36 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
Among these Paris Ilyacintlis two varieties 
are noted—one Blanc de Montague, the ITga- 
cinthiis albulus of Jordan ; the other, lioinaine 
Blanche, the ll/jacinthusprcecox of Jordan. The 
Paris gardeners plant the bulbs in small pots 
in August and September, and begin to force 
them about the first fortnight in October, to 
have them in flower on the fete of St. Charles, 
November 4th. In Jordan and Fourreau’s splen¬ 
did leones ad Floram Europce may be found a 
good figure of the Eoman Hyacinth, under the 
name of Hijacinthus ■prcccox, with a botanical 
description and an indication of the native 
couutiy, Liguria (Genoese Riviera). We do not 
find the plant mentioned, however, in any Flora 
of that region. II. albulus, which is very nearly 
allied, is figured also, and is said to grow wild 
in the South of France, at Grasse. It would 
seem, then, that the Eoman Hyacinth origin¬ 
ated from one or the other of these two forms, 
growing wild along the shores of the Mediter¬ 
ranean, but how it got its name of “Eoman ” 
is not so clear. Mr. Baker {Journ. Linn. Soc. 
London, xi., 426) refers both these forms to 
H. orientalis, of which they are the Southern 
representatives. 
VINES AND VINE-CULTURE. 
Chapter XVI.— Steectures for Grape-growing. 
g S regards Structures or Houses for the 
cultivation of Grapes, the greatest lati- 
tude may be allowed. Vines are most 
accommodating in this respect, and -will grow 
in structures of any form or size that either con¬ 
venience or fancy may dictate, provided the 
atmospheric conditions are suitable. It is not 
to be assumed, however, that certain struc¬ 
tures are not better adapted for their respective 
recjuirements than others. It is the little dif¬ 
ferences or deviations from this or that line 
that lead on to failure or success, as the case 
may be. The two extremes are seldom far 
apart. The conditions that may prove satisfac¬ 
tory in one sense, do not always avail in others. 
The mere growth of the vine itself is one thing, 
whilst the production of fruit early or late, 
and its proper maturation and conservation, are 
quite other matters. A house which may be very 
suitable for early grapes, may be unsuitable for 
late crops, and vice versa. It is very wonder¬ 
ful sometimes to notice the great crops of grapes, 
and these of fine quality, that are produced in 
houses or vineries that can scarcely be called 
suitable, and which should never be taken as 
examples to follow in the erection of vine- 
houses. A great many blunders are committed 
in this way ; because a certain thing is a success 
—from pure accident, it may be—it is copied, 
with all its faults, and failure is the natural 
result. 
Vineries, that is to say, the structures set 
apart for Vine-culture, are of three classes :— 
1. Early Vineries, for the production of early 
or forced grapes. 
2. General-crop Vineries, including all un¬ 
heated houses. 
3. Late Vineries, for the production and pro¬ 
per keeping of grapes till late in the season. 
A vinery specially designed for one of these 
purposes may be very unsuitable for the others ; 
special arrangements are required in each case, 
but we can here do little more than glance at 
general principles, leaving the details to be 
filled for each particular case. 
The illustration which was given at page 2, 
in which the construction of the border is 
illustrated, represents what is termed a “ lean- 
to ” vinery, that is, a house leaning to or 
against a wall. This is the oldest, simplest, 
and cheapest style of house that can be 
erected, advantage being generally taken 
of some already existing wall against which 
to place it. The Vines in this case are 
planted along the front, and the rods trained 
up under the roof. A second set may also be 
jilanted against the back wall, and these will 
produce good fruit for a time, or so long as they 
are not shaded by the others. Lean-to houses 
are generally erected to face the south, so that 
the full benefit of the sun’s rays may be secured. 
This position for early houses is a great con¬ 
sideration, but for later houses it is of less con¬ 
sequence, as good black grapes may be grown in 
houses having a due north aspect. For early 
forcing, the lean-to vinery is the most approved. 
It is naturally warmer, the back wall affording 
considerable shelter, and on this account it is 
the best adapted for cold or exposed localities. 
The figure given represents a house about 15 
feet in width, 'with a roof at an angle of 
40°. This may be made much more acute, 
and the whole modified as may seem desirable ; 
but very steep lean-to vineries are extremely 
