22 



The Florists^ Review 



Dkcbmber 25. 1019. 



given by the Pittsburgh Florists' and 

 Gardeners ' Club January 5 at the North 

 Side Carnegie Library. 



Edward Earl Ludwig has returned to 

 business after three weeks' absence on 

 account of chicken-pox, E, E. S. 



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GRAPES UNDER GLASS 



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GSAPE GBOWINa UNDER GLASS. 



; Aa Done In Southern England. 



It is hoped that this article may con-" 

 tain suggestions that will be helpful 

 J to commercial grape growers in general, 



/ though the writer does not unaertake 



to give instructions that would be uni- 

 1 veTsally applicable, but merely describes 



/""-—: the cultural methods that are followed-, 

 with great success in one locality — ^in 

 the neighborhood of Worthing, a seA- 

 side resort in Sussex county, in south-^ 

 eastern England. That locality istid- 

 mirably adapted to the culture of this 

 delicious fruit. The climatic conditions 

 and the soil are ideal for the purpose. 

 The varieties principally grown at 

 Worthing are Black Hamburgh, Black 

 Alicante and Muscat of Alexandria. 

 The latter two are used for autumn and 

 winter crops. Black Alicante is grown 

 in preference to Muscat of Alexandria, 

 as the Muscat, after a few years of 

 cultivation, is susceptible to a diseased 

 condition which causes what is termed 

 "shanking," or shriveling of the ber- 

 ries. 



Preparing the Vines. 



Some of the vines are started into 

 active growth the first week in Novem- 

 ber, and other sections of the houses 

 are started in succession. Previous to 

 starting the crops, each vine is sub- 

 jected to a thorough process of clean- 

 ing. The vines usually are cut back to 

 one eye, though some growers prefer 

 two. Each vine is hand-cleaned, espe- 

 cially at the joints, where the red spider 

 is likely to find a hiding place. A prep- 

 aration consisting of sulphur, soft soap 

 and clay, thoroughly mixed with water, 

 is painted on the vines, well rubbed 

 into the joints and allowed to dry, so 

 aa to leave a coating of the ingredients 

 to smother the red spider. 



Prior to the opening of the season, 

 all the walls of the greenhouses are 

 carefully coated with a lime wash, to 

 "nsure cleanliness. The vine borders 

 receive a good mulch of decayed ma- 

 nure, spaded or forked in lightly, so as 

 to avoid injuring the fibrous roots. 



Timing the Successive Crops. 



The first part of November, as already 

 mentioned, is the time usually chosen 

 for starting the early crop, which will 

 be ready for cutting by the latter part 

 of March. Black Hamburgh is the most 

 popular variety for this crop, as it is the 

 best forcer and is a great favorite in 

 the markets, having a most delicious 

 flavor. In December and January other 

 houses are started, with Black Ham- 

 burgh still as the main dependence. 

 For the crops started in February and 

 later, Black Alicante and Muscat of 

 Alexandria are used. Black Alicante 

 is a prime favorite on account of its 

 remarkable keeping qualities, which are 

 largely due to the thickness of its skin. 



It is possible, also, to keep the vines 



of this variety in a dormant condition 

 after the close of winter, thus prolong- 

 ing, the grape season. To maintain this 

 dormant state, the greenhouses are 

 heavily shaded, the interior is kept dry 

 and t^^ ground and borders are covered 

 with' 4ty straw. By the use of such 

 means. Black Alicante vines have been 

 kept dormant until well into spring, 

 with the result that grapes are obtain- 

 able in the markets almost the year 

 around. 



In Connection with Catch Crops. 



Each vine is carefully studied and 

 reflated with respect to the quantity 

 of fruit it should be allowed to bear. 

 Some growers prefer two bunches, and 

 some prefer one, on each of the laterals 

 or side shoots. The younger vines, if 

 unrestrained, produce an enormous crop. 

 Thinning the grapes is another impor- 

 tant operation, which usually takes place 

 before the berries become tight or a few 

 weeks after stoning; that is, when the 

 pip of the grape is formed. Everything 

 pertaining to catch crops is removed, so 

 as to permit the thinners to have free 

 access to the vines. 



In connection with the grapes, catch 

 crops are grown to a considerable ex- 

 tent in the Worthing district, before 

 the foliage of the vines becomes too 

 dense to permjt such use of the space. 

 One of the early catch crops consists 

 of bulbous stock, such as daffodils, nar- 

 cissi, etc. Callas in pots, adiantums, 

 Asparagus Sprengeri, and batches of 



National Publicity Campaign 



cypripediums which have been growing 

 outside in pits, are brought in and 

 placed under the vines when the grape 

 crops are over. Early chrysanthemums 

 also are used extensively for this pur- 

 pose. 



Extent of the Business. 



It is apparent, therefore, that every 

 available foot of space is used. One 

 grower makes a big hit with pot-grown 

 beans, another with pot-grown straw- 

 berries. 



All this vast and varied quantity of 

 produce finds its way to the great mar- 

 kets, principally to London, Manchester, 

 Liverpool and Glasgow. In July the 

 output approaches the nature of a glut. 

 Two trains, called the fruit trains, are 

 made up every other day. Tons of 

 grapes, shipped mostly in 12-pound bas- 

 kets, thus find their way all over the 

 British Isles. 



About 150 business men operate this 

 particular branch of greenhouse culture, 

 and the Worthing Gazette states that 

 their greenhouses, if put end to end, 

 would reach about fifty miles in length. 



The writer, who was a grower in the 

 Worthing district for a considerable 

 time, was credibly informed that, when 

 grape growing under glass was in its 

 infancy, as much as $5 per pound was 

 received for the fruit in the London 

 market. William Day. 



MILDEW ON DAHLIAS. 



Many of my dahlia plants are badly 

 affected with mold or mildew. Two 

 years ago my plants were touched with 

 this, but they were grown sixty-five 

 miles from my present location. I used 

 the roots of the affected plants, but last 

 year did not see any of this trouble. It 

 has appeared more on some of the plants 

 I bought in the spring than on the 

 plants from the old roots. The foliage 

 of the plants is covered with something 

 like a white mold. The upper branches 

 and leaves seem free from it. More 

 than half my plants are affected. The 

 soil is just good garden soil and the 

 cultivation the same as I have used 

 successfully for many years. This sum- 

 mer has been unusually hot and dry and 

 after the buds appeared I watered the 

 plants freely with the hose. Can you 

 tell me what is the matter and what 

 temedy to use so that I shall not have 

 to discard and destroy my roots? 



J. B. A.— N. C. 



Abe Martin Say*: 



0' course it costs money t' "Say It with 

 Flowers," but it's well worth th' diflfer- 

 ence if you don't use good English. 



Dahlias are attacked by both white 

 mold, which attacks the stems and later 

 causes plants to wilt and eventually 

 die, and mildew, which seems to be what 

 your plants have suffered from. Causes 

 of mildew are cold nights following hot 

 days and watering with the hose or 

 sprinklers on the evenings of hot days. 

 Of course there are other causes, but 

 the two named are responsible in great 

 measure for outdoor attacks of mildew. 

 In your particular case I would blame 

 the hose, especially if the water was 

 sprayed over the foliage. Dusting with 

 sulphur and using a spray of Sulphocide 

 or Fungine, used as soon as the mildew 

 appears, are the best possible remedies. 

 Do not be discouraged at your failure 

 this season. Try again. Do not use 

 any fresh manure in your soil, as plants 

 growing in this will fall an easier prey 

 to mildew than any others. Persistent 

 cultivation of the soil, or mulching, is 

 preferable to watering even in extreme- 

 ly dry weather. C. W. 



