JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] JUNE, 1896. V °k^~ 



J Part 6. 



DIRECTIONS FOR CARE OF YOUNG GRAPE 



VINES. 



By Wm. Cradwick, Superintendent of Hope Gardens. 



On receipt of plants place the bamboo pots in a bath or pail of water 

 for ten minutes, taking care that sufficient water is in the vessel to 

 cover the pots, repeat this operation every other day until planting. 



A border must be prepared as follows, dig out a trench four feet 

 wide, two and a half feet deep ; the length to be regulated by the num- 

 ber of vines to be planted, plant the first vine two and a half feet from 

 the beginning of the trench, a space of four feet to be left between 

 every successive vine. 



In digging out the trench be careful to separate the good top soil 

 from the subsoil if it be gravel, clay, sand or any such material which 

 contains no plant food. When the trench has been dug the required 

 depth, return the top good soil to the bottom of the trench ; place on 

 the top of this if possible a layer of good rotten cow manure six inches 

 deep ; to this may be added charcoal, wood ashes, bones, spent lime, 

 forming a layer 2 inches thick ; fill up the trench with good ordinary 

 soil and give the whole a good soaking of water; allow two or three 

 days to pass before planting. 



Vines must be planted in an open situation at least 100 feet from 

 any large tree ; and the border must have a southern or a southeastern 

 aspect, quite free from shade, as the early morning sun is indispensable. 



To plant out the young vines, split the bamboo joint at the bottom, 

 taking care not to injure the roots ; make a hole in the border with 

 the hand of sufficient size to receive the young plant easily, if the 

 plant has a quantity of roots and they are matted together spread 

 them out carefully, cover the roots with soil, press fairly firm with the 

 hand, and water at once. 



Nothing further requires to be done, but to support the plant with 

 a good strong stake, which must not be placed in the ground nearer 

 than 6 inches from the plant, and remove all side growths, allowing 

 the plant to grow as long as possible ; keeping it well watered up to 

 the end of September, about which time they will naturally gradually 

 cease to grow. 



Further instructions as to the treatment of the plants for next year 

 will be issued before it is necessary for anything further to be done to 

 the plants. 



