80 GROUND VINERIES : MR. HARRISON WEIR'S METHOD. 



Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and especially of Muscat Champion, 

 all of which have been exhibited to the Fruit Committee of the Koyal 

 Horticultural Society, have proved to be of very superior quality. 

 Mr. Weir has kindly furnished the following particulars as to his 

 mode of culture, which we here give verbatim : 



" The Vineries should be made of good yellow deal, and well 

 painted with patent indestructible paint, then glazed, and if putty 

 is used it should be painted over afterwards. I prefer a dark 

 chocolate, as it prevents the lines of the Vinery being seen and 

 looking unsightly, as they do when painted white. This is, of course, 

 a matter of taste, and makes no difference to the growth of the Vine. 

 The glass should be clear and stout, twenty-one-oz. is the best, for if 

 too thin there are more breakages. 



" The Vinery should be made in a form and size shown in fig. 32. 

 The Vines should be planted inside the Vinery, and trained along the 

 top, not to the structure itself, but tied to a stout strong pole going 

 the whole length of the Vinery, and hung somewhat from it, so that 

 the string or fastening may not be tight. The lights should never be 

 taken off, neither summer nor winter for a permanence, nor even left 

 off for a single night, unless it be very hot weather, and for the 

 purpose of ripening the wood. The bunches of fruit should be 

 thinned in the usual way, and not too many bunches left on, as that 

 will retard the ripening. 



" Nearly all the cool-house Vines may be grown in this way, and, 

 in most instances, with great success ; but, of course, much depends, 

 on soil and situation." 



The Vinery, fig. 32, is seven feet in length, one foot ten inches 

 wide, the sloping ends each two feet eight inches, and the height 

 from ground line one foot ten inches. The ends are of wood, with an 

 air-hole for ventilation, provided with a door to be closed when 

 required. 



As Mr. Weir observes, "much depends on soil and situation. " 

 There would be little hope of succeeding with ground Vineries in a 

 cold, low situation. An open, dry, sunny situation, such as that 

 enjoyed by Mr. Weir, at Brenchley, Kent, is the sort of place to 

 achieve success. Soil is of less importance, because that can be 

 supplied, but a good climate is essential. 



