that stones or gravel is the best substance for heating by steam, in a close chamber; and that earth is the best substance for plunging the pots in.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

Edinburgh, Jan. 22. 1830.

JOHN HAY.

ART. XXII. Some Account of a large Vine at Sellwood Park, the Seat of Michie Forbes, Esq., Sunning Hill, Berkshire. By Mr. H. CUMMING, Gardener to Mr. Forbes.

Sir,

THE large Black Hamburgh vine at this place was brought from Sion Hill gardens, then the Duke of Marlborough's, in 1810. It was then a small plant, which had been struck that season from an eye, and it was planted in Sellwood Park garden in 1811. For the first year or two nothing very remarkable was noticed in its growth, more than that it had a very healthy appearance. About the fourth or fifth year after planting, it had nearly filled the small house it was in. The house was then lengthened 20 ft., and in about two years afterwards it had nearly supplied it with strong healthy bearing wood. The house was then again, and has been since, lengthened. The present length of the house is about 90 ft., breadth 13 ft.; number of bunches on the vine 1100; and it is intended to have the house lengthened 36 ft. more next autumn. To show the vigour of this remarkable young vine, I may mention that, when three years ago the house was lengthened an additional 35 ft., the second year afterwards the shoots reached to the end of it. It is a remarkably good bearer, producing a fine large dark berry of an excellent flavour. Many of the bunches weigh upwards of 2 lbs.; some cut last year almost 2 lbs. It stands nearly in the centre of the house. It has a beautiful straight stem, upwards of 6 ft. in height; and then branches off each way horizontally, with nine principal leading shoots.

The mode of training, and fine healthy strong appearance of the vine, together with the excellent crop of grapes which it produces every year, excite the admiration of every gentleman and gardener who comes here; and the vine, on the whole, is allowed by them to surpass that at Hampton Court, or any other vine in the country. Its roots may be said to be both in and out of the house; as it is planted inside, but, the front wall being on arches, many of the roots are in the old asparagus beds in front. We have already begun to

remove these beds, and shall continue to do so yearly, till our young beds, which have been lately planted, come into bearing; as we purpose to devote that piece of ground entirely to the nourishment of the vine.

With the permission of Mr. Forbes, I have sent you a small sample of grapes, and I can assure you that the bunches were not picked, but cut from one part of the vine and not 2 ft. from each other. I remain, Sir, &c.

Sellwood Park, October 21. 1829.

H. CUMMINGS.

THE berries were large, dark, of excellent flavour, and the bunches weighing from half a pound to a pound and a half. Cond.

ART. XXIII. On a Method of obtaining new Kinds of Potatoes. By SOLA'NUM TUBERO'SUM.

Sir,

HAVING noticed in your useful publication several communications relative to that useful and now almost indispensable vegetable, the potato, I beg to offer a method of obtaining new kinds, which is as follows, viz.: —

Macartney's Method of obtaining new Kinds of Potatoes from Seed. ،، Sow the seed in a hot-bed, about the middle of February, in lines 6 in. apart, a quarter of an inch deep, and very thin. When water is necessary, sprinkle it between the lines, but avoid wetting the plants, as that would injure them. A little air must be given before they are watered.

"As the plants rise, rich earth, carefully put between the lines, will add fresh vigour to them; but the tops of the plants must not be covered by these mouldings, which should be occasionally repeated until they are fit for transplanting. To prepare them for this, about the end of April they must be plentifully refreshed with air; and, two hours before removing them, they must be plentifully watered all over, and the glasses covered with bass mats, to prevent the sun, if shining at the time, from scorching the plants. Take each plant up carefully, with a ball of earth attached to it, and plant them in trenches, as you would celery, only with this difference, the distance from plant to plant in the lines must be 18 in.; and if the sun should be shining out strong at the time of planting, a flower-pot should be placed over each, to prevent flagging; for, with all your care in taking up, a good many of the fibres will be broken. After the plants have

established themselves, remove the pots, and earth up occasionally, as long as the space between them will admit of it. The produce of new kinds of potatoes raised in this manner is generally prodigious for twelve years afterwards. The best manure is yellow moss and rotten horse-dung."

