146 WHYTOCK—THE CULTIVATION OF 
environment, requires a great deal of water. Inside borders 
should never be allowed to become dry; they should get a good 
watering in winter, and at least two good waterings during the 
growing season. The watering given after the thinning of 
grapes should be given with manure, either by washing in arti- 
ficial manure or by adding made manure-water. 
If a vinery border does not dry up, the material and drainage 
are at fault; the vines won’t thrive in it. 
Perhaps I should say a few words about what varieties of 
grapes should be grown. I went some few years ago in the 
month of September to see a large garden near Northampton, 
and was shown into a large, lofty span-roofed vinery. In this 
vinery nearly every known variety of grape was growing; there 
were a great many bunches of grapes, but I thought it the most 
miserable spectacle of grape-growing I had ever seen. There 
was not a decently coloured bunch in the lot, as might be 
expected, for different varieties require different temperatures, 
etc. The safest guide for a gardener is to grow the varieties his 
employer likes. Tho two best grapes are Black Hamboro and 
Muscat of Alexandria. Some families will have none other, and 
where an almost constant supply of these grapes has to be kept 
up, it is the most expensive form of grape-growing ; neither are 
late keepers, and very early forcing must be done to bring in 
early supplies of fruit. 
Madresfield Court is one of our best black grapes, and if it is 
to do it must have a house to itself. I first saw this grape well 
grown by the late Mr. Meredith near Liverpool. He had one 
vinery filled by one vine of it, grown on the extension-system, 
and it finished splendidly, as he gave it the special treatment it 
requires—namely, a less restriction of growth than other vines, 
and plenty of air. Lady Downe’s is our best late-keeping grape, 
and I find Appley Towers keeps about as well. The former is 
an old and well-known grape. The latter is new, but one that 
has come to stay. It is a free grower, free bearer, free setter, and 
finishes well. West’s St. Peter’s is our best-flavoured winter-grape. 
Alicante and Gros Colman are the only other two I nee 
mention. The latter requires Muscat treatment to give it good 
flavour ; Alicante does not keep beyond the turn of the year. 
Canon Hall Muscat is in every way the finest grape, but I have 
