Grapes 185 



easier to train straight up the roof, as they lie along the wire all 

 the way and can be tied at any point. With a gross-growing variety, 

 like "Alicante", the wire to which the rod is to be tied may be set 

 6 in. lower than those for the laterals. This helps to prevent the 

 laterals being broken out when tying down is in progress. Lastly, the 

 operation of glass washing is greatly facilitated. The wires for Vines 

 should be set at 18 in. from the glass. In the horizontal method the 

 wires are strained between two lengths of angle iron properly fixed and 

 stayed at each end of the house, and supported at intervals of about 

 15 ft. up the house by lengths of scroll iron 1 in. by in., the length 

 of the rafters, and slung from them by short pieces of the same material. 

 The long pieces are bored at intervals of 9 in. to take the wires. In 

 the vertical method screw eyes are put along the lower edge of the 

 ridge, one for each rod and one for every space between. From these 

 are hung wire hooks long enough to support the wires 18 in. from the 

 glass. A piece of f-in. gaspipe is bolted to the wall at short intervals, 

 with eye bolts passing through the wall and screwed up from the other 

 side. A strong wire is run right along the house under each purlin, 

 generally passing through holes drilled through the purlin standards; 

 these are to support the vertical wires when loaded with the crop. The 

 wires are now fixed to the gaspipe on one side of the house, taken right 

 over the hooks in the roof and strained tight to the gaspipe on the 

 other side, passing over the horizontal supporting wires on the way. 

 Whatever number of rods is decided upon, the first thing to do is to 

 cut back the young canes level with the bottom wire in the horizontal 

 wiring and to where the canes meet the wires at 1 ft. from the wall 

 in the vertical wiring, leaving them just long enough to be tied to the 

 wire. Whatever crop is grown in the houses while the young canes 

 are covering the roof, the house must be treated as much as possible as 

 a vinery, and on no account must red spider be allowed to obtain a foot- 

 ing. Tomatoes are usually grown under the Vines for three years, in 

 spite of the fact that the atmosphere suitable for the one is most un- 

 suitable for the other. However, the Vines must receive the first care 

 and the Tomatoes take second place. Roses do well under young Vines, 

 but pot plants are not the best thing to have, as the frequent watering 

 required is apt to produce sour borders. 



The young canes should be allowed to start into growth naturally 

 the following spring. When the buds on the young canes show signs 

 of swelling, a light syringing should be given twice a day to help them 

 to break; but as soon as the leaves begin to open out, the syringing should 

 be stopped and the canes be damped over with a sprayer instead. All 

 the buds should be allowed to break, and when three leaves are formed 

 the growths to form the rods can be chosen from near the top of the 

 canes and allowed to run on while all the rest are stopped at the three 

 leaves. Some growers rub out all buds except those they want for rods 

 at once, but if three leaves are left to each shoot the roots are encouraged 



