248 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



syringed, the temperature may be allowed to rise to 85 degs. with advantage, 

 from the end of March to the end of May. After the grapes are disposed of in 

 the course of the month of June, fire heat will be discontinued and air liberally 

 admitted night and day, and the temperature afterwards will be governed 

 more or less by the weather outside. For successional vines started later the 

 principle of working is similar, i.e. close the vinery with sun heat only for the 

 first fortnight, then give slight fire heat, and gradually increase the temperature 

 as growth advances. For late autumn or winter grapes little fire heat is needed, 

 excepting in late summer or autumn, to assist in ripening them and afterwards 

 to prevent the atmosphere becoming cold and damp. 



THE VINE ON WALLS OUTDOORS 



By THOMAS COOMBER 



The vine is not very commonly grown upon walls outdoors in the British 

 Isles for the sake of its fruit ; nevertheless, there are many districts where if 

 thus planted it will flourish and produce fruit fit both for dessert and making 

 wholesome wine. The wall should have a south or west aspect, and be fully 

 exposed to the sun, so that the wood or fruit can reap the full benefit of the 

 sun's influence, which is essential to success. The soil must also be suitable to 

 the vine's requirements. A fertile deep loam naturally well drained is best, and 

 all the preparation such a soil wants to be made a satisfactory rooting medium is 

 to be trenched and broken up 2 feet deep ; by incorporating a good supply of 

 crushed bones, wood ashes, and lime, or old mortar rubble, most soils are 

 rendered suitable for grape culture. Thorough draining is necessary. 



Strong young canes may be planted early in October before the leaves fall, 

 or in spring when their buds are bursting ; in either case they should be cut 

 down while dormant to three buds from the base. Carefully remove the soil 

 from about the roots, disentangling and regularly spreading them out not more 

 than 6 and not less than 2 inches below the surface ; this should be made quite 

 firm, and subsequently mulched with short litter. The vine succeeds best, and 

 is most simply managed when placed upon moderately high walls, with its 

 shoots trained 3 feet apart in a vertical position. It can be restricted to one rod 

 or more as desired, and planted accordingly at 3 feet or more apart. With the 

 single-rod system all growths but the strongest one should be removed ; train 

 this in position, and stop it when 3 feet long, allowing its subsequent leading 

 growth to extend indefinitely, and stopping the laterals beyond one leaf. The 

 winter pruning merely consists in shortening the vine to within 3 feet of its 

 base at the point where it was checked, and closely cutting away the lateral 

 growths. The following season the leading young shoot should receive similar 

 treatment, and the laterals arising beneath it be so disbudded that the strongest 

 of them only are left ; arrange them about 16 inches apart on either side of the 

 vine. They must be stopped so that they meet half-way those of the adjoining 

 canes, and the sub-laterals be pinched at the first leaf. At the winter pruning 



