783 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 1, 1904. 
Vine Culture. 
VII,—Flowering and Selection of Bunches. 
(Continued from page 722.) 
The flowering period is undoubtedly the most important time 
in the yearly growth of the Vine, and, being practically the 
first sign, of the future Grape, demands the exercise of especial 
care. Some scientifically disposed gardeners, ignoring the 
adverb' prefixed, may quarrel with me for speaking of the 
flower thus', and would argue that the bunch. in an embryonic 
form was existent at a much earlier period. T’c these, how¬ 
ever, I would say that as we date our age from our birth rather 
than from our conception, so may we for cultural purposes date 
the commencement of the Grape from its first substantial 
appearance in the flower rather than from the subtle and un¬ 
known beginning on the discovery of which the searchlight of 
science has thrown as yet but a hazy ray. 
Evidence of flowering is soon forthcoming by the pleasing 
odour emitted, and from this time until the berries are set and 
commencing to swell the success, of the crop is, more entirely 
in the hands of the grower than at any other time. His aim 
should be to secure perfect fertilisation in the shortest time, 
and hence should hold forth those conditions of atumsphere 
moist conducive to the desired end. Damping down of the 
border should be performed but once during the day, and the 
syringe laid aside altogether, except possibly during a later 
attack of red spider. The temperature at night, should be not 
less, than 65 deg., and in the case of Muscats.70 deg. will not 
be too' high. A gentle circulation, of air may be promoted by 
opening both top, and bottom ventilators slightly during the 
night, and more freely during the day. If, however, cold 
winds drive directly on to the foliage, close the lower ventisi 
Give the rods a, brisk rap about mid-day to disperse the pollen, 
and in the case of shy setting varieties, play a, rabbit tail 
about the bunches. Ten days or a. fortnight will usually decide 
the fate of the bunches. 
Even before the flowers, have set, and oft-times before the 
flowering, the bunches should be thinned to the number decided 
on. As to the number of bunches tio leave there can be no 
fixed rule, for the state of the border, age,, vigour, and variety 
of the Vine, time of ripening, requirements of the owner 
are all governing factors. Every Vine hia,s within it a, suffi¬ 
ciency of power and vigour to produce and ripen a, certain 
quantity of fruit,—the extent of the power and the amount 
of the produce are beyond mortal means of computation—and 
all attention given and accidents barred, the Vine will fully 
and fruitfully perform its work. In endeavouring, then, to 
procure in a, short time a larger quantify of fruit, than regard 
to the strength and age of the Vine would permit, we risk a 
deficiency in colour, size, and flavour of berry, besides impair¬ 
ing the constitutional vigour. Market, growers aim at obtain¬ 
ing the most from their rods, and discarding them ‘earlier, but 
they are fully cognisant of the existence of a limit beyond 
which they cannot ,safely pass. In private places things are 
not usually worked on the express system, and the grower must, 
adapt himself to circumstances' and not shorten the life of the 
Vines, but rather by procuring a reasonable crop obviate the 
necessity of renewing the rods. For a, good healthy rod fifteen 
well - developed bunches should be borne with safety and satis¬ 
faction. 
Choose the most symmetrical bunches, but let, their position 
on the rod be also' considered, for balance in a rod is not only 
theoretically commendable, but, a, gross' violation of the prin¬ 
ciple of fair distribution is quickly discernible in the proper 
ripening and finish of the berries. 
During flowering the growth of the Vine should not be 
arrested, and all lateral growth should be allowed to grow 
apace,, for to stop profusely would divert much sap into' the 
forming bunches, which have all their work to perform without 
having it thereby increased. The aforementioned conditions 
of atmosphere during flowering are not confined to Vines', but 
are equally applicable to all plants, though not so essential, nor 
the reverse of them so disastrous, as with this subject in which 
flowering is but an intermediary instead of being, a,s is usual 
in plant culture, a, final stage. 
W. R. 
Erigeron mucronatus. 
