January 29, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
341 
soil is all washed from the roots ; then my rule is to 
make as many plants as there are leaves, afterwards to 
plant them out on a deeply-trenched, moist border. 
After two seasons’ growth I lift them again. I grow 
several varieties, but there are none to equal II. 
maximus for size and freedom of flowering. 100 young 
plants, treated last year as above described, are bristling 
with buds, but not one has attempted to show a flower 
in the open border. 
I may add that the washing away of the soil renders 
the operation of division very easy, as the leaves and 
roots spring from a creeping, woody stem, which may 
be separated at every leaf without injuring a single 
root.— Wm. Allan, Gunion Park Norwich. 
-->33o- 
THE HISTORY AND CULTURE 
OF THE GRAPE VINE. 
A most interesting paper on this subject was read by 
Mr. Petcli before a large meeting of the Birmingham 
Gardeners’ Society, on Wednesday evening, January 19. 
Mr. Peteh was well known many years since as a highly 
successful grower and exhibitor of Grapes, when head 
gardener at Ringwood Hall, near Chesterfield, and 
subsequently as head gardener to Sam Mendell, Esq , 
at the famous Manley Hall Gardens, near Manchester ; 
since then, for several years, Mr. Petch has been one of 
the representatives of Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., of 
Worcester. No man is more capable of handling this 
subject, and the paper was so full of good, sound, 
practical information, that it met with most cordial 
appreciation from all present at the meeting. 
After tracing the earlier history of the Vine, Mr. 
Petch gave information as to the construction of early 
vineries, planting and sorts, and stated that one of the 
principal causes of failure in inside borders is in¬ 
sufficiency of watering, especially after the Grapes begin 
to colour, often producing shanking in Grapes ; but 
over-cropping and the Vines being planted in borders 
made too deep will often cause some varieties to shank. 
The formation of borders was especially referred to, and 
the best of soils is a good fibry loam from an old pasture, 
cut from 4 ins. to 8 ins. deep, with a sprinkling of 1 in. 
bones, a little wood charcoal (obtaining it from heaps 
burnt on most large estates ; not charcoal that has been 
used for chemical purposes), some oyster shells, and, if 
obtainable, good old plaster ceilings from old buildings. 
The maladies the Vine is subject to—Phylloxera, 
mealy bug, thrip, red spider and mildew, were specially 
explained and remedies recommended, and as a cure 
for the latter, to keep the house quite close on the 
hottest day, letting it rise from 150° to 180° and the 
mildew disappears. Mr. Petch also spoke of a similar 
remedy for curing mildew on Roses. Defective ven¬ 
tilation w'as also treated upon, and as producing scalding 
and warty excresences. Rust and cracking were spoken 
of as preventative diseases caused by bad cultivation, 
and the liability of the Chasselas Musque to cracking can 
be prevented by shading from the sun’s rays, Mr. Petch 
having adopted this plan so successfully at Ringwood 
Hall, growing this variety free from cracking, and 
quoted an extract from the Cottage Gardener of Sept. 
8th, 1857, written by Mr. Thomas Appleby, one of the 
earliest and constant contributors to that journal—he 
wrote—“That variety called Gosling’s St. Alban’s or 
Chasselas Musque was here as yellow as gold, and with¬ 
out a cracked berry on it.” This was the result of 
shading from the sun, and keeping the internal atmo¬ 
sphere as dry as possible. 
The propagation of the Vine in the old fashioned 
way from layers, and the more popular manner from 
eyes were treated in full, and strong ones from old Vines 
recommended for planting. Inarching and grafting 
was practically explained, and the good effects resulting 
from grafting that very flue Grape, Muscat Hamburgh 
on to the Black Hamburgh was recommended, and 
references made to places where success had followed. 
Grafting or inarching black Grapes on to white varieties 
was a practice to be avoided as much as possible, as also 
was the use of very strong growing kinds of the larger 
bunched varieties as stocks, even the Black Alicante 
not making a good stock. Black Hamburgh was 
strongly recommended generally. 
Pruning and temperature was well explained, and 
most suitable sorts were named for early, late and in¬ 
termediate vineries. The whole subject was so well 
handled as to bring forth praise from many old practical 
gardeners who were present. Several questions were 
asked and answered, and sotpe of the older members 
corroborated various statements Mr. Petch had put 
forward. The paper is altogether so excellent a treatise 
that several of the members expressed a wish that it 
should be published for the benefit of the gardeners in 
the district. 
Mr. Cooper sent, from the Highbury collection of 
Orchids, a well-done plant of Odontoglossum coro- 
narium, rich in colour ; also Primulas and Cyclamens ; 
and Mr. T. B. Thomson, nurseryman and seedsman, 
Birmingham, Primula blooms of fine quality. 
•--—>*<-- 
THE “ THANATOPHORE.” 
In our last volume (pp. 509, 55G, 668) we directed 
the attention of our readers to the new method of 
destroying insects in our plant houses by means of 
Tobacco vapour, instead of by Tobacco smoke, and at 
the last quoted page (p. 668) we published an illustra¬ 
tion of the new apparatus patented by M. Martre of 
Paris, for steaming the Tobacco juice. Since we first 
called attention to the subject, the new method has 
been well tried in this country, and there can be no 
Mautke’s Tobacco-vaporizer. 
doubt whatever but that the discovery of the insect¬ 
killing properties of Tobacco juice, by Mr. Boizard, is 
of the most important and valuable character. Mr. 
