FRUIT CULTURE IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 387 



many growers troubled little how the border was made ; but now more care is 

 taken in this matter, and nearly all methods have been tried. The English 

 horticultural press has been closely read by the local grower, and he has tested 

 nearly everything suggested, from carrion to hot-water pipes in the border ; 

 both of these he has long since abandoned. 



Vineries. — Formerly lean-to houses were considered best, but now large 

 span-roofed houses are the most in favour. A larger area of land can thus be 

 covered at less expense than with the lean-to. Considerable expense in wall 

 building is thus avoided. Of course, more piping and heavier firing are required, 

 for the solid walls of the lean-to keep warmth better in cold wintry weather. 



Varieties. — Nearly all new varieties have been tried as they appeared. 

 The majority, however, have proved failures so far as suitability to market 

 culture is concerned. The following may be taken to represent the standard 

 sorts grown in the Islands : — Black Hambro\ Muscat of Alexandria, Black 

 Alicante, Gros Colmar, Gros Maroc, Appley Towers, and Canon Hall Muscat. 

 This last is not yet largely grown, but many good growers consider the local 

 conditions as being peculiarly suited to this variety, and hold that, space for 

 space, it will be among the most profitable grapes. If the hope is borne 

 out by results, there is no doubt Canon Hall will find plenty of growers 

 ready to take up its culture. At present the majority view it somewhat as a 

 " will-o'-the-wisp variety." 



Planting. — Formerly the canes were planted much too thickly (in some 

 cases 15 inches apart), with the natural result that the fruit grown was of 

 poor quality, and as the vines aged so the quality was worse. Now, how- 

 ever, in the majority of cases this evil has been corrected ; more space is afforded 

 each cane, although many say that more room still is required. But the grower 

 has to consider this with the present prices of grapes. He must have a fair 

 crop of grapes or the vinery will not pay ; indeed, the prices of inferior grades 

 have already fallen so low that they leave no profit to the producer, so that in 

 many cases the vines have been cut out and the houses turned over to tomato 

 culture. This winter (1902) many more vineries were about to undergo the 

 same treatment. Without doubt this is a wise course as far as the grower is 

 concerned, for the only use of inferior grapes is that they occasionally have 

 been the means of introducing a new retailing customer, who may ultimately 

 become a buyer of the best article. Though this is poor satisfaction to the 

 grower of inferior grapes, it will be beneficial if it helps to increase the retail 

 market. 



THE MELON 



The cultivation of melons for market purposes was, we believe, practi- 

 cally introduced into the Channel Islands by Mr. James Davis, at one time 

 gardener to the Rev. J. Watson, at La Favorita, St. Martin's, Guernsey. At 

 the commencement of this new branch of the industry, small houses with 

 sharp pitched roofs and plenty of piping were employed, and the results were 

 highly satisfactory to the grower. As time went on, larger span-roofed houses 

 were planted with melons, and the plants trained up trellises almost as with 



