young, drooping, and slender shoots. If the lower branches show diminishing vigor, they may be strengthened by pruning the upper portions of the plant during summer.

Chinese Wistaria, (Wistaria sinensis.)-A strong-growing, woody climber, adapted for large trellises or to twining upon trees. Its racemes of flowers are large and fragrant; and it will rapidly cover a large surface, if planted in good soil and favorable situation.

Cocculus, (Cocculus Carolinus.)-A native climber, with ornamented fruit, hanging in clusters of a deep red, or nearly scarlet color, and resembling a bunch of the common red currant.

Moonseed, (Menispermum Canadense.)-A small-foliaged, delicate climber; producing clusters of black fruit in autumn.

For covering a large trellis or an arbor, in a very short time, our native grapes are among the best plants; and where fruit is not an object of particular consideration, any of the varieties of the frost grape (Vitis cordifolia) will be preferable to those of the larger and coarser fox species.

Ivy, (Hedera Helix.)-This fine evergreen climber requires to be planted on a northern aspect. It adheres readily to a tree or stone wall, but requires a slight support against a brick structure, at least until it becomes well established. The dryness of our climate prevents it from clasping to walls with that tenacity for which it is famed in Europe. There are many varieties in cultivation, having great diversity of foliage, the most beautiful being variegated with white and yellow.

HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL CLIMBERS.

Everlasting pea, (Lathyrus latifolius.)—A very desirable summer climber, very profuse in flowers; a much-neglected plant.

Chinese yam, (Dioscorea batatas.)-This plant, of which so much was expected as a valuable culinary root, has had the misfortune of first being overpraised, and then greatly underrated. It is, however, well worthy of notice for its mere ornamental beauty, as a covering for arbors, &c. It spreads with great vigor, covering a large surface in a few weeks; and, while the roots are perfectly hardy, they possess the additional merit of affording nutritious food. A plant combining these qualities merits attention, and should not be consigned to neglect.

Virgin's bower, (Clematis.)—There are many species and varieties of this plant in cultivation; some of them with brilliant flowers, mostly of blue color.

Passion flower, (Passiflora incarnata,) and double convolvulus (Caly stegia pubescens.)-Both of these climbers, although quite desirable in a collection, are inclined to spread and send up suckers from the roots, so that they are apt to become troublesome in some situations.

Climbing fumitory, (Adlumia cirrhosa.)-A native plant of very delicate foliage; requires to be grown in a shaded place, where it can find support on a low trellis.

CLIMBING ANNUALS FOR SUMMER DECORATION.

Climbing cobæa, (Cobæa scandens.)-A rapid-growing vine, of great value where immediate shade is desired.

Cypress vine, (Quamoclit vulgaris.)—A plant with elegant, cypress-like foliage; slender in growth; requires warm soil and exposure to succeed well; flowers of various colors, as scarlet, white, and rose.

Morning-glory, (Ipomoea purpurea.)—Á well-known plant of much

beauty and great variety; flowers variously colored, but blue prevail ing; more or less striped and margined with white.

Balloon vine, (Cardiospermum halicacabum.)—A free-growing plant climbing by tendrils; chiefly ornamental on account of its inflated pods, which give to it its common name.

Calampelis scaber.-A plant of rapid extension; foliage thin and scattered; valuable for partial shading; flowers tubular, orange-colored. Lophospermum scandens.-Equal to the cobæa in rapidity of growth, and valuable where a large surface is to be covered in a short time.

Maurandia Barclayana.-A small-foliaged, graceful-growing plant, with trumpet flowers of various colors; the white variety very delicately beautiful.

Thunbergia alata.-In rich soils this will make a good display; on dry, ight soils it burns out in dry weather; flowers orange, white, and yellow, with dark edge.

GRAPE CULTURE.

An approximate exhibit of the extent, progress, and other peculiarities connected with grape culture and wine production has been a longfelt want. Many vague and loose statements, with reference to extent of land planted, and amount of crop, have been put in circulation. Equally unsatisfactory and conflicting opinions are held as to the comparative value of certain soils and locations, the best varieties of the fruit, and the adaptability of certain kinds to particular soils, climates, and localities.

With a view to the collection of statistical information, copies of a circular containing the following list of questions were distributed among the correspondents of this Department and to the principal grapegrowers throughout the country:

1. How many acres of vineyard in your county?

2. How many acres actually in bearing?

3. How many tons of grapes were produced the present season?

4. How many pounds were sold or shipped for table use?

5. How many gallons of wine were manufactured?

6. What variety is most popular as a table fruit?

7. What variety is in highest repute as a wine grape?

8. What variety is principally grown?

9. What variety gives the heaviest must on the sugar scale?

10. What varieties are most subject to leaf diseases, and to what extent are they injured? 11. What varieties are most subject to rot, aud to what extent?

12. What effect has shelter or protection, of any kind, in preventing leaf diseases?

13. What effect has soil in reference to rot in the berry?

14. What soils, chemically considered, are most favorable to health and vigor of plant, and perfection of fruit?

15. What effects have been observed from mechanical conditions of soils, such as draining, subsoiling, and other cultural operations?

16. What effect has elevation upon the health of the vine? Give results of observations, and opinion as to the proper height above valleys.

17. Has any variety of the foreign grape proved remunerative in vineyard culture?

18. What is the effect of summer pruning, and what method of winter pruning is best? 19. What is the average cost per acre of a vineyard three years old, exclusive of the value

of the land?

20. Average yield per acre?

21. How many gallons of wine per acre, on an average of five years?

22. What insects are most injurious to the vine, and what is the extent of the injury, and what remedies have proved efficient?

The collated information from these returns is herewith presented. It is fragmentary, furnishing only contributions toward a complete collection of vineyard statistics; but perhaps as full as could be expected, from the difficulty of obtaining accurate aggregates of figures never officially collected either by national or State authorities, and the necessity of depending mainly upon professional vineyardists instead of our regular corps of correspondents. More complete returns may be obtained hereafter.

From some States the reports are meager, and California, the heaviest producer of all, is not represented. It was considered expedient, however, to include all that have been received, even to those States where only one county has sent returns. The annexed table embraces the answers to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 19, 20, and 21: