Surely the people of the Quaker City are waking up in regard to the all-absorbing grape question. Besides giving us a score of articles in the several Horticultural journals, they have lately presented two small volumes, which we judge to be the crowning glory of the combined horticultural talent of that staid city.

"Bright on the Grape," is the title of the first of these productions. There seem to be four prominent features in this work: first, the author would impress the reader with the idea that he is offering a new system of grape-culture; this is made apparent by the words "new system "and "our system," some fifteen times in the first six pages of the work; second, that there is a special Fertilizer to be sold. Attention is called to this fact forty times in the body of the work, and a special notice on the last page; "Price, $45 per ton." Third, that shallow planting is the great desideratum in grape culture, and the perfection of science, as applied to all horticultural pursuits. The fourth, and great feature, is originality, to which the author calls the special attention of the public, on page 10, where he claims to be the originator of the detached and divided border for the vinery "the alternate renewal plan has never before, we believe, been presented to the public, or practised in the vineyard, as a distinct and definite system, and may therefore be claimed as original".

We are informed, on page 6, in what this new system consists: "It is, in the main, a method of fruiting the vine on a single short cane with very short lateral branches, growing new wood from the main stem one year, and fruiting the next, dwarfing the vine by a definite rule of stopping and pruning, and renewing the entire wood of the vine (except a small portion of the main stem) every year".

Now, this appears all very well, excepting the loss of the crop every other year; for certainly, if a system of stopping and pruning is resorted to, a full crop can not be had every year. But when we read on page 8, we find an almost direct contradiction of the system of page 6. "The vine under this system is allowed to expend its whole strength, wild rambling nature and all, during one season, in the production of a new and perfect cane; the next season it is permitted to produce a full crop of fruit." Now, the question arises, what shall be considered a full crop of fruit? that we are not told, further than "all that the vine will perfect." But let us reflect a moment upon this point, and suppose we have a vine ten feet long and five-eighths of an inch in diameter, and a superficial surface of leaves exposed to the sun, that can elaborate a sufficient quantity of sap to produce a certain amount of fruit, varying somewhat according to the variety. The stem can carry nutriment only as the leaves call for it; and they can elaborate and prepare it as food only in proportion to the amount of surface exposed to the sun; therefore, a vine can not ripen but a certain amount, and do it well, giving us not only well-ripened grapes, but grapes containing the vinous and saccharine qualities in abundance, which can only be obtained by lessening the crop of any productive variety instead of endeavoring to increase it.

Tho natural tendency of the vine, under cultivation, is to set more fruit than it is capable of perfecting, and to this fact we are indebted for the introduction of the various systems of pruning.

Lei the system be what it will, says a celebrated writer, no vine can be allowed to bear but a certain amount of fruit with impunity, and when a vine has been once weakened by an excessive crop of fruit, it takes a long time, if ever, to restore it to its original vigor and health; this is so well known that it needs no further comment.

Various renewal systems have been given us from time to time; the long rod system of Hoare, and the short bow system of the Germans, and a host of others, each and all of which have succeeded, in certain localities, or certain varieties of vines, showing conclusively that one system and one kind of cultivation are not adapted to all countries and every variety of grape. The renewal system of Bright was in vogue in England, for vines under glass, in the beginning of the last century, as may be seen by consulting Miller's work, published 1731. He says, in speaking of wall culture of the vine, " These vines should not be forced every year, but with management they may be forced every other year, though it would be better if it were done only every third year; therefore, in order to have a full supply of fruit (annually), there should be a sufficient quantity of walling built, to contain as many vines as will be necessary for two or three years," etc. He then goes on to say, that we should grow the vine one year without fruit, to get a good strong cane, and the next year to fruit it; after which, cut it down, etc.

This plan has been put in practice by many since, but it has been found both expensive and troublesome, and at variance with tho general character of the constitution of the vine. The only place where this system would be advantageous is, where vines are forced in pots, (where the roots are easily controlled,) and exhausted by fruiting; in such cases, if the vines were very scarce, it might be worth while to renew the vine from the same root, provided its vital energies were not too much exhausted. Special Fertilizers. - Of the value of the special fertilizer mentioned, we know nothing; but, if we are to judge from experience, we shall be obliged to look upon it with distrust.

All the special manures have been lauded as wonderful, and almost miraculous in their effects, but none have stood the test of time so well as good barn-yard or slaughter-house manure, composted with muck, leaves, or old sods. That an equal quantity of these materials mixed together, and thoroughly rotted, before using, will produce healthy vines, and as perfect fruit as any other fertilizer, has been proved for ages. That other manures will produce a like result, if care is used in applying them, can not be denied. But we know that all concentrated manures need much care in their application, while, on the contrary, the simple compost may be used with impunity by the most unskilful gardener.