104 THE GARDENER. [March 



Vines, where such space is available, and where the production of 

 early Grapes of good quality is expected and appreciated. The style 

 of forcing-pit which we have used for this purpose is span-roofed, and 

 is 11 feet wide, with a path up the centre — width of bed for soil, 

 3 -J feet, and depth 3 feet, including G inches for drainage. A greater 

 depth of bed can easily be secured where it is considered necessary, 

 by sinking the drainage below the path and running a drain up the 

 centre of the bed, with a gradual fall to whichever end there is the 

 best and easiest outlet for a clear watercourse. For our own part, we 

 are content with 6 inches of drainage, and 2| feet of soil, for a tem- 

 porary purpose like the one recommended, which is in principle only 

 an extension of the pot-Vine system. Too much rooting space would 

 just be as bad as too little, because, in the former case, Vines are apt 

 to grow too vigorously for the first two or three years. To produce 

 compact, well-coloured bunches, the aim should therefore be to hit 

 upon that degree of extension which, under ordinary careful treat- 

 ment, would induce such a condition of root-growth as would be fav- 

 ourable to, and promote a moderate and fertile development in, the 

 branches. This is characterised by what is termed short-jointed 

 canes in nurserymen's catalogues; and the condition, whether absent 

 or present, may be ascribed rather to the system of ventilation and 

 atmospheric treatment than to the natural or mechanical nature of 

 the soil. 



Vines like obstruction at the root ; and resistance is especially de- 

 sirable in the case we are treating of. Who that has had much to do 

 with the management of Vines has not noticed how, when a young 

 root comes in contact with a piece of brickbat, and its course is im- 

 peded, it coils itself round the rubble and breaks up into a number of 

 small hardy fibres, which give real sustenance, increased vitality, and 

 fruiting power to the Vine. 



Practice has taught us, in Vine-growing more than in anything 

 else, the conditions which are most favourable in producing tem- 

 porary or permanent results ; and there is no condition more ap- 

 parent or obviously necessary than that of providing the Vine with 

 feeders which come into play at once when the object is a temporary 

 one. If this be so — and there is abundant proof that it is — in mak- 

 ing the border there ought to be a quantity of broken rubble mixed 

 with the soil, and no manurial matter added whatever. The border 

 being made, the next matter to be decided is the selection of such 

 varieties of Grapes as are already tested, and are known to be early 

 in their different kinds and of acknowledged quality. Such a selec- 

 tion would be found in Black Hamburg, Madresfield Court, Duke of 

 Buccleuch, and Foster's Seedling ; and if space could be found for 



