Edible Products. 



15S 



The Cultivation of the Grape Vine in the Experimental 

 Garden, Anuradhapura, Ceylon. 



By D. F. De Silva Gunaratnb. 

 The cultivation of grape vines lias been totally neglected in this Province, 

 although there are so many Jaffnese who have a thorough knowledge of the 

 plant. It thrives well in Jaffna, Puttalam, Chilaw and Calpentyn along the 

 sea shore. But I have seen it growing fairly well and bringiug forth fruits 

 abundantly in the Kandy district too. 



I learn from the natives oi Jaffna that a full-grown creeper of this kind 

 pays them Rs. 50 to Rs. 200 twice a year. 



A small slip of the Jaffna grown variety (the green vine) was presented 

 to me about five years ago by Dr. Bartholomeusz, who accidently met his death 

 by drowning in the Tissa Tank. I planted this with the necessary care, and 

 after three years the vine was pruned, but no sign of success was seen ; after 

 that again I pruned at four different times of the year, but only the June 

 pruning gave a few bunches. Now I have found out the real time of the 

 year in this climate after three years' trial, and also the necessary manure which 

 should be used on them. All cultivation should be tried in this climate in 

 the eighth month of the year. 



Manuring. — The manuring of the grape vine should be done one month 

 before the pruning. In Jaffna they carry out both the processes together, but 

 according to my experiments in this climate it ought to be done as stated above. 

 The roots of the vine should be excavated, taking care not to destroy the 

 main and the other big roots round about, and left exposed to the light 

 for about three days, when the small hair like roots should be chopped off and 

 the plant manured with a mixture of salt fish and goat manure. (It is very 

 important to use the salt fish manure as the vine always requires saltish soil). 

 After covering the roots well with this manure, the watering must be carried on 

 regularly once or twice daily. A fortnight after the signs of new leaves will appear, 

 when the watering must cease for a few days : and then the pruning commenced. 



Pruning.— All the unnecessary shoots must be taken out leaving the 

 long healthy shoots. The long cross shoots should be trimmed leaving three to 

 four joints in the main stem, and the long healthy shoots should be trimmed 

 only in the top part. After this process, at least six days, the watering should 

 cease until the cut portion is dried. The watering after this must have special 

 attention ; it is very much better if the whole root keep under water until it 

 blossoms. A fortnight after this process the signs of new shoots and flowering 

 will appear on every healthy branch. This is the season in which most 

 of the other fruit trees also will show signs of blossoming. The fruit 

 takes four months to ripen, and a pound of grapes can easily be sold at the 

 rate of 50 cts to 60 cts. The second pruning should be taken up in March. 

 The manuring should be done once a year, if necessary twice. 



This is a very simple and paying cultivation, and it is a common cultivation 

 among the Jaffnese. A single plant should be planted in the back compound, as this 

 is paying and also gives a cooling shade to the house during the hot weather ; if 

 planted close to the bath-room the watering will be easily done. Dimension 

 of holes to be dug out for first planting is 2 feet by 3 feet deep. 



Excavating for manuring ; leave H feet around the root and excavate 

 soil 2 ft., then build a small wall with soil round the pit to hold about six to 

 ten gallons of water. 



