November 26, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
959 
Michauxia campanuloides. 
A group of a dozen or so plants of this quaint and interest¬ 
ing biennial produces a distinct and telling effect in the her¬ 
baceous, border, and if the latter has a warm southern aspect 
the Miehauxias will attain the greater perfection. Well-grown 
specimens attain a height of 4 ft. or more, and around the 
erect main stem horizontal side shoots appear, each carrying a 
i ni in her of Lily-likei blooms. The narrow corolla lobes of 
pearly whiteness open star-like to : display the brown stamens 
which add to the beauty of the flower. Plants are easily raised 
from seed, but are safer kept in pots under- glass dur ing winter, 
being unable to survive the continuous soaking so often disi- 
astrous to plants during our average winter. 
Heather Bell. 
Vines and their Culture. 
X. -Pruning, Watering, and Ventilating. 
(Concluded from page 890.) 
Pruning is a very important phase of successful Vine culture, 
and when thoroughly understood is more simple than with the 
majority of fruit. Pruning during the growing season has 
already been dealt with, as pinching, stopping, etc., but for 
convenience may here be summed up as 1 being-—the 1 stopping 
of the lateral at the second or third leaf beyond the bunch, and 
the stopping of all sub-laterals at the first leaf. As soon as 
the leaves have fallen from the Vine and 'the Grapes are cut, 
pruning may be attended to. At this stage cut all growth 
back to within 9 ini. of the spur, and about a fortnight later 
complete the work by cutting back to. the plumpest bud near 
tliei spur. In a healthy Vine and when the buds are “ fat,” no 
more than one bud need be left, but where they are weak leave 
two or three to enable a choice to be made at disbudding time. 
The idea should be to get the young wood from as near the rod 
as possible, and this can only be done by pruning hard back. 
To delay pruning until well into' the new year means that 
“ bleeding ” will inevitably ensue. When this evil occurs one 
of several remedies' may be tried, viz., chairing the end of the 
spur with a hot iron, tying a piece of bladder tightly over it' or 
using “ knotting.” These, however, need never be known, for 
Vine pruning is not a lengthy operation, and could surely he 
done some time during the autumn, which is, if in gardening 
■there' be such a thing, the slack time. 
Watering is responsible for much mischief in all grades of 
gardening and not less in Vine culture. It certainly is some¬ 
what difficult at. times to strike the happy medium, and espe¬ 
cially when the drainage of the border is defective’. So many 
varying circumstances conspire to deprive a. fixed rule of its 
value that it would he folly to issue one. A good watering 
should be given at. the tune of starting the "V ines, another 
immediately before they flower, again when they have, set, 
again, after stoning, and less during the colouring periods. 
Between these, times, however, let the border never becomediy, 
or shanking will result. To find out whether a Vine is in need 
of water throw several canfuls over the border, and if the water 
rapidly soaks away water until the border is saturated; if on 
the other hand it takes some time to pass off, do not water. 
When watering do. it thoroughly, and be especially copious in, 
the supply beneath hot-water pipes. The morning is decidedly 
the best time, for then the excess of moisture has time to pass 
off before the house is closed for the night. A large supply 
after a period of dryness will cause ripened berries to crack ; 
hence a, proper balance 'should be maintained ; also when the 
grapes are coloured. None but a fine day should be chosen, for 
the work, and the water should be slightly warmed. A well- 
drained border will require more water than, one where the soil 
is, deeper and the drainage shallow. 
Ventilating has already been mentioned, but being of great 
importance, a. few general remarks, may here be added. During 
the early stages of growth-—that is, until the fruit has set—the 
top and front vents should not be opened simultaneously, for 
the foliage will not be sufficiently sturdy to withstand the 
draught. A little top air should be allowed in the morning 
immediately the sun strikes the house and be gradually in¬ 
creased until 11 o’clock, when the full amount should be 
allowed. A chink a.t night either at the top or bottom will 
promote a steady circulation during flowering and ripening. 
Not until the grape® are, thoroughly ripe should a large amount 
be left- on at night. During showery weather when sun and 
dulness alternate it. is very necessary to sea that there is not too 
much air on at one time or too. little on another. W. R. 
Letter to the Editor. 
A Plea for Hardy Herbaceous Plants. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—To a lover of the above plants like myself it affords 
the greatest pleasure to read the enthusiastic notes of Mr. C. 
Blair on page 932, and it is to be hoped that his remarks may 
induce others to take an interest in these plants who have not 
hitherto, done so. I think the interest in them is growing 
year by year, and though it may be slowly, perhaps, this is a 
Chrysanthemum John Fraser. (See p. 93J.) 
good sign, as their popularity is more likely to stay and in¬ 
crease. it is quite certain that no phase of gardening, whether 
it. be the cultivation, of Orchids, stove and greenhouse plants, 
fruit culture,, Chrysanthemums, or any other, affords more 
pleasure than this, and I am quite sure others would be of the 
same 'Opinion if they would take their culture seriously in hand 
and try to produce the hast, results by discriminate, grouping 
and selecting the best. There are, of course, many good col¬ 
lections of hardy plants in this country, but it. is 1 most sur¬ 
prising to me that the present generation of yo'ung gardeners 
do, not take, more, interest in and endeavour to, obtain a, know¬ 
ledge of this important branch. 
I must thank Mr. Blair for his kind remarks respecting what 
I have, written. It is most gratifying to. me, to, know that my 
articles, in The Gardening World have, been of service, though 
no one is better aware that they are sadly deficient in literary 
grace; at all events they are based upon actual experience and 
observation. A. E. Thatcher. 
Flowers at North Berwick.— Sweet Peas and other flowers 
of this character were still flowering in the open at North Ber¬ 
wick on the 20th inst. Buses also seem to have forgotten the 
season of the year at this golfing rendezvous. 
