Till I had the pleasure of seeing Mr Simpson's article in the 'Gardener' of April on the "Setting of Grapes and Peaches," I was under the firm conviction that keeping the vinery in a dry state during the time of flowering was an established system; but with every respect for Mr Simpson's recently-adopted method, and having every confidence in his veracity, there are two cases that came under my observation which tell against his system, and which I will give in detail. The first is in an early vinery, heated by hot-water pipes. Since the Vines were planted, seven years ago, they have given the utmost satisfaction. They are pruned on the spur system, and the young wood required regularly tied in; the syringe has never been used, and all the moisture they receive is from steaming-trays laid on the hot pipes, and the paths occasionally damped, but this entirely omitted during the time they are in flower. At the end of the house there is a Black Hamburg Vine growing over a water-cistern; half-way up the rafter a shelf projects about 2 feet, and is used for holding bedding-plants. Above this the Vine also extends.

Immediately over the cistern the third of the berries never set; but as soon as it passes above the shelf, and is thereby protected from the moisture arising from the cistern, they set so thickly, that if not taken in time it is almost impossible to get them properly thinned, the bunches below requiring no thinning. The second case is a Wil-mot's Hamburg growing in a late vinery. Both houses are conducted on the same principle, with the exception that this house receives no forcing. The Vine in this case also grows over a cistern, and during the time of setting requires to be regularly shaken to free the bunches of any moisture adhering to them; and if this is not done, they never set properly. Now, will Mr Simpson or any of the intelligent readers of the 'Gardener' be kind enough to give me their opinion as to whether the Vines are affected by the damp rising from the cisterns, or whether their not setting is a proof that the vinery should be kept in a dry state during the time they are in flower? Subscriber.

[Mr Simpson's practice and the circumstances detailed by "Subscriber" are not identical. Mr Simpson, no doubt, allows his Vines to become thoroughly dry between the intervals of syringing; while in the case of Vines over a cistern of water, from which moisture is constantly evaporating and being condensed on the Vines, they can seldom or never be free from damp. We dislike open cisterns in vineries on that account. - Ed].