Fruit and Vegetables. 99 



occasionally met with in the modern gardens, and 

 although a variety may sometimes be found that will 

 bear fruit for a number of years, yet their culture 

 can scarcely be called a success, and they either 

 deteriorate by blooming at all seasons of the year, or 

 are destroyed by a maggot which attacks the Loquat 

 and eats away the pith in the branches. 



Vitis vinifera Grape Aneb. Some fifteen to 

 twenty varieties known under their native names 

 are said to be grown in the country. Most of them 

 are raised from cuttings, but few, from want of atten- 

 tion, can be said to be a complete success, and the 

 immense influx that is annually poured into the 

 markets during the summer from neighbouring 

 countries, may, perhaps, account for steps not being 

 taken to improve the local varieties. Like the Fig, 

 various opinions are expressed as to the proper system 

 of cultivation, and the quantity of water the vines 

 should receive. 



The best grapes grown in Egypt are those that are 

 irrigated but twice during the year. Once after 

 pruning in February just as they begin to break, and 

 again after the fruit has formed, as frequent watering 

 causes the grapes to shank and drop, and promotes 

 an overgrowth of foliage. 



Vines may be grown from cuttings about half a metre 

 long, taken in February, and planted in the ground in 

 a slanting direction so as to enable the cuttings to 

 root up the stem, leaving two eyes above the surface. 

 These should be trained over lattice work, and pruned 

 closely back to two eyes in February. Old plants 

 may also be pruned in the same month, and a good 

 dressing of decomposed cow manure and night soil 

 should be lightly forked in about the roots, and after- 

 wards well irrigated. They should be pruned closely 

 into the main stems, leaving two eyes only. Some 

 growers replace the old rods every third year. 



For ground plantations the cuttings ought to be 

 planted three metres apart in the lines, and the same 



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