136 WHYTOCK—THE CULTIVATION OF 
animal manure on the borders, and of digging great holes in the 
vine-border and burying in them dead cows: or dead pigs, was 
seen to produce the very worst results—thick fleshy roots 
which perished in winter, producing bad-coloured, ill-shanked 
grapes. 
Those pioneers who established good grape-growing were also 
the first to initiate what has now become a very large industry— 
commercial grape-growing. Most gardeners who had reached 
middle age shook their heads when William Thomson built his 
large vineries at Clovenfords to grow grapes for market, but the 
prices he got—7s. 6d. to 15s. per |b—for some years in Covent 
Garden, were soon seen to be too good for him to have the trade 
all to himself. In a few years, therefore, vineyards round 
London were built of a size putting Thomson’s into utter insig- 
nificance, and the supply of grapes brought about a reduction in 
the price to a minimum of Is. per Ib, At this price the crop is 
not profitable, and consequently the greater part of our market 
grapes are poor in quality, ill-flavoured, indeed almost sour 
grapes. We must have fire-heat in our climate to finish our 
grapes properly, and the high price of coal is prohibitive when 
the price of grapes is so low. 
I do not think I need say much upon the construction of 
vineries. Horticultural builders have now such large establish- 
ments and comprehensive plant and machinery that they only 
need to be told what a glass-house is required for, and they bring 
the whole material ready to put together, and erect the house 
with its necessary heating in very quick time. With regard to 
heating, it is the best economy to have abundant boiler-power 
and abundant surface of piping. This saves fuel, and you also 
thereby keep up the desired temperature without strongly- 
heated pipes, which are so detrimental to all vegetation. 
Vineries for very early forcing should be lean-to; for mid- 
season the span-roof is well adapted, and gives more fruit within 
a given space. I think, however, it is generally admitted that a 
line should be drawn across the middle of England, and south of 
that line first-class grapes are grown in span-roofed houses, 
whilst north of that line the finest quality of grapes are best 
grown in lean-to houses. Vineries in which late grapes are to 
. hang all through our wet winters should be constructed with a 
