274 THE GARDENER. [June 



The value of natural aid in Vine-culture cannot be overestimated, as 

 abundance of light and plenty of sun -heat are the most important 

 agents to insure the perfect development and thorough maturation of 

 branch and fruit alike ; but artificial assistance must also be given by 

 feeding at the root, training the branches, and helping nature in other 

 ways. 



I am sure all your readers will agree with me that there is no fruit 

 more pleasing to cultivate than the Vine, and there is nothing more 

 gratifying than securing a fine crop of well-finished Grapes. Our greatest 

 gardeners are delighted with this ; and amateurs have more reason to 

 feel satisfied, as a well-managed vinery in the hands of one of these is 

 no mean accomplishment. At times we meet with such, and in other 

 instances the Vines and fruit may be seen suffering from lack of proper 

 attention — not that their owners do not wish to give them this, but 

 they do not know how. It is in aid of such growers that I send 

 you these few notes ; and at the present time words cannot be di- 

 rected to more important operations than watering the roots, train- 

 ing the shoots, and thinning the fruit. When the borders are properly 

 drained, no one need ever be afraid of giving Vines too much water at 

 the root during the time they are in most active growth. I do not 

 think any one could point out a case where Vines were injured, 

 either temporarily or permanently, through overwatering at the root ; 

 but cases innumerable might be found where Vines have been much 

 crippled through want of sufficient water. Surface-dribblings are evils 

 to be rigidly avoided in all watering operations, but in the Vine more 

 than anything, as the roots are sometimes a little distance from the 

 surface ; and when these are starved for want of sufiicient moisture, the 

 few feeders on the surface will not sustain the Vine in a vigorous con- 

 dition. It is well known that all plants which grow quickly must have 

 an unlimited supply of water at the root, and few plants grow at the rate 

 of the Vine. We have known shoots extend 3 or 4 inches on a sunny 

 day. At such times watering the border once every eight or ten days is 

 not too often, and it must be given then with unstinting hand. For 

 old Vines, manure-water each time is of the greatest benefit, and 

 nothing is better than guano : an allowance of about 2 oz. to every 

 square yard at each watering is a fair dose. In sloping borders care 

 should be taken that the surface is rough and open, for if fine and 

 smooth, the water may run off without penetrating more than a couple 

 of inches below the surface. Inattention to this simple precaution has 

 frequently done much harm. 



In attending to the shoots, two extremes are often followed : one is 

 to leave the young growths much too close together; the other is to re- 

 strict the shoots to a much greater extent than is good for the wellbeing 

 of the Vine, or the perfect colouring and swelling of the fruit. As a 

 rule, one shoot from each spur is quite sufficient ; but it is no rare oc- 

 currence to see several all starting from the same spur, and the conse- 