Now, Sir, I beg to observe, that I have tried the above method of raising new kinds of potatoes, and found it to answer my most sanguine expectations. In the year 1807, I selected a seed-ball of an early variety, which I obtained from the late Mr. James Dickson of Covent Garden, well known to the botanical world, and, after washing the seed clean from the pulpy matter which surrounded it, I kept it in a dry place till the time directed for sowing. I planted seventeen plants, and threw away the remainder: each plant produced a distinct variety, of as various quality. There were amongst them round, oblong, and kidneys; good, bad, and indifferent; black, white, and red; all full grown the first season, and of ample produce: some were as early as the parent plant; while others, again, were very late. We have, it is true, a great variety of capital kinds of this useful vegetable; but if gentlemen's gardeners, who have it in their power more than any other class of men in the kingdom, were to set about earnestly raising new kinds, it is very probable that far superior kinds to any of those now in use might be obtained at a trifling expense, as a single-light box, with a few linings, would answer the purpose, after it had performed its office of raising cucumber plants for the larger frames: and such a course of experiments by different individuals, if successful, would not only tend to benefit the country at large, but it would also afford a solid satisfaction to the minds of those who would give themselves such a trifling degree of trouble, if they were successful in obtaining a distinct variety, that would, from its valuable properties, obtain celebrity.

Should you deem the above account worthy of the notice of your readers, I may perhaps, at a future time, when leisure permits, send you one or two more recipes that might be of service not only to young but to old gardeners.

I began to fear we had lost the effusions of our amusing old friend Agronome, but I am glad to see he has made his appearance again. Many hearty laughs have we had at his gibes, and long may he continue to furnish them for the amusement of your readers, together with his pithy useful information: but I must conclude, or, as our worthy friend observes, I shall become tiresome. I am, Sir, &c.

SOLA NUM TUBERO SUM.

ART. XXIV. Description and Use of Bartlett's Cultivator.

Sir,

By W. D.

I SEND you enclosed the plan of an implement of agriculture invented, and most successfully worked, by Mr. G. Bartlett, a most respectable and exceedingly ingenious tenant of Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bart. It will, I am fully confident, when known through the medium of your Magazine, be generally approved of. On lands of a strong adhesive nature, where, in consequence of wetness, the roller and harrow cannot reduce it suitably for the reception of the seed, Bartlett's cultivator will be found to be eminently advantageous. This cultivator can be so modified in principle as to serve every purpose in the preparing of wet land for tillage. The implement has a roller of thirteen sharp plates, placed at intervals of about 4 in.; consequently no lumps of earth over which the cultivator passes can exceed in magnitude the distance of one plate from the other. By the addition of plates, it can so operate upon the surface as to supersede the necessity of the harrow or roller; either of which, in wet seasons, on many lands, is of more injury than service. Mr. G. Bartlett has found it save about one half of the labour, which alone is sufficient to recommend its adoption on all farms of difficult culture in wet seasons.

Trelowarren, near Helstone, in Cornwall,

May 20. 1829.

W. D.

E

87

BARTLETT's cultivator consists of a roller (fig. 87.) composed of thirteen thin iron plates, each fastened to a circular block of wood of 4 in. in thickness, and bound round with iron. Both plates (a) and blocks (b) are movable on an iron axle, and the size

88

of both (fig. 88.) may be increased or diminished at pleasure. Mr. Bartlett has adopted a diameter of 9 in. for the blocks, and 15 in. for the plates, as may be observed by the dimensions in fig. 87.

Fig. 89. is the under side of the frame in which the roller

is fixed; a a, the position of the axle gudgeons; b, movable staple for attaching the draft trees; c, iron scrapers fastened

89

to the bar d, the use of which scrapers is to clean the roller, and they are of such a length as almost to touch the blocks. Each scraper is protected by a piece of wood (e), to prevent it from being forced back by the earth on the roller. These pieces of wood are fastened to the bar f, as the scrapers are to the bar d. The general appearance of the roller when at work will be easily understood. (fig. 90.)

Though we have no doubt that such a machine as the above may occasionally be found useful, yet we are averse from recommending agricultural implements or machines which are