181 



GEAPES FOR THE MILLION.— No. IV. 



fO fiod a place for a seven or fourteen feet length of 

 "Ground Vinery " cannot be a matter of mucli difficulty 

 in any garden. But it may happen that some of our 

 readers contemplate the adoption of ground vineries on 

 a somewhat extended scale, and it cannot be otherwise 

 than appropriate to this series of papers if I now offer a few sugges- 

 tions on the best method of laying out a piece of ground for the 

 cultivation of grapes and vegetables side by side, and which shall 

 bear the name of 



GROUKB VINEET AND PEOTECTITE BEDS. 



The object of combining two systems of cultivation is to econo- 

 mize the glass and make it pay interest on its cost the whole year 

 round. In ISTo. III. (p. 102) it is remarked that " to make the 

 most of such a structure, the cultivator should lay out in autumn a 

 series of beds of the same width as the vineries. In these beds 

 should be planted," etc. It is just a question now how this had best 

 be done, and thereupon I make the proposal which I have embodied 

 in the diagram which occupies the opposite page. I shall briefly 

 describe this plan, and leave it in the hands of our readers for their 

 consideration. 



Mark out a piece of ground 66 1 feet long and 36 feet broad. 

 If the greatest length lies east and west it will be better than any 

 other direction, but it does not much matter what is its direction 

 provided it lies open to the sun, is well drained, and enjoying a little 

 shelter from north-east winds. It must not he overhuncj by trees. 

 Mark out all round a 4-feet walk ; perhaps a narrower walk might 

 do, but I should greatly prefer 4 feet, because the walk has to serve 

 also as a border for the roots of the vines, and there must be a 

 certain amount of wheeling all the year round, for manuring the 

 beds, etc. Next mark out divisions across the piece 3i feet wide 

 and 1^ feet wide alternately. At the end of every alternate bed 

 plant two vines ; the other beds are to be reserved for cauliflowers, 

 saladings, and other subjects that require protection in winter. 



The next business is to provide the glass frames or " Vineries," 

 whether from Mr. Dennis, Mr. AVells, or the district carpenter. 

 Seven-feet lengths will do to begin with, but the arrangement is for 

 every vine to have 14 feet of glass ultimately, which makes each 

 separate length 28 feet. The frames are to be 42 inches wide, to 

 accommodate two vines each, and the beds will be the same width 

 throughout, with alleys of 18 inches width between. Let us 

 suppose, then, that the whole aftair is finished. We have in the six 

 compartments marked A, 24 vineries, making a total run of 168 feet of 

 glass, and as there are two vines in each, the total length of bearing 

 rods is 336 feet. At p. 102, it will be seen that Mr. Wells has 

 grown in a single rod vinery more than a bunch for every six inches 

 run throughout. Let us suppose only half this total to be obtained 



