10 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ JA.NUABY, 
in putting the roots into the soil nearly in the 
same condition in which they were when turned 
out of the pots, which left them in the coiled-up 
state for all time after. Younger plants than 
it was otherwise desirable to use were conse¬ 
quently obliged to be taken. 
Having had something to do in Vine-planting 
during the two past seasons, I have devised a 
plan to obviate the evil above-named; and it 
has succeeded so well that I feel induced to 
relate it. In the winter of 1875, some old 
vines which were not giving satisfaction were 
torn out of a vinery here, to make room for 
young ones. Owing to unavoidable circum¬ 
stances, the border could not be got ready until 
the end of April or beginning of May. It was 
therefore decided to grow the Vines on in heat, 
and to plant them out in summer. Early 
in February I had some boxes made, one for 
each plant, of the following dimensions—sides, 
4ft. long; depth, 10in.; breadth of end, lOin. 
All that was required was to nail a narrow 
strip of wood on to the two lower edges, to rest 
the cross bottom-pieces of 1J or 2 inches wide 
upon, and another narrow piece on to each end 
of the sides, to keep the ends in their places 
when filled with soil; then to put all the pieces 
into their places, and fasten both ends by a 
double ply of rope-yarn, which kept the whole 
firmly together. The Vines were then turned 
out of their pots, and the soil clean removed ; 
a little soil was put into the box, and the plant 
placed at one of the ends, the roots being care¬ 
fully spread out over the length of it. The 
box was then filled up with soil, well watered, 
and removed into a cool place until the time of 
starting into grov'th. At the time of planting 
out, an opening was made under the sole-plate 
of the house, by removing a few bricks, to give 
sufficient room for the vine to be safely con¬ 
ducted inside. At the same time, the box was 
carefully moved forward to its proper place and 
depth. The fastening was cut, and one of the 
sides taken away, the soil being brought hard 
up to the side, so as to prevent the young roots 
from getting injured. The two ends were next 
removed, and the soil made firm to the ball in 
a similar manner, when the remaining side was 
lifted away, and the space being clear, the 
narrow bottom-pieces are drawn out one by 
one. This having been completed, the soil was 
carefully packed round the roots, and so little 
were they disturbed, that the plants never 
showed any signs of suffering from the removal 
into their new quarters, not even requiring 
shading. 
A similar plan was adopted this season with 
vines for a new vinery, but instead of the 
plants being planted at the ends, they were put 
in the centre of each box, while the roots were 
extended both ways. The object of this was 
to plant the vines so that the roots might 
grow inside as well as out, the front wall of 
the house being arched for the purpose. The 
vines, having grown several feet in length, were 
planted into the new-made border on July 2nd, 
the soil being taken out sufficiently deep in the 
new compost to allow the end of the box to 
pass under the arch. This done, the planting 
proceeded as in the former case, and although 
the days had begun to shorten, and the hot- 
water appliances were not in working order 
until the end of the first week in August, the 
shoots of one of the vines had reached the top 
wire of the house, a distance of 22 ft. from the 
ground, by September 14th, and nearly every 
vine in the house had reached the top before 
the end of October, some of them having been 
trained along the top wire for a considerable 
length, and all lateral growth being encouraged 
and tied in, so as to induce root-making to the 
fullest extent. Although planted so late in the 
season, I do not remember ever previously to 
have seen young vines make such rapid progress 
during the first year of planting.—J. Websteb, 
Gordon Castle. 
TWO MONTHS OF CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
WRITER in an early number of the 
Journal of Horticulture for 1877 spoke 
of the cultivation of the Carnation and 
Picotee as involving “ forty-nine weeks of trouble - 
some attentions for three of the enjoyment of the 
bloom.” Paradoxical and most unhappy utter¬ 
ance! for when was enjoyment born of attentions 
felt to be “ troublesome ” ? But let this pass. The 
true florist knows nothing of trouble, in the 
attentions required by the objects of his devo¬ 
tion ; the measure of his care is the necessity 
of his pets, and with him all is undone whilst 
