82 GRAPE GROWING AT CHISWICK. 



dressing of the inside borders, the vigour of the inside Vines was 

 maintained nearly equal to that of those planted in the outside 

 borders, but gradually they became weaker, and it was at length 

 determined to destroy all those inside the house, and to extend 

 those in the outside borders. The gravel walk on the top of the 

 terrace was removed to its base, and the border was extended to a 

 width of fifteen feet, as it now exists. Fresh soil fresh to the Vines 

 at least, for it was but the top spit cut from the lawn in the garden 

 with a mixture of ground bones, manure and burnt ashes being 

 supplied, the Vines grew with increased vigour, and the first year 

 after losing all the inside Vines, the crop was greater than before. The 

 finest Grapes were probably produced when the Vines were from six 

 to ten years old, and those 011 the south side have always been superior 

 to those on the north, from the greater amount of shade, no doubt, 

 injuriously affecting the latter. 



The Vines are pruned on the spur system, the length of the rod 

 from the base to the apex being about thirty feet. Thus it takes 

 from five to seven years to reach their limit, by which time the lower 

 spurs show signs of weakness, the best fruit being always produced 

 on the younger wood at the top. To maintain their vigour, a supply 

 of young rods is provided, and the old stems from time to time cut 

 out. Thus gradually the Vines have extended from one stem or rod 

 to many, forming a good example of what is termed the extension 

 system. 



A great number of varieties were at first planted, thus affording an 

 excellent opportunity for the determination of their distinctive 

 characters, which up to that time there had been no opportunity of 

 doing so well. The Fruit Committee having been established about 

 the same period, frequent investigations of the Grapes growing at 

 Chiswick were made by that body, and correct descriptions of the 

 different varieties were, at the same time, drawn up very carefully by 

 its secretary, Dr. Hogg. 



Many of the varieties originally planted proving to be utterly 

 worthless, were cut down and grafted with other sorts. This pro- 

 ceeding afforded some interesting illustrations of the suitability of 

 Vine-stocks. So far, however, no very correct basis has been secured, 

 as many unknown worthless varieties were grafted with others equally 

 worthless. A few cases, however, are worthy of mention. Thus 

 Gros Guillaume worked on an adjoining rod of the Black Hamburgh 

 produced fruit much superior to that on its own roots, and very 

 similar to that of the Black Hamburgh, but this peculiarity continued 

 only for a few years. Muscat of Alexandria grafted on a late Spanish 

 Grape, although situated at the warmest end of the house, has every 

 year produced fruit later and inferior to that on its own roots. 

 Black Hamburgh worked on Blussard Noir always produces bunches 

 and berries smaller than the others. Muscat Hamburgh grafted on 



