USEFUL DISCOVERY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4480, 23 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

USEFUL DISCOVERY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM FIRE.

In cities like .ours (says the San Jose Patriot of the 20th December) where the dwellings are constructed principally of wood, too much care cannot be exercised to prevent ravages from fire; and anything that will act as a preventive should be welcomed. Last Saturday afternoon our reporter was present at a test given in Cal Martin's lot, on Firststreet, where a chemical compound known as Rice & Davis'? Fire Proof Paint was exhibited to show its qualities in the resistance of flame. Among those present we noticed Messrs. S. A. Bishop, J". H. Moore, Captain ♦Welch, . A. Pfister, J. J. Denny, A. E. Moody, E. P. Reed and others. A small section of shingle roof was used for the test, it being placed at the usual angle ; upon this an armful or more of light kindling was placed, the section haviug previously been coated with the paint in question. The kiDdling was lighted and a fire kept burning for twenty minutes or more, the agent Mr. T. R. Posey, occasionally adding fierceness to the flames by feeding it with oil. After the firewood had burned to black cinders and ashes, and the fire had about exhausted itself, the roof was examined, and with the exception of the upper edge of the weatherend of the shingles being slightly charred, the roof was unharmed ; proving conclusively that shingles coated with this paint will not take fire from sparks, burning cinders or ordinary flame. Those who were present expressed much astonishment at the result, and were loud in their commendations. During the burning,the smoke gave out the odor of asbestos, a well known incombustible. From what we saw of it, it is without an equal in the line of paint for fire purposes, and those who have seen it used in Oakland, where there is a branch manufactory, claim that it is almost as great a preservative of wood, and protection against water, as it is against fire. When spread upon wood it sinks into the grain, and coats or glazes, so to speak, the outer surface in such manner as to prevent rot or weather-wear. The colour used here last Saturday was sombre, or very dark slate, but we learn from the agent that it can be tinted any colour to suit. This latter change, however, detracts somewhat from its fireproof qualities. As it is manufactured, it is very appropriate for roofs. It is as good for old roofs as new, and when placed upon the latter prevents warping. It can be used on any surface, and makes a splendid coating for the preservation of tin. In view of the fact that much of the damage done by large fires in a city are brought about by flying cinders, we look upon this new paint as almost invaluable. The burning of the Catholic Church in this city caused embers to be wafted in different directions a half mile or more, and the escape' from a general conflagration was almost miraculous. Most of the fires that spread disaster are caused s by flying sparks and embers falliug on roofs, and this fact ought to teach people a lesson that should be I profited by. Anything done to secure proI perty is so much gained. "A stitch in time | saves nine," -is an*axiom~that'holds' good in

A VISIT TO ARKLETON.—No. 2. -Grapes are tho most" : popular7 and •of all dessert fruits. Jjiand long-season of 'use. they have no ' Grape* lore , e to tlje community of gardeners c .and,garden.lovers. .In no .branch, of gardening are greater efforts made than in perfecting ,tho'cultivation of the jVine, and ia ¥ no,,branctfjhaye greater, successes been achieved. There arc two distinct ■modes,of grape-growing, or rather there mo two distinct purposes in view-—two .different goalsbe.reached. The one is the production of a few immense bunches to win; triumphs at public exhibitions ;;the other is the securing of a large number .of medium-sized bunches for everyday. • table use to win approbation at home.. In both these phases of culture it is alikehonourable to succeed. But although there are those,, and they nre (certainly the majority, who. do not require sonsatioual buuches of grapes,; there arc very few, if any, who da not desire to know the conditions under which such grapes are grown, and the treatment which is given to produce them. Especially is this so when it is considered that! he who can produce bunches of unusual size can also, by. simply increasing the number of bunches on the viues, obtain buuches of; any lesser: size that may be required. .

The condition of a vine to produce extraordinary examples of grapes, must be in the first order of .health ; its constitution must be sound, and its food , and r treatment must be in all points correct. A vine in this state will produce superior grapes, and large, or medium-sized bunches according to the number it is permitted to bear. ..Hence the grower who can produce large can also produce sm.aU bunches, while lie who can only produce small buuches cannot perfect larger bundles because his vines are not in a~~condition to produce them. In noticing, therefore, the practice of a man who has,, as a series, obtained the heaviest grapes, which have probably ever been prpduced, is to notice a practice which is capable of answering tho requirements of all who covet healthy vines, for, these provided, they can. regulate the size of their bunches by the number they permit the vines to carry. That this is sound logic the Arkleton vines sufficiently attest, for more perfect grapes of almost every sized banch,.except.small, it would be difficult to find than, is produced in the vineries of this small but celebrated garden. ; ;

