OB APE 8 IN OROUND VINERIES. 



109 



In the former case a low back wall or fence may be utilised, and the lights 

 sloped from it to a still lower wall in front. The span-roof is indepenrlent 

 of existing walls. It is made of wood and glass throughout, for the sides 

 are of woodwork, and the lights, which are hinged to a ridge board, rest on 

 them. These wooden sides should have a foundation of a layer of loose, 

 i.e. unmortared, bricks, in order to preserve them from damp. The structure 

 slionld be in a sunny spot, the ends running north and south, and the pitch 

 of the lights rather sharp, to bring them plane to the sun's rays. 



Grapes Out of Doors. — The fact that Grapes can be grown in the 

 open air in many parts of Great Britain scarcely needs to be stated, for 

 most people must have observed Vines on cottage walls at .some time or 

 other. Unfortunately, the quality of the examples generally seen is not 

 such as to encourage the extension of open-air Grape growing. The Vines 

 are rarely tended with any skill. In many instances they are never touched 

 with the pruning knife, and as a result the growth becomes very rank, the 



FIG. 81.- GRAPES IN GROUND VINERIES. 



E, making up ied and planting Vine. 1, Drainage ; 2, turves 

 grass side downwards; 3, layer of soil; A, Vine with roots 

 spread out and covered with soil. 



wood is immature, and the fruit is poor. Under the best of management 

 ripe Grapes can never be ensured ; under bad treatment failures are as 

 certain as the day. At the same time, it must be confessed that there is 

 something attractive in no uncommon degree about a Vine on a house wall ; 

 and if any person has a mind to try his fortune with one, there is no reason 

 why he should not do so. 



In the case of outdoor Vines the best system of training, in my opinion, 

 is to take subsidiary rods at right angles from the main vertical one, about 

 18 inches apart, and allow them to run to the extremities of the wall. 

 Fruiting laterals can be taken from these, and trained up in the same direc- 

 tion as the leading rod. It is a mistake to allow these laterals to run away 

 at will. They should be stopped and thinned just the same as if the Vines 

 were under glass. It is just as important in the open air as in a vinery, nay 

 more so ; for in the former case the difficulties of getting the wood ripe are 

 greater. Many people who are disappointed of a crop of ripe bunches utilise 

 the Grapes for making wine. Miller's Burgundy and Royal Muscadine are 

 two of the best for open-air culture. 



Large Vines and Record Bunches.— It may be interesting to 

 refer to one or two very large Vines and bunches of Grapes. Three of the 



