OPEN-AIR CULTURE. 



75 



the soil, and is, when examined, a complete mass of 

 fine vine-roots, and is not disturbed except by the hoe, 

 to kill weeds, the sharp hungry soil preventing all 

 danger from over-feeding by such means. To this 

 mulching, and occasional waterings during the late 

 scorching summer of 1868, when every tree and bush, 

 as well as weed, in his garden was covered with red 

 spider, he attributes the immunity from that pest which 

 vines enjoyed. From this vinery I conceive a sound 

 lesson in grape-growing may be learned, hence my 

 reason for referring to it. 



OPEN-AIR CULTURE. 



In the latitude of Britain the grape vine can only be 

 grown in the open air with very partial success, even 

 in the most favoured of the southern counties, and then 

 it must be trained against a wall with a south aspect. 

 The soil in which the ^dne should be planted for open- 

 air culture, should not be so rich as that used for it 

 under glass, and should consist of three-fourths light 

 sandy loam, the other fourth to be made up of old lime- 

 rubbish, brickbats, and burned clay, with a small propor- 

 tion of broken bones. In this compost it will not make 

 such strong canes as in a richer one, but they will ripen 

 better, and have more prominent fruit-buds than the 

 product of rich soil. The young wood should be nailed 

 close up to the wall as it advances, so as to get the 

 benefit during the night of the heat the wall has ab- 

 sorbed from the sun during the day. As to pruning 

 and training, the same course should be pursued as what 

 I have recommended for the vine under glass. During 

 the cold nights of spring, early summer, and autumn, 

 great benefit will result from covering the soil along 



