GRAPE 



of 2 feet between, aud opposite each space a vine 

 is to be planted inside tlie liouse, as hereafter de- 

 scribed. Strom; capstones, tliicis euougli to come slightly 

 above the surface of the border and about 18 inches 

 wide, are then laid from pier to pier. On such a founda- 

 tion a superstructure can be erected with some confi- 

 dence. For the base of th.' su]Hrsfructure ma.sonry is 

 preferable, about bs im In , in in iLrht being necessary 

 before the glass work li.-in-. A ii^liow wall, constmcted 

 of hard briclt and cm. iit. i< .l.-^irable, and openings 

 should be left for ventiUition. The upper surface of 

 these walls should be covered witii cement. If con- 

 structed of wood, the same general plan should be car 

 ried out, using the most durable kind only. 



Aside from its dur;il>ility. tiki "i -r lin-'nii advantage 

 over wood in bcinu' ;i Ih-ii.t . ; ; i i ■ r .i trmperature 

 and the heavy back \v:i II ..' ;i ' , ■ .an be made 



of great value for tin- jnii i i [il plans of 



the superstructure ai.' ^Ii - nations. I 



should present as iiiiii I _- . -ill., Tli 



frame can be of ir.in : I . .: :, I . a 



and moisture are tlo- L- i. ,. : i ,. ■■ i^-.n 



erOUS supply of air ni.-i. r l:n, ..rai.l.- .'.irl;! 'I'll 



glass should be of good quality, otherwise blisters will 

 burn the foliage and fruit. .Small ventilators covered 

 with wire gauze should be built in the foundation walls 

 and large ones at the upper part of the house. Ventila 

 tion should always be free from a draft or sudden 

 change of temperature. A draft is just as unpleasant 

 to a sensitive vine in a house as it is to a human being 

 and if subjected to it disease is sure to follow, mildew 

 being the first evidence; and yet a generous supply of 

 air is a prime requisite in growing Grapes under glass 

 especially during the ripening period. Previous to that 

 time the lower ventilators should be very carefully used 

 some growers never opening them until the Grapes be 

 gin to color, and the new growth and foliage are some 

 what hardened. More or less air is always admitted 

 around the glass in a very equable manner and thence 

 to the upper ventilators. 



The modern heating apparatus, consisting of a boiler 

 in an adjacent pit for heatinir watir. with .u-.-nlatiii!, 

 pipes throughout the house, as sln.wii in illustiati.nis ..i 

 Greenhouse, is a very perfect an. I . .-onoini.al supiili./ 

 of heat, and it should be erected bv a jiraeti.al builder 

 A little heat at a critical time will often save a house 

 full of Grapes, and, while it can be dispensed with, its 

 advantages are very material. 



It is possible to fruit Grapes in benches in pots, re 

 moving the pots when the fruit is past, and using the 

 house for other purposes (Fig. 977). 



TJie Border.- A good border is of great importance, as 

 no permanent success can be obtained 

 without it, and probably the difference 

 between success and failu 

 often lies here than in any other 

 feature. 



It is a good i>lan to construct 



GRAPE 



679 



i that 



be soniewha 



prepared manure, one part old plaster or mortar, and 

 one part of grotmd bone, all to be well composted to- 

 gether, will meet all the requirements. If the subsoil is 

 clay, a foundation of old brick and mortar is very desir- 

 able to insure drainage. The border above this should 

 be from 2 to 3 feet in depth. No trees or shrubs should 

 be permitted to extend their roots into it, a very com- 

 mon cause of trouble, and nothing whatever should be 

 grown on it, although the temptation to try a few melons 

 or some lettuce is often too great to be overcome, and 



• borders 

 'vated abov 

 surrounding gr.jund. as better 

 drainage is thus secured, and 

 good drainage is imperative 

 (Fig. 975). The border 

 should fill the house in 

 side and extend outside 

 adjacent to where the 

 vines are planted at 

 least 6 feet when first 

 made, and to thi 

 outside border ad- 

 ditions should be 

 made everv two 

 or thr 

 of fror 

 feet 



width of 20 feet ^--- 

 is secured. The T 

 border can hard- 

 ly be made too 

 rich, provided the material is well decomposed. A 

 mixture of six parts good loamy turf from an old 

 pasture or piece of new ground, and one part of well 



lean t 



Th 



Ih u 

 foot fr the 

 one oppos te 

 iescr be 1 It 

 ack wall of a 

 ) two or three 

 rt the strong 

 id the others 



I uds near the ground and when these 

 e t shoot only is selected tor tr n nj 

 rubbed off. As this shoot advances it is tied to the wires, 

 and it may reach the limit of the house by July 1, or 

 perhaps not until September 1, depending on the care, 

 the vigor of the vine, and the border. Once there, the 

 end is pinched and the cane continues to strengthen and 

 increase in size and store up material in the lateral 

 buds until the end of the season, when it is taken down 

 and pruned to one-third its length, laid on the ground 

 and covered from the sun for the winter. Care should 

 be taken that mice do not eat out the buds, as once out 

 they can never be restored. In the spring of the second 

 year, or as soon as it is desired to start the vines, they 

 are tied up again, and the terminal shoot again trained 

 to the top of the house, where it is stopped as before. 



