Grape Culture. 15 



This system of making up vine borders is becoming general, 

 and is to be preferred. It is applicable to both outside and 

 inside borders. By adding to the borders every alternate 

 year the vines can be kept in splendid condition and in vigorous 

 health for many years. They will annually produce high- 

 class fruit by adopting this system of cultivation. I must not 

 omit to say that vine borders can hardly be made up too firm, 

 and the soil should never be wet. 



CHAPTER V. 

 PLANTING AND SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT. 



VINES may be planted at any season spring, summer, or 

 autumn. The usual practice thirty years ago was to plant in 

 spring the ripened canes of the previous year's growth. When 

 this system is still adopted, turn the vines out of their pots 

 and shake away the loose soil from the ball, and plant them 

 into the newly made-up border in March ; spread out their 

 roots over the soil, radiating from the centre. The roots must 

 be kept as near the surface as possible. Place 6-inch fresh 

 loam over the roots, tread firmly, and give a good watering ; 

 put a neat stake to each vine and tie loosely. 



To plant, however, in May, June or July, young growing 

 vines struck from eyes the same spring is by far the better 

 method to adopt. The mode of planting differs from the above 

 in that the ball of soil must not be broken if possible at all. 

 Plant into the new fresh compost, cover the ball with 6-inch 

 fresh, turfy loam, water well this time with lukewarm water, 

 having made all very firm. Mulch with old mushroom-bed 

 manure. Shade after planting for a few days and keep the 

 vinery close till they commence to grow afresh. 



The distance apart to plant vines depends on the method 

 of training to be adopted. The single rod system requires to 

 be planted from three to three-and-a-half feet apart. The 



