FRUIT FOR SALE UNDER GLASS CULTURE. 315 



season after planting. The yield of a house, 100 feet long and 24 feet wide, is 800 pounds 

 under early forcing, worth about 2s. per pound =: 80 ; for summer crops about 1,600 

 pounds, which at Is. per pound amounts to the same sum. The cost of production is 

 about equal, for the forced vines cost more for fuel but less for thinning, manures, also 

 watering, generous support being requisite to enable the vines to carry heavy crops of 

 fruit. With the rods 4^ feet apart, Muscats are produced by market growers early in 

 June at the rate of 1 pound per foot run of rod = 530 pounds at 4s. per pound = 106 ; 

 summer Muscats (July to September) yield about 2 pounds per foot run of rod = 1,060 

 pounds, bringing the same amount of money (at 2s. per pound) as the early forced ; 

 late Muscats (October to December inclusive) produce about 1| pounds per foot run of 

 rod = 795 pounds at 3s. per pound = 129 5s. These are gross returns for grapes 

 from structures of equal size 100 feet long and 24 feet wide each. Alicante and Gros 

 Colman produce 3| pounds per foot run of rod with the rods 4| feet apart, or f pound 

 per foot of area, which for a house 100 feet by 24 feet is 1,800 pounds, and the gross 

 return is Is. 6d. to 2s. per pound = 135 for Alicante and 180 for Gros Colman. The 

 woodcut (Fig. 71), reproduced from a photograph, represents a house of Gros Colman 

 grapes grown for market by Mr. Stephen Castle, at Messrs. A. and J. Quertier's 

 establishment, Fordingbridge. 



The distances of the rods vary with different growers, some following the spur and 

 others the extension system, but the object is the same in all namely, a maximum 

 crop consistent with its maturing properly. This is imperative at all seasons, and never 

 more so than when prices are low. The consumption of grapes has increased fifty per 

 cent, in the last decade (1880 1890), because the supply has been good as well as 

 cheap. Sensational prices cease with the increase of consumers, for the production 

 receives its incentive from the demand, and it has become a question of producing the 

 heaviest crops of the first quality at the lowest price in order to maintain a supply at 

 all times. Channel Island and English grapes were sold by public auction in the open 

 market at 3d. per pound in 1893. The lowness of prices was due to the enormous 

 supplies of excellent quality consequent on the tropical summer ; yet the chief market 

 growers, with regular business connections, managed to realise from Is. 6d. to 2s. per 

 pound for the best produce of varieties that could be held back without prejudice until 

 the markets were less congested. It was only by business tact and heavy crops that 

 grape-growing could be made remunerative. 



Market grape-growing is based on the highest culture, heavy manuring, and 



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