i88i.] THE FRUIT-GARDEN. 13 



those whose ground does not e-xceed half an acre, to avoid such things, 

 except for covering walls, when they will be at least ornamental if 

 properly trained, and may occasionally yield fruit to pay for the rest of 

 the ground and the labour bestowed upon them. We daresay, how- 

 ever, that this may fall into the hands of many who would like to pro- 

 duce a few Cherries, Plums, Apples, or Pears of their own growing, 

 and out of their own garden. For these we intend to detail the best 

 modes of cultivation known to the writer. It may also happen that 

 some of our readers may be anxious to produce a few bunches of Grapes 

 in their greenhouse, or that even a small vinery may be possessed by 

 them. We are glad to see many artisans, and, in some instances, even 

 colliers and labourers, with little bits of glass, under which Vines are 

 grown, and grown not altogether unsuccessfully. Many tradesmen and 

 others have also little vineries in their gardens, and for each of these 

 classes we will give the results of years of practice in the cultivation 

 of the Vine, and also directions whereby the greatest possible amount 

 of produce may be secured from a given piece of ground, of what we 

 have called the more valuable fruits. 



THE GRAPE VINE. 



It is only in the most favoured spots of these islands that Grapes of 

 any kind can be grown, of even tolerable excellence, out of doors. 

 Glass houses and artificial temperatures are absolutely necessary for 

 growing Grapes to anything like perfection, especially in the northern 

 counties of England, and all over Scotland ; nevertheless, many good 

 bunches of Grapes are annually ripened in very small glass structures, 

 where very little heat is applied. Going into places where one could 

 scarcely find an entrance, and where an upright attitude was an impos- 

 sibility, except to persons much under the writer's height, we have 

 often been astonished to see Vines, cramped for room, trained on no 

 intelligible principle, and planted in soil by no means congenial, 

 bearing quantities of fairly good Grapes, and this in counties hav- 

 ing the least favourable climates. That with proper soil, proper 

 training, and, at times, a little artificial heat, better results would be 

 obtained, there can be no room to doubt. But the knowledge of what 

 proper treatment is, is just what such cultivators want, and what it 

 is our object to supply. 



We do not write for those whose vineries are large and roomy, and 

 specially put up for the cultivation of the Vine by owners of extensive 

 gardens ; for such generally employ practical men, who are, or ought to 

 be, able to advise their employer how to carry out, or to carry out 

 themselves, the proper operations necessary to secure the best results. 

 And if a book, giving all the information that can be desired, be 

 wanted, then no better treatise can be secured than W. Thomson's 

 * Practical Treatise on the Cultivation of the Grape-Vine,^ to be had 

 from Messrs Blackwood, Edinburgh ; or D. Thomson's ' Handy-Book 



