lOIO 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



time of the year. If put in while dormant, it is an excellent 

 plan to take the plants out of the pots at night, and to 

 allow the ball of soil to stand all night in water ; in the morning 

 it is an easy matter to shake all the soil away, and the roots 

 may then be disentangled and spread out evenly in the border, 

 taking care not to plant deeply. Vines may also be planted very 

 successfully while in growth, first giving the roots a good soaking 

 with water, and then planting the vine without disturbing the root 

 at all, but packing the soil firmly round the ball, and giving a 

 good watering to settle all about the roots. In a week or so 

 another thorough watering should be given, to keep the ball of 

 the roots moist, otherwise it may become dry and no progress 

 will be made. If a mulch of strawy manure is applied imme- 

 diately after the first planting, the moisture w^ill not evaporate 

 so rapidly, nor will weeds be so troublesome. The usual 

 distance between vines is 3ft., but if extra fine exhibition 

 bunches are desired 4ft. apart will be better. Every two or three 

 years another 2ft. may be added to the border until the inside 

 space is filled up ; then if the vinery walls are built on arches, 

 as they should be (except the early vinery), the same process 

 could go on outside until that space was filled up. With mid-season 

 and late Grapes this system of inside and outside borders has 

 many advantages, the chief being that if the vines show signs of 

 debility one of the borders may be taken out in the winter and a 

 new one put in without risk of losing a crop : another lease of 

 life is thus given to the vines. In taking out an exhausted 

 border all roots should be carefully preserved and wrapped in 

 wet mats or sacking, keeping them wet until they can be 

 laid afresh in the new border, into which they will quickly 

 spread. 



For the earliest vinery, Black Hamburgh, Foster's Seedling, 

 Madresfield Court, and the exquisite Muscat Hamburgh, are all 

 excellent. The last-named is somewhat fickle, but where it can 

 be grown well it is the finest flavoured of all black Grapes. 

 Sometimes Madresfield Court splits its berries when ripening ; 

 to prevent this it should be planted in the airiest position in 

 the house. For mid-season or late supplies, Alicante, Muscat 

 of Alexandria, Gros Maroc, Gros Colman, Mrs. Pearson, Mrs. 

 Pince, Chasselas Napoleon, Lady Downes, and West's St. Peter's, 

 are all very good varieties, and, when well grown, will hold their 

 own on the exhibition-table if necessary. Lady Downes, Mrs. 

 Pearson, Alicante, Mrs. Pince, Muscat of Alexandria, • and Gros . 

 Colman, will keep sound until May if well ripened and stored in 

 a suitable Grape-room. 



In all vineries a somewhat low temperature should be given 

 when first starting the plants — 45deg. to 5odeg. will be high 

 enough, gradually raising it as the vines advance, as already 

 mentioned for pot vines. The late vines may be allowed to 



