244 Observations on the Cultivation 



best for the intended crop ; and, on the removal of the crop, the 

 screening might be taken away, and laid by against another 

 season. 



All, I think, will agree with Mr. Errington, that, where fruit 

 trees of any description, whether for standards, espaliers, or for 

 Dutch training, are planted on the margin of the quarters, the 

 borders on which they stand should never be digged ; but the 

 misfortune is, that, in general, gardens are found to be too small 

 for carrying everything into operation that the gardener may wish, 

 and, in many instances, it is necessary that every inch of ground 

 be made available for some purpose or other. 



63. Portland Place, March, 1836. 



Art. IX. Observations on the Cultivation of the Vine under Glass. 

 By Jasper Wallace, Gardener to William Forsyth, Esq., of 

 Clayton. (This Essay gained the first Prize at the St. Andrews 

 Horticidlural Meeting, in September, 1835, as mentioned in Vol. XI. 

 p. 714.) 



Before making any observations on the culture of the vine, it 

 will be necessary for me to make a few reniarks on what I con- 

 sider the best method of constructing the vinery. Instead of the 

 common practice of building the front wall of the house on pil- 

 lars, I would advise it to be made a solid wall from the founda- 

 tion, as I consider an inside border to be more injurious than 

 beneficial to the roots of the vines. The principal cause of the 

 shrinking of early-forced grapes is, indeed, in my opinion, owing 

 to the roots being over-heated, and not having sufficient mois- 

 ture, which, when they extend far in the interior of the house, it 

 is impossible for the most experienced to be aware of at all times, 

 without too often disturbing the roots of the vines. Having given 

 my objections to an inside border, and explained why I would, as 

 before mentioned, make the front wall solid from the foundation, 

 I may add, that it will be found a saving of expense. I consider 

 upright sashes of no use, which, also, would be a considerable 

 saving ; and I would recommend the back wall to be made much 

 higher than it commonly is, as the vines always fruit best at 

 their extremities. I would also advise the house not to be made 

 so wide as is usual, which will give less strain upon the rafters; 

 and, instead of wooden walks, I would have the floor of the house 

 paved with stones, which would look much better, and be no 

 more expense in the end. I consider 2 ft. sufficient height for 

 the front wall, as the lower it is, the less strain there will be on 

 the roof, and the less height will be required for a back wall. 

 I think that the rafters should be thinner and deeper than usual ; 

 and, instead of the trellis being hung by bolts at a considerable dis- 



