316 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



maximum cropping. Money is not wasted in expensive borders, costly structures, and 

 the fancies that may be indulged in in private gardens. All that is needed to grow 

 grapes profitably is comprised in a favourable rooting fertile medium, cheap yet useful 

 and appropriate houses, getting the vines quickly into bearing, cropping them as heavily 

 as possible for colouring well, feeding highly, and managing well all round. Thus the 

 most profit is got out of the vines in the shortest time at the least cost, and when the 

 vines give indications of exhaustion they are cleared out, young ones planted, and 

 tomatoes grown with them to afford a return for the outlay whilst the vines are becom- 

 ing established. 



Melons. Early fruit cannot be grown without artificial heat, and late summer fruit 

 has to compete with imported, of which specimens of 3 pounds or more are offered in the 

 shops at Is. each. There is a good and steady demand for melons in May and June, 

 but their production is somewhat costly, as a high temperature is requisite over a period 

 of three months, or from the time of planting to the ripening of the fruit. Whore a 

 sufficiency of leaves and stable litter can be readily obtained it is not difficult to 

 produce melons in frames by June. They may also be grown in low houses or pits which 

 in the autumn, winter, and spring are used for plants or forcing strawberries. This is 

 better than allowing the structures to remain empty, for good melons will bring from 

 Is. to 2s. each up to and including August, and as the eost is comparatively little, it is 

 questionable whether the fruits do not pay as well as those ripe in May and sold at 

 4s. to 6s. each, or as June fruits at 2s to 3s. each. Where a number of structures are 

 heated from one boiler the cost of production is materially reduced, and melons may be 

 grown to pay well ; indeed, some expert cultivators find them as remunerative as any other 

 fruit. The varieties must be handsome, well coloured, and of high quality. 



Nectarines. This fruit is not nearly so popular as the peach. Whether this is due 

 to lack of knowledge of the nectarine, or to its somewhat different flavour, it would 

 be difficult to determine. The nectarine is certainly a more beautiful and richer fruit 

 than the peach, but it is also much smaller, and less melting. Still nectarines are 

 increasing in favour, and some growers for sale find them quite as profitable as peaches, 

 especially early in the season. Early Kivers is the best nectarine for early forcing, and 

 after it Lord Napier, a heavy and regular bearer. It is liable to shrink and become dis- 

 coloured at the apex of the fruit, probably due to over-syringing or continuing it too 

 long. This greatly detracts from its marketing value. Goldoni, Darwin, Pine Apple, 

 and Stanwick Elruge, are also favourite varieties. Nectarines bring about one-third less 



