CHAPTER VIII. 



POT CULTURE. 



The growing and fruiting of the grape-vine in pots or 

 tubs is, in some parts of Europe, very mucli practised at 

 the present day, and some of our best practical men in this 

 country are in favor of its being more generally adopted. 



As this mode requires the most vigilant care, we must 

 consider the annual amount of labor incurred in watering, 

 potting, and other attention which is required, besides the 

 expense of pots or tubs in which to grow the plants, and 

 also the continual raising of fresh stock. On the other, or 

 credit side, there is the difference with regard to accom- 

 modation and conveniences ; pot culture takes up no space 

 outside the house ; the expense of outer borders, covering, 

 &c., is avoided ; but there is a yearly item in prepared 

 compost which only amounts to about the sum that top- 

 dressings would require — a manure-water tank, or cistern, 

 is absolutely necessary to supply the vines with nourish- 

 ment, while growing freely; but this is a thing that ought 

 to be on every place that pretends to good gardening. As 

 to house-room, what will produce a given quantity of fruit 

 by the usual mode, will do the same in pot culture ; and 

 all things considered, if sufficient care and attention can 

 be relied on at all times, the latter mode has the prefer- 

 ence ; still it ought to be borne in mind, that without all 

 this, a poor sample of watery fruit will be the only reward, 

 while with it, fine grapes, of good quality, can be realized ; 

 and, considering the contingencies, it is only advisable to 

 adopt this system as a first early crop. 



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