-Mr. Dickson grows the following varieties;: —Black Hamburgh, Mill Hill Hamburgh, Golden Hamburgh, Black and White Frontignan, Black Prince, Muscat o£ v Alexandria, Archerfield Muscat, Tynningham Muscat, Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat,; Madresfield Court, Lady Downes', and Syrian, adding alio the newer varieties as they are introduced. It is not necessary to particularise the condition of each variety, for all are grown to a high state of excellence,, and- the vines are cropped the second year, each carrying seven or eight bunches.. There were not to;be seen, a few sensational bunches only, but examples of splendid table quality, alike fine in berry, colour and flavour. The, Black. Hamburgh varied from 3lbs.. to 7 and 81bs., and were worth going a journey to see ; and the crop of Mrs. Pince's Muscat of the same; weights is altogether a remarkable one, but too heavy in all probability for the .berries to colour perfectly to the stalk. This is a common and; perhaps the only fault of this valuable late grape. • ■ . ■ .Whenever grapes of exceptional excellence liaye'been produced, the first question asked ' is, How are the borders made ? I can tell you hew the Arkleton vine borders havo been made, and ingoing so I fulfil a promise made to Mr. Blackburn on page-121, February 11th, 1875. But it is not the borders alone that possess, the .virtue of producing these wonderful grapes, # The border must, be considered as only, one element, and be judged in connection with some general management and some natural advantages, the latter being the geological formation of I the district and the heavy rainfall. The last might be considered a disadvantage by many cultivators, but as read by the light of the first it must be regarded as of great moment. A. depth of 5 feet of rain falling from the clouds and. soaking . the borders would frighten many dry-district gardeners, and induce them to cry out for shutters ; but Mr. Dickson, instead of covering the borders to - shoot off the rain (which is really 64 inches), supplements the amount with liquid manure. It is no use anyone shaking his head doubtfully, for the fact is stated, and in that fact lies one secret by which these wonderful grapes havo been But let me not advise any thoughtless attempts at imitation. It is easy, to pour on a vine border 5 or 6 feet of, but not so easy to put a gravel bed under it for drainage. But now to the borders. A few and plain words are only needed to describe them.

In the first place they result on several feet of gravel, so that the important condition of perfect draiuage is provided by nature. The inside border is 14Jft. wide and 3£ft. deep; the outside border is of the same width and the same depth in.front, and 2££fc. deep at the edge next the walk! The vines are planted inside, and.have free' access to the outside border. The components of the soil arc fibry loam of medium texture taken from an old sheep pasture, and to every twelve cartloads of turf were added two cartloads of old lime rubbish,one'cartload of horse droppings, one cartload of charcoal, and scwt of inch bones. . The turf was fresh, from the field, mixed well with other ingredients, and wheeled into the border .without lying exposed. That may be taken as a first-rate recipe for a vine border. It iis not necessary to discuss its merits, for the .vines have given their testimony and I shall.be silent. I will next briefly notice the inside management.

It must be remembered.that vines so strong as are these require along summer period to mature their wood. Vines which are less vigorous may be started late and grown cool, and the wood, will become solidified; but these require aseason both long and warm, and the more so, probably, on account, of the many dull days which are a characteristic of Eskdale. . .The vines are started about the February. In the first place the border is given a good soaking with warm water from a. cistern in the houses, the temperature of the houses is about 45 degs. by night and 50 clegs, by day, rising 10 degs., by, sun heat; and as soon as the vines show. the first le&f the heat is increased 5 degs. more, and kept gradually rising until the vines ard. coming into flower. At that stage the temperature is about 65 degs. by night and 70 Bjr day, rising 10 degs. with sun heat. In the summer Mr. Dickson is not afraid to let the thermometer rise as high as 95 degs. about shut-ting-up time, say between four and five o'clock, but he would consider such a heat dangerous in the early part of the day. Mr. Hunter's practice of giving air Mr. Dickson, quite agrees with —that is, admitting a little air in front, instead of at the top or back of houses, which most gradeners are in the habit of doing. He has always found it very difficult to keep up the desired heat at night with top air one but none whatever of front air. Throughout the whole growing season, unless when it is frosty, or cold cutting winds are blowing, he leaves I to 4 inches of air on along the whole front, and whenever the grapes begin to colour a little air is left on at both front and back by night. The border is annually dressed with about 3 inches of turfy loam and inch bones, which tend to keep the roots near the surface. A great number of people are of the opinion that when once they have made a good border it requires no more than a little water. That may do for ordinary grapes; but to grow first-class grapes Mr. |we must be liberal with bones and liquid manure. During the growing season he gives the borders a good watering with liquid manure taken from a tapk in the stable yard. This dose is generally given at three different times before the grapes begin to show colour, and as soon as the grapes are all cat he gives a further gopd watering, as he tfiinkß it is very-junfavourable fto jths-growing of .fine bunches.to keep the, border dry in 'winter. .His opinion is-that if; gooi ;aad effici^t

drainage'is'provided, and' the' soil every] Mtbing that can bedesired,'th»tit would be'nq " easy matter to give vines too' innch water in! ;%he growing season.v>.-"k/«i.iov I Xn submitting' to Mr.' 1 Dickson the opinion ■aa to these 1 huge ' grapes; being- 'prodriced 1 bjf ; chance he replied—" lam that a con] " aiderable'iramber of people are of the opiniod that these monster tranches W "chance ; hut if that be so'.'what is'the nse ox "all the heavy manures used to produce big ' cabbages, big leeks, and" many other things ' in the vegetable kingdom ?' And again; in thd Animal world, why are flock-masters at so " much expense for feeding material to prodnco :fine fat sheep, cattle,' &c. ? I have very little "faith in the word chance, and hone whatever in it having any connection with the growing of large bunches of grapes." His achieve-; meats during his whole career of grape-grow-ing fully justify him in the expression of that opinion. ;

The general arrangement of the gardens at Arklefcon as to flowers, plants and vegetables, l as well as grapes, is evidence that skill is demoted to every department. ■ -All who are interested in grape-growing Tvill join me in thanking Mr. Dickson for his willingness and generosity in permitting his to be detailed for the benefit of others. Like Mr, Hunter he has shown true freatness not only in growing great grapes,; nt in telling others how to grow them. > His chief points of practice may be summarised thus—perfect drainage, generous •Soil, abundant supplies of water,' heat, air,' cleanliness, and raising his canes fromhealthy, and vigorous stocks.—J. W.in Journal of. Horticulture.