1 84 Commercial Gardening 



soil is available for the young roots till they occupy the whole space 

 under glass. 



Although for market work it is more usual to provide only inside 

 borders, there are some growers who make outside borders as well. For 

 mid -season grapes this works well if the land for the purpose can be 

 spared; but for early or very late work the inside borders are best, 

 because the watering is under control and the borders are warmer, which 

 is especially important for early work. 



Planting". The borders having been made ready, the planting is the 

 next thing to consider. Planting is done in the autumn or early spring, 

 two-year-old canes being used for the purpose. These are planted at 



1 ft. from the wall, holes being prepared about 3 in. deep and wide enough 

 to take all the roots when carefully shaken out and spread fanwise over 

 the border. The soil is carefully spread over the roots and well firmed 

 down. If nicely moist no water need be given, but if the soil has got 

 dry while waiting for the canes they must be watered in. The distance 

 apart at which the canes must be planted will depend upon the variety, 

 in the first place, and on the number of rods it is proposed to take from 

 each Vine. Strong growers, like "Alicante" and "Muscat of Alexandria", 

 will require 3 ft. between the rods, while "Black Hambro'' will do with 



2 ft. 6 in. Some growers only allow 2 ft. between the rods, but this is 

 scarcely enough if the Vines are to grow well and last any time. There 

 is no doubt that the Vine does best and lasts longest when grown on 

 the "extension system"; but in market houses it is the rule to limit 

 the Vines to two rods each, and very often only one rod is allowed. One 

 large grower in the north of London district, who is famous for Canon 

 Hall Muscats, allows up to seven or eight rods to a Vine for that particular 

 variety at any rate, believing that the plants are healthier grown that 

 way. Very fine fruit is grown on the single-rod system, and in Worthing 

 it is the usual practice. However, where a tank comes a Vine is very 

 often seen with three or more rods, and no appreciable difference in the 

 fruit can be noticed. Roof space can be covered more quickly by the 

 single-rod system; but as Tomatoes are grown under the Vines till the 

 roof is covered it amounts to the same thing in the end. If more than 

 two rods are to be grown, temporary single-rod Vines can be planted to 

 fill up the space until it is wanted for the permanent Vines. In the 

 case of double-rod Vines the two rods are trained up at the same time, 

 but if more are to be grown two would be started first and the others 

 taken from their bases afterwards. These remarks apply to the plant- 

 ing of wide houses. In the case of the 15-ft. houses, at least two rods 

 should be allowed to each Vine, as the roof space is so small. 



Wiring". While the subject of the rods is under discussion it will 

 be as well to glance at the question of the wiring. There are two ways 

 of doing this: one is to have the wires running horizontally and the 

 other vertically. Each system is largely used, but the vertical way is 

 perhaps to be preferred. The advantages are as follows: the rods are 



