23G JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Temperature. — The essentials of the treatment of late Grapes 

 from the setting until the colouring period may be summed up in 

 a few brief paragraphs, but even this simple treatment cannot be 

 provided without constant thought and close attention throughout 

 the season. First, as to the temperature, it is scarcely necessary 

 to observe in these days that the hard-and-fast rules formerly con- 

 sidered so important are now practically disregarded by the most 

 successful cultivators, who direct their work in accordance with 

 a more common-sense system rather than in strict compliance 

 with certain rigid rules, without regard to the particular circum - 

 stances of the weather, the vines, and the houses, all of which 

 need to be taken into consideration. We have already referred 

 to temperature for starting, and still taking the minimum only, 

 an increase of 5° up to the flowering, and a further advance of 

 5° from the setting onwards through the swelling, will afford a 

 sufficiently general indication of what will be suitable ; but the 

 highest day temperature from sun-heat either early in the day 

 with due ventilation, or in the afternoon with eariy closing, may 

 reach 85° to 90°, or even a few degrees higher, with safety, and 

 even advantage, for the majority of late Grapes. 



Spacious span-roof houses running north and south are 

 preferable for late Grapes in many ways, but chiefly because they 

 enclose so large a body of air that sudden changes of temperature 

 are most readily avoided. Three-quarter span houses are also 

 suitable in the same way, but in northerly and cold districts 

 " lean-tos " facing south are often necessary to bring Muscats and 

 similar varieties to perfection. In bright, clear, warm seasons 

 like that of 1893 the cultivator is wonderfully assisted, for 

 artificial heat is but a poor substitute for sun-heat in insuring 

 the development of the growth and the fruit. 



Moisture. — Incidental reference has already been made to 

 the necessity of supplying vine-borders with water liberally, but 

 judiciously, from the starting until the colouring is perfected — 

 i.e. for about six months in the case of late varieties — and an 

 application of water at least every month during that period, at 

 the rate of ten to fifteen gallons per square yard, will generally 

 be sufficient. It is unwise, however, to give water to borders 

 when its temperature is below that of the soil ; it should be 

 warmed by exposure or by the addition of a little hot water. I 

 have a vivid recollection of an incident in earlier years when I 



