71 



CHAPTER XV. 



THE POT-CULTURE OF VINES. 



'HE cultivation of Vines in pots does not seem to have been 

 ( practised to any extent until about fifty or sixty years ago, as 

 we read in The Transactions of the Horticultural Society of "Pot 

 Vines bearing fruit one year old " being exhibited in London in 

 1818, which were looked upon as quite wonderful. During the last 

 twenty-five years, however, the cultivation of Vines in pots has been 

 carried on to an extraordinary extent. In some gardens they are used 

 for very early forcing to precede permanent Vines ; and in others 

 they are used to' supply the place of established Vines, when the houses 

 or borders may be undergoing some change affecting the immediate 

 crop. 



The cultivation of the Grape Vine in pots has become, therefore, a 

 very important section of Vine culture, and requires special notice. 

 The manufacture, if we may so term it, of " Pot " Vines in many of 

 the leading nursery establishments is a very important matter. It 

 would be interesting, were it possible of computation, to ascertain the 

 number of young Vines annually grown and disposed of, both as 

 planting and fruiting Vines. It amounts to many thousands we hear, 

 indeed, of as many as five thousand ! being produced annually at one 

 establishment. What becomes of this vast host it would be still more 

 difficult to ascertain, but probably not a tenth part of the number 

 ever become permanent Vines. Suffice it thus far to indicate the 

 importance of the trade. 



The growing of Vines in pots is of a two-fold character, two 

 distinct purposes being in view ; firstly, that of producing Vines for 

 planting, subsequently to be grown as permanent Vines; and 

 secondly, that of producing Vines for fruiting in pots. 



Some first-class cultivators grow on the Vines obtained from eyes 

 " struck " in early spring to their " fruiting state," the same season. 

 Others " strike " the eyes and grow the plants on till the end of the 

 season, and the following year cut them down, re-pot, and grow again, 

 thus occupying two years in producing a similar result. The one-year- 

 old plants, if properly grown, are generally considered the better ; but 

 as they are only produced under very favourable conditions, and 

 require an excessive amount of care and attention, they cost, possibly, 

 more than the two-year-old plants, or " cut-backs," as they are 

 familiarly called. In nursery establishments those Vines that may 

 not arrive at the proper standard of fruiting strength may be utilised 

 as " planters," but in private establishments the Vine that is grown for 



