CULTURE OF THE GRAPE-VINE UNDER GLASS. 



463 



DIARY. 



St. Peter's ripe ; the leaves still green and vigo- 

 rous. All possible air admitted by day, when 

 fine. Protected from rain for the sake of the 

 fruit only. Shut up close from dusk till 

 dawn. 



Fruit all cut. Left open with lights on. 

 Lights off. 



The lights being off, no culture of any kind is 

 given, except occasional waterings in very dry 

 weather, to prevent a sudden and unnatural 

 termination of the processes wtiich actuate 

 growth. 



972. Growing two or three crops of grapes in one house. — The grape is so de- 

 sirable a fruit, and one so well adapted for the dessert at every season of the 

 year, that wherever there is only one vinery, various plans have been 

 adopted, and that with perfect success, to produce two, or even three, crops 

 of grapes in it in one year ; and there can be no doubt that four crops might 

 be grown. It is not uncommon in pine stoves to have two vines for each 

 rafter planted outside the house, and when one, after having produced its 

 fruit, is withdrawn, to introduce the other. If two crops can be so grown 

 there is no reason why three should not, provided the border be extensive 

 enough to admit of keeping the roots of each vine apart ; which may be 

 done by vertical underground partitions. The front sashes must of course 

 be made to take out entirely at pleasure or if there are no front sashes, 

 then the lower sashes of the roof must be made to take out or lift up, so as 

 to admit of withdrawing, and reintroducing the vines without injuring them. 

 We shall state the practice at Hungerton Hall, in Lincolnshire, and at another 

 place in Essex. 



973. Growing three crops of grapes in one house together with pines. — The pine 

 pit is built on arches, so that there is a free current of air under it from back 

 to front, which, however, can be stopped at pleasure. A movable partition 

 of boards, or in part of sashes not in use, is placed on the back wall of the 

 pit, so as in eflfect to shut it in completely up to the roof. In the space 

 between the back wall of the pit and the back wall of the house, that is, in 

 the back path, the vines for the first crop are planted, and trained imme- 

 diately under the glass. The back wall is flued ; the lower flue being con- 

 tiguous to the roots of the vines, which places the period of commencing 

 their growth completely in the power of the cultivator. Here the more 

 delicate and perfumed grapes, such as the Purple and White Constantia, and 

 the Grizzly Frontignan, ripen their fruit in April ; and when it is all cut in 

 May, the vertical partition is put up, and remains so till December, when it 

 is taken down, and forcing in this back part commences. The second or inter- 

 mediate crop is obtained from plants planted in the front path and trained up 

 the rafters. They produce their fruit, which is chiefly the Hamburgh, 

 Sweetwater, and Muscat, in June and July ; and when it is all gathered in 

 August the vines are taken out, and others planted in the front border intro- 

 duced in their place. This crop ripens in September and October, and the 



H H 2 



1H34. 

 June 



Maxim, 

 by day. 



Minim, 

 at night. 



July 

 1 

 10 



