FRUIT FOR SALE UNDER GLASS CULTURE. 



33 



June, it is worth the attention of growers as to whether this fruit would pay for 

 early forcing; it is a question of cultural skill and arrangement with first-class 

 fruiterers. They can always sell the first and the best of every kind of fruit. 



Figs. It is only in a few establishments, where growing figs for home use has been 

 diverted to marketing, that this fruit is forced for sale. Only a moderate demand 

 exists for figs at any time. Brown Turkey is one of the best varieties. White Mar- 

 seilles is earlier, but white figs do not sell so well as the black or brown. Negro Largo 

 is large and forces well. Planted-out trees restricted to narrow borders give the best 

 results. Started at the New Year, the fruit ripens in May or early in June, and brings 

 from 6s. to 12s. per dozen. Three fruits per superficial foot of trellis is a full early 

 first crop. The second-crop figs ripen in August, and bring 2s. to 3s. per dozen. It ia 

 only at first-class fruiterers that figs can be disposed of to advantage. 



Grapes. No other forced fruit is so popular as the grape ; the supply being 

 mainly from forced vines. The chief varieties grown for early and summer use are : 

 Black Hamburg, Madresfield Court, Foster's Seedling, and Buckland Sweetwater. 

 These afford a supply from April to December, and of the varieties named, Black 

 Hamburg produces fully two-thirds of the summer grapes. Of winter grapes, grown 

 for market, quite two-thirds are Gros Colman. Black Alicante is also still grown largely 

 for the early winter supply, but it is rapidly giving place to Gros Colman. Lady 

 Downes, though the best of late grapes, is of little value for marketing. Indeed, Black 

 Hamburg for early and summer use, and Gros Colman for late autumn and winter 

 supply, are the chief black grapes grown for sale. Muscat of Alexandria is the prin- 

 cipal white grape cultivated for summer, autumn, and winter use. Its season is from 

 June to December inclusive, for though it may be kept longer, the losses are consider- 

 able. Duke of Buccleuch is grown to a limited extent for early, and Trebbiano 

 for late supplies. Canon Hall Muscat requires the same high temperature and 

 careful management as Muscat of Alexandria, and, well represented, brings the highest 

 prices of all. 



In growing grapes for market one variety only should be grown in a house, so that 

 it may receive appropriate treatment. Market growers generally use the soil most con- 

 venient. "When the soil is very porous, farmyard manure is freely used, as by Mr. Ladds, 

 of Bexley. Others use fish refuse, giving potash and calcareous matter in the form of 

 oyster shells, or brick-field rubbish for drainage. All aim at a fairly porous soil, resting 

 on a well- drained base. A somewhat heavy, yellow loam, freely interspersed with 



VOL. III. 8 



