SOILS SUITABLE FOR GRAPES KEEPING THE FRUIT. 91 



between Grape-growing for market and that for private establishments, 

 only that it is carried on in larger houses for the former and with an 

 all-absorbing one-idea object profit. By avoiding mixed collections 

 and cultivating only one sort in a house, market growers are enabled 

 to give that variety whatever special treatment it may require, which 

 in itself is a great element of success. The houses on being erected 

 are for the first two or three years devoted to the cultivation 

 of Tomatos, the Vines, although planted in the usual manner, 

 receiving quite a minor share of attention for a year or two until they 

 require the space. Then the Tomatos have to give place, and more 

 glass has to be erected for. their cultivation, and so on, extension 

 becoming almost compulsory. In regard to soils, market growers 

 are not very particular, generally using whatever is most convenient ; 

 the better the soil, 110 doubt the greater the success. This is an 

 important matter to take into consideration in establishing a Vine- 

 yard. One of the most successful cultivators, Mr. Kay, of Finchley, 

 is favoured with the finest of soil a somewhat heavy yellow loam, 

 which is used unsparingly mixed with bones, Thomson's Vine Manure, 

 etc. ; Mr. Ladds uses soil much inferior, manuring heavily with farm- 

 yard manures. The Messrs. Kochford having a good loamy soil, 

 with a gravelly subsoil, simply trench the land and plant the Vines, 

 using no manure until they are in fruiting condition ; Messrs. 

 Thomson's soil at Clovenfords is inferior, but by using Thomson's 

 Vine Manure magnificent Grapes are grown. Mr. Bashf ord's Vineyard, 

 in Jersey, is on the site of an old brickfield all manner of soils which, 

 before planting, were roughly analysed and manurial substances added, 

 chiefly phosphates, of which they were found destitute. Mr. Pond's 

 Vineries in Jersey are situate on the side of a steep, rocky hill, tier 

 above tier. In Guernsey, Grape Vines may be found growing in hot 

 thin soil, or in heavy loam, and in soils showing a high percentage 

 of sand ; in the one case they naturally require much water, in the 

 other drainage, and where these reasonable requirements are attended 

 to, fairly good results are obtained in either. All kinds of manures 

 have been tried on Vines with varying success ; it becomes to a great 

 extent a matter of practical experience, not any manure being quite 

 suitable for all soils. 



Keeping the Fruit. A portion of the late Grapes sent to market 

 are cut and kept in bottles of water, as described at p. 65, some of the 

 growers having Grape rooms erected for that special purpose. One of 

 the largest and best we have seen is that at Mr. Bashford's, St. 

 Saviour's, which contains, Avhen filled, ten thousand bunches ; it is one 

 hundred and thirty-six feet long and twenty feet wide, having four 

 double and two single racks the entire length of the house. Mr. Kay, 

 of Finchley, and Messrs. Kochford prefer keeping their Grapes on the 

 Vines, and this is the plan now generally adopted by the growers for 

 market, shading the houses with thick canvas, etc., and keeping a cool, 



