CHAP. I VILLA CtARDEXING 313 



Training and Pruning. — I am satisfied that a great mauj- 

 vines are trained too near the glass. No allowance, except in a 

 few cases, has been made for the altered conditions of hothouse 

 building and the lighter structures of the present day. When 

 vines are trained close to tlie glass — the roof being composed of 

 large squares of glass, and not much timber being used — they are 

 exposed to extremely sudden changes of temperature ; and not only 

 is this so, but the range of temperature is much greater under a 

 modern roof than it was under an old-fashioned one. I know a 

 case where the vine leaves lost coloiu* in a most unaccountable 

 manner during a spell of hot weather ; the leaves did not scorch, 

 but assumed a brownish-yellow colom* round the edges, which 

 gradually spread to the centre. The next year the trellis was 

 lowered to 2 feet from the glass, and the green healthy tint came 

 back again. I think that in no case should vines be trained less 

 than 1 8 inches from the glass, and where the roof was very light 

 I should recommend 2 feet as the minimum. As regards pruning, 

 nearly all vines are started at first on the spur system, and where 

 the roots can be kept near the siu-face no other system is needed. 

 But in the case of deep-rooting vines, the rod system has the advan- 

 tage of giving the] pruner a better opportunity for securing a full 

 regular crop of bunches, of larger size than woiild be obtained by 

 spur pruning. Of course I should say that when vines are so deep- 

 rooted — so out of hand — as not to throw plenty of bunches, the 

 roots ought to be lifted and brought liack to the surface. But 

 many people somehow seem afraid of touching the roots of their 

 vines, though there is no plant which submits to root disturbance 

 so well as the vine does, and, as a rule, derives so much benefit 

 from it. 



Best Kinds to Plant. — The Black Hamburg is unrivalled as 

 an early black Grape, and Foster's Seedling, though inferior to it 

 as regards flavour, is still, on the whole, the best companion for 

 the Hamburg when both have to be grown in the same house. 

 Buckland Sweetwater is an excellent early white Grape, though 

 hardly so sure and regular in its croijping as the Seedling. But 

 when worked on the rod system, or some modification oi' it, the 

 Buckland Sweetwater bears freely, the bunches and berries being 

 of large size. If another early lilack Grape is required jilant the 

 Maddersfield Court Muscat. The fruit sometimes cracks when 

 coloiu'ing begins, but the best cure, I think, is to hang a good load 

 of fruit upon it, and leave a good covering of foliage, allowing the 

 laterals a little more freedom than is customary till the fruit is 

 ripe, when they may be gradually removed. This is a valuable 

 Grape, but will not keep long. 



