262 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



sphere, but promptly spread out evenly and fully, laying them near the surface in layers 

 with soil between them, making all moderately firm, covering the uppermost roots 

 2 inches, and having all within 6 inches of the surface. Give tepid water, and mulch 

 with about an inch of short manure, which should be kept moist. Avoid saturating 

 the soil, as that hinders root formation. More water is not required until the vines com- 

 mence growing, and then it must be supplied before the foliage is distressed. A gentle 

 sprinkling of the canes two or three times a day with tepid water facilitates a good break, 

 and, with a genial atmosphere, vines under glass make good progress. Growth is 

 stimulated by early closing with sun heat ; in heated houses a night temperature of 

 50 to 55 is ample, and 65 by day artificially. 



When vines are planted in outside borders, and the canes introduced into a structure 

 through an opening in the wall or elsewhere, the stem should be wrapped with a hay- 

 band, and the space closed with hay or other elastic material to protect the stem from 

 frost. This must have attention at all times, particularly in the winter season. 



Distance of Planting. This depends upon the mode of culture to be pursued, and 

 the object in view. Some growers only put out a single vine to cover the south wall 

 or gable of a building ; others employ as many vines to cover a given extent of trellis, 

 under glass, as the rods are trained apart ; whilst some take two, three, or more rods 

 from a vine. Taking the rods to represent vines, the distance for permanent ones should 

 not be less than 3 to 4 feet for the weaker growers, such as Frontignans ; 4 to 5 feet for 

 the vigorous varieties, such as Black Hamburgh ; and 6 to 7 "feet apart for such robust- 

 growing sorts as Gros Guillaume, Muscat of Alexandria, and Trebbiauo. This allows 

 space for the proper development of the bearing shoots, and it is an axiom in grape 

 growing that the more space and light vines receive, the finer the grapes. Yet allowing 

 more space than is necessary is extravagant, resulting in the manufacture of an excess 

 of wood, which needlessly abstracts mineral substances from the soil, having eventually 

 to be cut away. 



Close planting cannot be successfully practised without leaving the lateral growths 

 very thinly disposed on the rods. It is best to afford ample space, even if temporary 

 vines are planted midway between those that are intended to remain productive for a 

 number of years. The supernumeraries are fruited in the second and subsequent years to 

 their fullest capacity consistent with the perfecting of the crops, and are cut out as the 

 permanent vines require the space. Thus early returns are secured with little prejudice 

 to the chief vines, which need to become thoroughly established before fruiting, and 



