We read in the Journal du Loiret of Dec. 13, 1882, as follows:

" We described in our number for November 10th last, an important discovery made by Mons. Etienne Savary, gardener at Muids, namely, that the Dog Rose was an excellent stock for the grapevine, so fatally compromised by its redoubtable enemy, the Phylloxera.

"Subsequently, Mons. Eugene Delaire, General Secretary of the Societe d' horticulture d' Orleans, addressed us a note wherein he remarked that the same results could be obtained with the blackberry, since this plant is, like the dog rose, of the family of Rosacse.

"To-day the energetic practician of Muids addressed us the following interesting letter:

"Muids, December 11, 1882.

"Mr. Editor - I would have answered sooner the note of the Hon. Mons. Delaire relative to the freaks concerning the grafting of the grapevine on the dog rose, but I wished, first of all, to ascertain how many people would appreciate my discovery. Many have written to me on the subject, most of them believing my method rational, two only doubting it, but I hope to convert them at once. I was unaware that any one had grafted the grapevine on the blackberry, which belongs, like the dog rose, to the family of Rosacae, so well observed by Mons. Delaire. I do not believe, however, that the blackberry roots would be as good as the dog rose for stocks, and for the following reason:

" The pith of the blackberry, occupying about two-thirds of the stock, will render it difficult, notwithstanding all the precautions taken to introduce the graft into the opening of the stock, so that the liber would accurately adjust itself. Moreover, if one wishes to lightly bend the head of the graft on the axis of the stock, the liber is not likely to touch at all, and the success of the graft will be in danger.

"The dog rose does not offer this inconvenience; its pith and that of the grapevine occupy nearly the same space. Therefore, on one hundred grafted vines, one is certain that if the stocks are vigorous, all will take. The first idea of grafting the grapevine on the dog rose came to me through the analogy of their barks. My first grafts were not made on the dog rose, but on the "ferox" rose, a rosebush known by the English under the name of ' Hedge Hog' (Rosier Harrisoni), introduced in our gardens at the commencement of this century. I grafted the grapevine on three of these at the end of February, 1873. In July, 1875, my vines were more than three meters in length. I am unaware whether they are still in the park at Cercay or not. Since then, I have always grafted on the dog rose (Rosa canina), and have always been successful. At present I possess twenty-five plants of dog rose, grafted only six weeks ago, with different varieties of grapevines. I force them under frames. The rosy tint of the grape vine leaves can already be detected pushing from the bud.

" This is my way of proceeding: The dog rose must be grafted on about ten centimeters below the earth. It is sufficient if the graft has two or three eyes. A very short graft must be chosen, that is to say, the eyes very close to each other; tie the stock well with wool or cotton, and apply the wax to it. In grafting let the ground be well watched, because the grapevine root would give a chance to Phylloxera. It is necessary to look ahead with an enemy with which one must combat.

"I have been asked why, since 1873, I have taken no one into the secret of this discovery. On the contrary, I have done so, but sad to say, some have not deigned to answer me; others, like Mons. Pasteur, answered that they were not qualified to undertake work relating to the Phylloxera.

" Rebuffed and discouraged, I decided to do nothing more towards propagating or diffusing what I knew to be of so much value towards renovating our vineyards, when I received your invitation to address the large circle of your estimable journal.

" To resume. Can one, with the dog rose (Rosa canina) as the stock, establish a vineyard? I believe it. With the blackberry I have doubts, because it would not give all the conditions of longevity required for long cultivation.

"Virgil was assuredly a great poet, but I do not see too much the relations existing between the immortal author of the 'Eneid' and the graft on the dog rose. Let us, therefore, leave to the antipodes the discussion whether the grape can be grafted on the cucumber, and employ ourselves seriously to the common enemy, the Phylloxera. " Respectfully, etc., "Etienne Savary."

Under the title of " Pretended Grafting of the Grapevine on the Blackberry," the journal Provence Agricole et Horticole published the following reflections:

"Much noise has recently been made with the pretended grafting of the grapevine on the blackberry, described by the Ardeche to the minister by an inspector general of agriculture. Proceeding to verify the fact, there was found no mystery. The Chasselas grape graft sent out roots into the ground like a simple cutting, but there was no union at all with the blackberry. This specimen has been sent to the School of Agriculture of Montpelier, and Mons. Foex acknowledged that the graft did not take, and that the grapevine was absolved, living with its own roots without any trace of aid from the blackberry root.

"The laws of grafting are, moreover, well known. They are exact, and established through numerous experiences, and these laws of consanguinity are not contradicted by any facts. They have been largely developed, with proofs for their support by Mons. Ch. Baltet, in his work on ' The Art of Grafting.'

" It is readily to be seen, in the chapter on the vine, that the Vitis, Ampelopsis, and Cissus of the family of Ampelidass, are the only genera which can be united to the grapevine by grafting."

[Our American papers are noting with a good deal of wonderment the so-called great discovery, "by a distinguished Frenchman," of the successful grafting of the grapevine on the dog rose. We have thought it would serve a good purpose to give our readers the fullest account we have seen of it. It will be observed that, like the grafting of the apple on the persimmon, which created some attention in this country some years ago, it is a case where the " distinguished Frenchman " has deceived himself. - Ed. G. M.]