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JOURNAL 01' THK ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the de ii id results. It is to this mistake that many failures with 

 late Grapes must be attributed, and it accounts in some measure 

 for the frequent inquiries in the gardening papers for explanations 

 of why Grapes fail to colour and keep. Men who have had 

 twenty years' experience of Grape-growing do not treat matters 

 bo lightlj ; they are only too conscious of the difficulties to be 

 overcome, and they know that something more is necessary than 

 merely filling a vinery with late varieties and then waiting for 

 the Grapes, which may either entirely fail to come or pay a very 

 short and disappointing visit. I am especially desirous to 

 impress upon beginners, or those inexperienced in Grape-grow- 

 bhal the system of preparation, the treatment and general 

 management adopted, is of the first importance in the production 

 of Late Grapes that will either give satisfaction to an employer, 

 seen re awards at exhibitions, or bring the grower fair remunera- 

 tion in the markets. Before discussing the merits of the 

 n pi otive varieties, I will, therefore, review what I have found 

 to be essential points in the culture of vines to yield fruit for 

 keeping during the winter. 



Borders and Hoots. -To make the story complete we must 

 commence at the beginning, and the beginning of successful Grape- 

 culture must be looked for in the borders and the management 

 of (lie tools, just as we may often expect to find the cause of 

 failure in the same direotion, especially with rogard to late 

 Grapes. It is impossible to give too close attention or study to 

 this matter, for so much depends upon starting in the right 

 way. Do not suppose, however, that the preparation of costly 

 and elaborate borders is advocated as absolutely essential to the 

 production of good Grapes ; there arc abundant proofs to the con- 

 trary. The vine is up to a certain stage a most accommodating 

 plant, and its slron- vitality enables it to endure much ill-usage 

 or neglect for a time, thus often misleading the careless cultivator 

 into a belief that it is not necessary to give as much attention to 

 the root department as oxpcrienco proves to be necessary. 

 There is no question that with good natural drainage and a soil 



containing what, the vine really nerds in tho way of food, sub- 

 stantial crops of useful, profitable drapes can be grown without 

 any further border preparation than digging the soil a couple of 

 Bpitfl deep ; and some of the most successful growers for market 

 can point to tons of handsome, well coloured Grapes hanging on 



