210 TEE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 



THE BEGINNER IN GRAPE-GROWING.— No. V. 



BY "WILLIAM COLE, 



Head Gardener, Ealing Park, Middlesex. 



PLANTING AND PEUNING. 



jjUMMER planting has the advantage of enahling the 

 cultivator to replant vineries which have been forced 

 immediately the crop is gathered, and also to plant in 

 houses erected in the early part of the season, and thus 

 avoid any loss of time. Excepting for the reasons here 

 stated, spring and autumn planting are preferable ; because, hi one 

 case, the vines have the whole summer in which to complete their 

 new growth, and in the other, they have an opportunity of becoming 

 established in the border before the growing season commences. In 

 planting vineries at this season of the year it is important to select 

 strong, vigorous vines, that were either raised from eyes struck in 

 March last, or else those which were struck the previous season, and 

 cut back during last winter, and started in the spring in a genial 

 growing temperature. They should be planted not later than the 

 second week of July ; and it would be better to wait unLil October, 

 and plant well-ripened canes, than to plant vines in full growth after 

 the period here mentioned. They should be well watered previous to 

 planting, unless the soil is sufficiently moist ; and to enable the roots 

 to strike out more readily into the new soil, carefully loosen those 

 near the outside, and press the soil very firm about them. Also, to 

 afford them all the encouragement possible, water them with tepid 

 water. 



Spring planting is performed in much the same manner as advised 

 for putting out the vines in summer, and therefore the instructions 

 here given will apply with equal force to those planted in spring. It 

 is, however, important to observe, that as the soil of which the border 

 consists will necessarily be of a low temperature in the early spring 

 months, the vines should not be grown in a high temperature, or 

 receive the assistance of bottom heat, or the roots will probably be 

 chilled when the cold soil comes in contact with them, and a large 

 proportion perish. The safest course will be to select moderately- 

 strong, but well-ripened canes, in eight-inch pots, and cut them 

 down a short time before Christmas ; then, early in February, put 

 them in a temperature of about 50 deg., and when the young shoots 

 are about three inches in length, put them in pots two sizes larger, 

 and plant out in the permanent borders when the pots are well filled 

 with roots, but before the vines have become pot-bound. The house, 

 after the vines are planted, must be kept rather close, and the tem- 

 perature not allowed to fall below 60 deg. It is most important to 

 encourage the vines as much as possible, and therefore, if required, 

 employ a little fire-heat to keep the temperature at the desired 

 height. A moist atmosphere will also be conducive to an early and 

 vigorous growth, and can be easily provided by sprinkling the walls, 

 and paths, and heating apparatus occasionally with clear water. 



