THE GARDENING WORLD. 
449 
May 28, 1904. 
The Vinery for the Vines. 
How often are disappointment and failure with Grapes 
{brought about through not keeping the real object of the 
vinery uppermost in the mind. If the ambition of the owner 
or oardener is to grow Grapes in the best form, the house must 
|be mainly devoted to their culture ; but on the other hand, if 
the Vines are only grown as ornamental climbers, and a few 
middling bunches of fruit are all that isi looked for, then a 
(collection of plants may be grown in the same house. . Of 
course, there are many things, that can be accommodated in a 
vinery' at certain seasons without, injuring the Vines or affeeb- 
iiw the crop of fruit. The evil is to be found in the practice 
‘of C making the vinery a receptacle for all kinds of plants, 
clean, and" unclean, and generally double the quantity there 
is room for, the result of such a proceeding being Vines 
covered with mealy bug, thrip®, red spider, etc. Any plants 
which are subject to these pests ought not to be admitted to 
ibei vinery; anything of a suspicious character should be 
minutely searched before being taken in,; mealy bug may 
be lurking upon it. Far better bum, any such subjects khan 
to run the risk of introducing them. Such examination, may 
seem tiresome and occupy considerable time, but it will be 
repaid tenfold, for only those who have had to cany out the 
operation of eradicating this pest, when once established can, 
realise the amount, of time it takes, not to mention the injury 
resulting to the Vines from the constant use of insecticides, 
scraping, scrubbing, etc. 
The temperature and atmospheric conditions which are 
favourable to the'Vines when being started are equally suitable 
for many other things requiring gentle forcing. These condi¬ 
tions, so far as the plants are concerned, do not last long, and 
they should all be cleared out, before the Grapes eoine into 
bloom. We often, read glowing accounts of Vines and plants 
doing wonderfully well together, but the failures resulting 
from such a, combination, far outnumber the successes. If the 
production, of good Grapes is the object, everything must give 
place to the Vines during the greater part of the year, and every 
inch of glass surface, whether roof, sides, or back, where light 
can be obtained should be utilised for extending the summer 
growth of the Vines, because the greater the spread of foliage 
the better will be the Grapes. The roots also claim the same 
attention. Whether provision is made for them inside or out¬ 
side the vinery, the first consideration should always be to) 
encourage the formation of roots near the surface of the border, 
and to, preserve and feed them when there. With such a 
purpose always in view, the cultivator must resist, any tempta¬ 
tion, to use the outside border for growing any other plants. 
Such a practice can only result in robbing the Vines of nutri¬ 
ment, as well as depriving them of their most valuable roots. 
If an outside border is. objected to as being unsightly, provi¬ 
sion can, be made for the roots inside the house, and in that) 
case, the presence of plants in any quantity will be prejudicial 
to the roots, as the constant drip from the watering required 
by the plants will in time destroy the fertility of the soil, 
and also impede the necessary operations and attention to 
the roots of the Vines. 
In penning these remarks I have in mind principally 
amateurs, who so often ask the question: “ What, is wrong 
with my Grapes? ” Invariably it is a case of neglect. Thei 
care and attention which should have been bestowed on the 
Vines have been, given to- other tilings. Let me, then, impress 
flies,e points upon the above class of your readers : if they will 
grow plants in their vineries, let them be thinly disposed, and 
of a class not subject to insects. Palms and Ferns are suitable. 
All kinds: of Dutch bulbs are amongst the best things to grow. 
Amaryllis, Vallotas, etc., soft-wooded plants, such a,s, Fuchsias, 
Begonias, and Marguerites may be grown in the vineries ini 
the autumn, when the Grapes are cut, while the bouse may be 
gay for a time with Chrysanthemums. J. W. J. 
Sunshine and Fecit Trees.—W e had little sunshine last 
year. How will the grower explain away the fine set of fruit? 
Window Box Gardening. 
A person need not necessarily be a graduate of a horticul¬ 
tural college, or one who holds advanced views on the benefits 
to be derived by living in a garden city, to realise that at 
least one branch of horticulture is yearly increasing in, popu¬ 
larity, viz., that of window-box gardening. Even the casual 
observer as lie hurries to and from business daily will tell 
you that there are more who take interest in plants and; 
flowers to-day than there were ten years ago*, and what is the 
most surprising is, that some who show the liveliest concern 
in them are those who have the least facilities for growing 
them—people who: possess little or no' ground, and therefore, 
making the best, of the situation, they contrive to make of 
boxes-on their window sills miniature gardens. 
The present is the very best, time to furnish them, and the 
subjects one may have are numerous; there is, for instance, 
that often-used plant, the Ivy-leaved Pelargonium, which, 
owing to its long, straggling habit, is well adapted for planting 
in boxes and allowed to trail over; the Fuchsia,, too, is of 
much use in this connection, and looks well wdien the dowers 
hang over the front of the box ; moreover, these two subjects 
are noted for their free-dowering tendencies. Heliotropes, 
valued for their sweetness, should not be lost sight of, for ©f 
all blossoms, those having a, sweet fragrance should be grown 
near to a room; then, again, pots of Mignonette are always 
Cymbidium lowio-eburneum concolor. (See p. 443.) 
appreciated, and for a blaze of colour, especially in a sunny 
situation,, Begonias can, scarcely be improved upon. I have 
bad much success with Verbenas, planting them out in the 
boxes in May, and pinching out the centre, which induce® the 
formation, of shoots near the base', and so avoids one having 
plants when the season lias half gone with practically leafless 
stems. Some there are, of course, who will revert to the 
scarlet Pelargonium, the blue Lobelia, and yellow Calceolaria, 
but one need not be conservative in such matters, for there 
are many plants that will answer our purpose besides the three 
mentioned, I think of not a, few annuals met with in the 
garden that will help to brighten, if used, such as Larkspurs, 
Asters;, Jacobeas, Tagetes, Mimulus, Petunias, Salpiglossds. 
But in filling a window box one should, I think, remember 
that as they are in close proximity to dwelling rooms they 
should contain some flowers, at least, that are valued for their 
fragrance, as it is these that are always appreciated; one 
calls to mind boxes of Wallflowers; in the early spring—one in 
a, neighbouring village to where; I write was full of bloom from 
October to April, with scarcely any break, with Sutton’s 
Earliest of All. Heliotropes and Mignonette have already 
been referred to, and these are; amongst the sweetest of onr 
summer flowers. Another might be added in Mathiola bi- 
cormis, the night-scented Stock, one; or two .seeds of which 
might be placed in a box with other things; of itself, it is an 
