322 VILLA GARDENING part iv 



be less fluctuation of temperatiu'e in a good-sized house than in a 

 small one, and in winter less fii'e will be required to keep out 

 frost. The roof should not be too flat, for although, so far as 

 regards the growth of the vines, the angle of the roof is not very 

 important, yet a moderately steei>pitched roof is best for carrying 

 ofiF the water quickly, and preventing drip, which is often very 

 destnictive to Grapes. If the wall-plates are built upon 14-inch 

 piers there will be less obstruction to the free passage of the roots 

 when they want to go outside. A house 20 feet wide may have a 6 

 feet path down the centre, with 7 feet beds on each side, which may 

 be raised 1 foot or 15 inches above the ground-level. If the vines 

 are planted inside and well attended to, the 7 feet of border inside 

 will be enough the first year. The second year a piece of border 

 may be made outside, to be increased "as circumstances may require. 

 Good sound loam should form the basis of the borders, and if 

 possible it might be taken from a limestone strata ; but what I 

 have written about the borders of the early vinery will be equally 

 applicable here. 



Kinds to Plant. — The Muscat of Alexandria is undoubtedly 

 one of the very best Grapes, though not so late as Lady Downes, 

 AUcante, and Gros Colman. I have generally found that to do 

 Muscats well requires rather more body in the soil than for the 

 Hamburgs and Sweetwaters. If tlie loam is light a dressing of 

 clay will help it very much, and give substance and weight to the 

 wood. The Barl)arossa is a good keeping Grape, carries a large 

 bimch, has a hardy vigorous constitution, and is free from most of 

 the defects, such as shanking, spotting, etc., which many other 

 Grapes are subject to. The best time to plant is just as the 

 buds have broken, the vines having been brought on without arti- 

 ficial heat — assuming, of course, that plants of at least one year's 

 growth are planted. If they are of the same season's propaga- 

 tion they may be planted in summer. All late-keeping Grapes are 

 thick-skinned ; in fi\ct, that is the cause of their keeping. To 

 ripen them well artificial heat is necessary, and it is better to use 

 the fire in spring tlian in autumn. If started, say, not later than 

 the first week in March, they should be ripe in October, or nearly 

 so. A little fire again in autumn, especially in dull weather, will 

 be desirable to finisli oft" the fruit and ripen the wood, the latter 

 point being as important as the former. As regards the application 

 of moisture I beg to refer my readers to what I have said about 

 the early vinery. 



The Extension System. — If we plant a dozen vines in a 

 house, though they may perhaps be all of one size and of the same 

 age when planted, before the end of the first year they will mani- 