B. S. Williams, of Holloway, who has become sole 
agent in this country for the sale of the “ Thana- 
tophore,” has proved it thoroughly, and satisfied 
himself that the nicotine vapour is a certain insect 
killer, while it does not injure the most tender flower 
or foliage. The apparatus, as will be seen in the ac¬ 
companying illustration, has been improved in one 
material particular since it was first sent out. We 
allude to the reservoir with gauge glass, which in the 
first apparatus had to be lifted off with the hands for 
charging with Tobacco-juice, and which is obviated by 
use of the stopcocks fixed to the latest pattern. The 
Thanatophore is of copper, made in three sizes, the 
largest being capable of steaming houses of 300 cubic 
yds., and considering their substantial character are 
certainly not expensive. 
THE ANCIENT SOCIETY OF 
YORK FLORISTS. 
On Wednesday evening, January 19th, the annual 
dinner of this ancient society was held, under the 
presidency of the Lord Mayor of York, at the “White- 
Horse ” Hotel, Coppergate, and a large number of 
members and friends responded to the following quaint 
invitation : — “Brother, — You are desired to meet the 
Fraternity of the most Antient Art of Gardening at the 
annual Feast of the Royal Society of Gardiners and 
Lovers of a Garden within the City and County ol 
York : kept this Year at Mrs. Marshall’s House, in 
Coppergate the 19th Day of January to dine with them, 
at Six a Clock : where you will be earnestly expected 
and kindly received by, Yor. humble Servts, T. F. 
Abbey, G. Cowper, G. Lamb, Stewards.” 
There is little doubt, says The York Herald, that 
the Ancient Society of York Florists has a strong claim 
to the distinction of being one of the oldest societies of 
the kind that is now in existence in the country. 
Though its origin is involved in obscurity, it is a well- 
authenticated fact that in the years long past a company 
of gentlemen, who had conducted an exhibition of 
flowers, formed themselves into a society which was 
named the York Society of Florists, in connection with 
which the following particulars will be read with great 
interest. They are taken from a book published in 
York in 1813, entitled “ Rules and Regulations of the 
York Society of Florists, together with an abstract of 
the properties of the flowers shewn in the society, and 
a brief analysis of the manner of cultivating them as 
adapted to the climate of the city of York.” The 
preamble is as follows : — 
“Happiness being the ultimate end proposed by 
society, it is necessary that all proper, lawful, and 
effectual means be made use of to procure it. Two 
points appear essentially necessary to the constituting 
and supporting of every meeting founded on such a 
plan—the first showing the pleasure and advantages 
to be reaped—the second, the evils to be avoided. 
First, the pleasure that the cultivation of flowers 
atfords sufficiently appears from their being the taste 
of the curious of all ages and countries ; not only from 
their beautiful forms, lively tints, and grateful odours, 
wherewith they so highly regale the senses, but also 
from their real use. Flowers so forcibly strike the eye 
that they never fail to inspire us with a certain joy ; 
and when we have sufficiently examined the fairest we 
are sensible they are designed to refresh the sight; the 
prospect they afford is pleasing, and we experience their 
power to be so effectual that the greatest number of 
those arts which are ambitious to please appear most 
successful when they borrow their assistance. Sculpture 
imitates them in its softest ornaments. Architecture 
bestows the embellishment of leaves and flowers on those 
columns and fronts that would otherwise be too naked. 
The richest embroideries are little more than foliage 
and flowers. The most magnificent silks are almost 
covered with these charming forms, and are thought 
beautiful in proportion as they resemble the lively 
tinge of natural flowers ; for these reasons, great 
numbers, both at home and abroad, have employed 
their leisure hours in the delightful and healthful em¬ 
ployment of propagating them with the greatest 
diligence. And as the taste for flowers and the pleasure 
of disclosing them to the view of others are almost 
inseparable, we consider their cultivators as an 
agreeable band or society who communicate to each 
other the observations their experience has enabled 
them to make. 
“With these intentions a society assembled at York, 
on Wednesday, the 20th of April, 1768 ; and after¬ 
wards at a general revision of the rules on Monday, the 
8th of February, 1813, which brings us to the second 
part — namely, the evils to be avoided. In all com¬ 
panies that have been formed to encourage any art or 
science it has been found absolutely necessary to frame 
certain orders or rules for the better conducting thereof 
and also for the preventing disputes, particular opinions, 
and self-interest ; evils that have always utterly de¬ 
stroyed and brought into confusion the best designs, 
unless prevented by some speedy remedy. We, the 
present members of this society, having seriously con¬ 
sidered these matters, and being truly desirous and, to 
the best of our power, willing to promote the cultiva¬ 
tion of flowers, have, from experience, been sufficiently 
enabled to draw up, and likewise clearly demonstrate, 
the necessity and utility of the following rules. ” Then 
