106 



PIGTORIAL PBAOTICAL FRUIT GROWING. 



(3) want of ventilation, (4) neglect of pruning. ^ Perhaps if we take these 

 points one at a time we shall be able to do some little good. 



(1) Varieiies.—We have already seen that the varieties of Grapes differ. 

 They have individual peculiarities, which must be taken into serious con- 

 sideration when such a system of culture as that now under consideration 

 is being practised. I do not say that it is impossible to grow such varieties 

 as Madresfleld Court, Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Colman, and Alnwick 

 Seedling successfully in ground vineries, but I have never seen them thriving, 

 and I am quite sure that there are plenty of varieties which would give the 

 average grower a much better chance. Some people affect to despise such 

 Grapes as White Frontignan and Chasselas Vibert, yet what grave defect 

 can be urged against them beyond smallness of berry ? I agree that these 

 sorts would look insignificant if placed alongside Gros Colman and Gros 

 Maroc, but I deny that there is any good reason why they should be so 

 compared ; and in any case I affirm that the balance would be more than 

 redressed if flavour were taken into consideration also. I hope that it is 



FIG. 78.-GRAPES IN GROUND VINERIES. 



A, Uan-to frame with Vine planted at each, end, and trained 



along the centre of the lights. 



B, end section of lean-to frame vinery. 



not a very far-fetched assumption that flavour is worth considering, in the 

 case of something that we are not going to stand looking at for ever, but 

 are sooner or later going to eat. Now, White Frontignan and Chasselas 

 Vibert are Grapes of delicious flavour ; moreover, they are accommodating 

 in their nature, and will thrive under cool conditions. They are small in 

 berry, to be sure, but if the grower must have something bigger, let him not 

 be deluded by the temptations of Canon Hall and Gros Colman, but content 

 himself with Black Haiuburgh and Foster's Seedling. 



(2) Plantlnff .—There are various ways in which planting can be badly 

 done. The soil may be made too " fat " with manure, and the Vines put in 

 loosely. Further, they may be planted late and pruned back, so that 

 bleeding ensues. In this connection the reader is referred to what has been 

 said on preceding pages about these dangers. 



(3) Ventilation. — Ground vineries are often tlie i^-ecious possession of 

 people who are away from home all day, and have no one on the place on 

 whom to rely for giving any necessary attention. In the morning the sky is 

 cloudy, and storms threaten. The grower has visions of fierce gusts and 

 heavy showers blowing through his ventilators, and shuts the latter down. 

 The weather changes after he has got into the train, as the weather lias 

 always persisted in doing since business people first took to gardening, and 

 the sun comes out fiercely. Then those unhappy Vines are scorched up. I 

 am afraid there is no certain road here, for the most careful weather expert 

 may be deceived sometimes ; but in a general way the forecasts in the 