Modest, as the field Daisy, with which it vies in its, dainty 
charms, isi this little plant that endears itself to the heart of 
such as delight to make companions of the inmates of their 
gardens,. 
It is not a plant for the terrace; or formal bed upon the 
lawn, but tumbling over 1 the rough ledges, of the rockeiy it 
is just such a, delightful little gem as will draw one toward it 
and annex affections' akin to those we beat toward the Violet 
and the Primrose, thereby, I trow, affording the sweetest 
pleasure the garden can give. The plant is small and slender 
in all its parts. The trilobate deeply-veined leaves are of a very 
fresh-looking and pleasing green, and they form close-growing 
tufts, from which spring on all sides and in semi-prostrate 
fashion fine wiry .stems furnished with bract-like leaves and 
short side branches, each surmounted with a cluster of Daisy- 
like flowers of which the greenish-yellow disc is surrounded by 
pointed ray-florets of white, tipped and flushed with rosy-pink. 
Leo me entreat all who have not got this little plant, to 
secure a, few young plants early this autumn; plant them on 
a well-drained ledge of the rockeiy, where they can spread 
themselves in their own sweet way, and in the spring they 
will reward you by blooming with unsurpassed freedom. In 
fact, it frequently happens that the plants bloom themselves 
to death, but happily seeds are easily obtained and raised 
(if sown, soon as ripe), so that, a stock is easily secured for 
the following season, or a few plants may be kept from flower¬ 
ing by pinching so as to induce growths from the base, and 
these treated as cuttings will root without difficulty in August 
or September. A. J- MacSelf. 
Royal Horticultural Society. 
Scientific Committee. 
September 6th.—Present: Dr. Cooke (in the chair), Mr. 
Douglas, Dr. Rendle, Mr. Holmes, and Rev. W. Wilks. 
Pink Mould on Charred Wood.—Dr. Cooke reported that the 
pink mould on burnt wood, sent by Mr. Saunders, was common 
on all kinds of vegetable matter, dead or decaying, and, had re¬ 
cently been claimed as a parasite on Apples (“ Journal ” of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, xxviii., p. 233). The conidia are 
profuse, colourless, elliptical, and uniseptate when mature. It 
is called Cephalothecium roseum. 
Orchid Leaves.—Dr. Cooke reported that the light-coloured 
spots on Cypripedium leaf forwarded by Mr. Douglas were de¬ 
ficient in chorophyll and semi-translucent, but contained no 
trace of fungi. The dark-coloured spots appeared to be scars 
from wounds, but contained no trace of fungi. 
Pleiotaxy of Carnations.—Miss Harrison, of Wrington, sent 
several specimens. 
Supposed Damage from Foxglove.—Lady Roscoe inquired 
whether some deleterious substance did not come from Fox¬ 
gloves which harmed other plants. 'She was also.suspicious of 
Nicotiana aifinis having the same effect, as plants near either 
seemed to languish. It was considered that any harm could only 
be done by the shade of the large leaves, or by the roots devour¬ 
ing all the food in the soil. 
Diseased Oak.—Lady Mary Herbert sent specimens of disease 
in roots of Oak. The specimens plainly showed the marks of 
injury, and the disease had evidently been caused by water 
entering through the injured parts and causing ordinary decay. 
Chermes laricis.—Lady Herbert also sent specimens of Larch 
attacked by this pest, now only too common. Nothing could 
be done, save to use one of the soft-soap and paraffin sprays. 
Soil.—Mr. Dean (gardener to E. Powell King, Esq., Wains- 
ford), sent specimens of soil which it was proposed to use for 
Peach trees. It showed brown, thread-like marks, following 
the decay of some previously-existing roots. It was considered 
unsuitable for the purpose, as likely to engender fungus. 
Nut-mite.—Adolph Reikmann, Esq., Mottingham, complained 
that, having been compelled to destroy his black Currants on 
account of the bud-mite, the insect (or one very like it), seemed 
now to be attacking his Filbert-nuts. 
