LATE-KEEPING GRAPES. 



237 



had to assist in drenching vine-borders with water and liquid 

 manure collected in underground tanks deep in a solid bed of 

 clay, which was applied without any exposure and in an almost 

 icy-cold state. A severe check was speedily apparent in a fine 

 house of Grapes, the lamentable effects of which were never 

 recovered from during the whole season — effects undoubtedly due 

 to the cold liquid lowering the temperature of the soil rapidly, 

 stopping the root-action suddenly, and causing injury in the same 

 way that a current of keen air will affect delicate foliage — 

 namely, by the rapid withdrawal of heat from tender living 

 tissue. 



The thorough and frequent damping of paths, borders, walls, 

 &c, is an important means of maintaining that fresh, sweet 

 humidity in the atmosphere of a vinery which experienced men 

 recognise the instant they enter a house. But even this must 

 be regulated with judgment, for the indiscriminate distribution 

 of water without regard to external conditions is certain to cause 

 disaster sooner or later. Much the same may be said about 

 syringing, which, however, requires still more caution, especially 

 when the colouring commences. Until then, with the exception 

 of the flowering period, syringing is needful to keep the foliage 

 healthy, clean, and free from that greatest of vine pests, red- 

 spider. It should be said that some successful growers discard 

 the syringe entirely, and others, again, use it almost constantly, 

 even at flowering time. Damping undoubtedly can be made to 

 answer all the purposes if it is attended to with special care. 



Ventilation. — Scarcely any part of the management during 

 the different stages of the vine's advance needs more careful 

 and constant attention than the ventilation, and it is one in 

 which neglect will produce the worst possible results — absolutely 

 incurable evils. By a proper system of ventilation we can to a 

 great extent regulate both temperature and moisture as required ; 

 whereas, on the other hand, a little carelessness will nullify all 

 the previous work. It has been pointed out times innumerable 

 that most of the "scorching" and " scalding " which cause so 

 much trouble are occasioned by not ventilating the vineries 

 sufficiently early in the morning ; yet it is necessary again to 

 impress this forcibly upon young men, as it is one of the greatest 

 difficulties the gardener in a large establishment has to contend 

 with in leaving the work to others, because few seem to recognise 



