234 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



sharply-pitched lean-to, facing south-east, with a short hip of about 18 inches from the top 

 of the wall. The height of the back wall is 12 feet, the front wall 1 foot, and the length 

 of the house 224 feet. The vine has seven rods trained horizontally under the roof, 

 the lower one just so that the bunches of fruit hang clear of the hot- water pipes, 

 which are close to the ground, the upper rod under the apex, the other five rods equi- 

 distant between about 2 feet apart. No laterals are allowed on the under side of 

 the rods. The laterals are 1 foot apart, trained upright, and stopped at the rod next 

 above them. Every alternate lateral is allowed to carry a bunch ; they, therefore, carry 

 fruit in alternate years. The seven rods have an aggregate length of 1,400 feet, or more 

 than a quarter of a mile. About 1,800 bunches are usually removed from this vine 

 when small, and from 600 to 800 retained, some of which have weighed between 

 3 and 4 pounds, while many berries have exceeded 3 inches in circumference, and 

 in colour and finish were all that could be desired. The crop is usually sold for 

 about 100. 



The Manresa vine is growing in the natural soil a free clayey loam, and is fed 

 inside the house with nearly fresh horse-droppings placed on the soil and frequently 

 sprinkled with water, the ammonia-charged vapour given out proving inimical to red 

 spider and beneficial to the vine. It is pruned on the spur system, and the rods are 

 never peeled. The Manresa vine is a remarkable sight when the long lines of grapes 

 are ripe. 



The grapes produced in this country, with all the advantages of modern structures 

 and modes of heating, combined with skill in cultivation, surpass, in size of bunch and 

 berry, finish and high quality, those of the most celebrated grape-growing countries. 

 The Black Hamburgh is the popular grape of Britain, and remarkable bunches of it have 

 been produced. Mr. Hunter, of Lambton Castle, Durham, exhibited a bunch of this 

 variety at Belfast in 1874, weighing 21 pounds 12 ounces; and Mr. Davis, at Oakhill, 

 in 1858, had berries in a bunch of 8J pounds weight that measured 4^ inches in 

 circumference. Mr. Eoberts, Charleville Forest, Ireland, exhibited a bunch of Gros 

 Guillaume in 1877 weighing 23 pounds 5 ounces, the heaviest bunch of black grapes 

 on record (see Fig. 72). Gros Colman is the noblest black grape. Mr. Goodacre, of 

 Elvaston Castle, has had fourteen bunches on a vine weighing 40 pounds, with berries 

 individually measuring 5 inches in circumference. 



Of white grapes (so called), Muscat of Alexandria is the choicest and most 

 valuable grown in Britain. Though robust in growth, few large vines exist of this 



