72 Grape Culture. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

 A NEW SYSTEM WHICH I ADVOCATE WHEN ERECTING NEW 



VINERIES OR RE-PLANTING OLD ONES 



is to build a single brick wall between each vine. This may 

 seem superfluous and may be condemned by many, but I believe 

 it is really necessary ; and I would myself adopt this system 

 which I have in my mind. By adopting this method that of 

 having a single brick wall separating every vine, and thus 

 confining it to its own allotted space you have many 

 advantages. 



The brick wall, of course, must be founded on the concrete 

 beneath the drainage and upwards to the level of border, 

 about 2 ft. 6 in. The walls should be 3 ft. 6 in. apart, and the 

 whole is simple enough. Each wall must be built both inside 

 and outside the vineries. Here each vine can have its own 

 special treatment as regards watering, feeding, lifting and 

 relaying roots, root-pruning, or removing altogether and 

 planting another, all without disturbing any of the roots of the 

 others. You have all under your own control, and this is 

 necessary, especially in houses containing many different 

 varieties. You may work vineries to perfection as regards 

 airing and heating ; but if the roots are beyond your control 

 your work may be in vain. The great secret in plant-growing 

 is in watering to know when to give and when to withhold. 

 Now-a-days there are a great many varieties of grapes, and 

 many may be grown in the same vinery. Some of these 

 varieties succeed well with plenty of water at the roots and 

 some will not. The old system of drenching a vine border with 

 water from end to end, may be a benefit to some and not to 

 others, which it may start into a second growth and thus never 

 finish their crop. I have proved that many of the best 

 varieties can be grown in the same house with the same tem- 

 perature and atmospheric conditions, but not with the same 

 treatment at the roots in watering. 



