30 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



working roots often decay wlien thcv are at rest. 1 have t)bservecl this more 

 than once. But when the roots have the benelit of both tire inside and the out- 

 side, the vines will keep in a healthy, vigorous condition much longer than when 

 confined wholly inside. Much may be said both for and against such an arrange- 

 ment. For very early forcing this method has its drawbacks — the many roots 

 outside are like cold feet, so to speak, but for Midseason and early Fall I strongly 

 recommend a border of about eight feet outside. W hile such a border is not neces- 

 sary — fruit men generally throughout this country being assured that inside 

 borders are a success — yet I may say, without fear of contradiction, that when 

 the roots are confined wholly inside the borders require much closer attention 

 as to watering, feeding, etc., and, generally speaking, more cultural skill in ordei 

 to produce the best results. Another important fact to note is, that the \-ines will 

 retain their vigor from five to ten years longer with the additional eight feet of 

 outside border. But this outside border must receive the same care as the inside, 

 in the way of feeding and watering when necessary. When the vines have to 

 depend wholly on the inside for their sustenance for a period of from ten to twelve 

 years, it would pay to renew them with strong one-year-old canes. After a 

 vine begins to lose its vigor, it should l^c rcmo\ed, the border renewed w ith fresh 

 soil, and a new start made. 



The Grape is a robust, strong vine when grown under favorable conditions. 

 A vine in the open ground, where Nature has full sway, will grow luxuriously, 

 especially if set cut on well drained land, but if planted on a spot with imperfect 

 drainage its growth will be poor and its life a struggle for existence. This is a 

 fairly good lesson to guide us in the making of a border. If the vine will flourish 

 in well drained soil in the open ground the fact becomes very evident that good 

 drainage is vital to its perfect development. Before proceeding further, I want 

 to make sure of being thoroughly understood in regard to my opinion of outside 

 borders; for very early forcing I do not approve of them. 



DRAINING A BORDER 



The first and most important subject to be taken up is that of drainage. 

 In some locations the natural drainage is so perfect that it is not necessary 

 to incur any expense on that account. But where there is the least doubt, 

 then by all means resort to artificial drains. I will give instructions here for 

 draining a border. In the first place, provide for an outlet for the water that 

 may collect in the bottom. Here we see the advantage of having the fruit- 

 house on an elevation, as the water can then be carried off with less expense. 

 The soil must be excavated at least four feet below the level of the grapery. 

 Then lay a tile drain down the center of the house, or houses, as the case may 

 be, preferably a three or four-inch drain. Give this drain just enough fall the 

 entire length of the houses to carry olT the water, and leave openings 20 or 

 25 feet apart for catching it. The concreting of the bottom depends to a 

 certain extent on circumstances. On a ccld, clayey subsoil, a rough concrete 

 would be ad\isable in order to pre\ent the roots from penetrating below; the 

 center should be about six inches lower than the side so that there ma\ be no 



