— 
T. Aitleby. 
FURTHER NOTES ON SEA FLOWERS. 
(Continued from page 381.) 
The preceding paper touched a few points that may be 
profitably pursued by those aquarians avIio stubbornly adhere 
to the nomenclature of Johnston ; and, to such beginners as 
have not yet given their attention to the scientific classification 
of their zoopliytic pets, a few additional notes may be useful. 
For purposes of reference hereafter, let us here tabulate the 
several leading divisions, in accordance with the principles of 
distinction already set forth, so that the student may, here- 
