150 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



FRUIT, GRAPES continued. 



August, things are simplified, as the house need not be started 

 before the end of February, and increasing sun heat will help the 

 forcing in spring. It should be noted that the delicious white Grape 

 Muscat of Alexandria needs more heat than the hardier Foster's 

 Seedling and Buckland Sweetwater, or the popular black Grapes, 

 Black Hamburgh and Black Alicante. The air should be kept fairly 

 dry while the Vines are in bloom, in order to favour the spread of 

 the pollen. If the weather is wet and dull at that period, rendering 

 it difficult to get a pleasant flow of buoyant air, it will be well to assist 

 fertilisation by shaking the rods. When the Vines go to rest in 

 autumn reduce fire heat to a minimum; as long as severe frost is 

 kept out of the house they will be safe. Thinning : A tedious but 

 necessary task. Without it the bunches become shapeless masses 

 of berries large and small, which ripen irregularly, some not at all. 

 The beginner should call and ask permission to watch a neighbour- 



? 4 4 <* 



A BUNCH OF GRAPES THINNED. RENOVATING VINES. 



3. Notches made in the strong roots. 



4. Fibrous roots pushing. 



ing professional. Troubles : The real troubles begin when shank- 

 ing, scalding, scorching, mealy bug, and red spider attack the 

 Vines. If shanking is persistent in young Vines over-cropping may 

 be suspected, and the difficulty tackled by taking fewer large 

 bunches and giving liquid manure while the crop is developing; if 

 in old vines the roots should be examined. Deep-striking ones may 

 be severed, and others raised into fresh soil near the surface. The 

 remedy for scalding and scorching is proper ventilation. Mealy- 

 bug is a serious pest, as when it once gets well established it is diffi- 

 cult to dislodge, and may spread to the bunches. An infested house 

 should be thoroughly cleaned in winter, the woodwork being well 

 scrubbed with a solution containing paraffin oil, and the Vines freed 

 of loose bark and scrubbed with an insecticide. Vigorous syringing 

 will help to keep the enemy under. Red spider will not gain a 

 footing if the house is kept moist. Syringing is the best remedy. 

 Wasps sometimes prove destructive, and must be kept out of the 

 house by covering the ventilators with muslin and keeping the 

 door shut. Varieties : The -two most useful all-round varieties for 

 indoor culture are Black Hamburgh and Foster's Seedling. They 

 are vigorous, relatively hardy, productive, and of good flavour. 



