A POMOLOGICAL ARTICLE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 February 1911, Page 2

A POMOLOGICAL ARTICLE.

GROWING GRAPES UNDER GLASS. {Written by "Unit" for the Horowhentia Ohroniclo.) In my last contribution I described the method of making a border. I should have said that various addi- ! tions might have boon made to the j compost, such as crushed oyster shells, horn shavings, such as the parings of horses hoof, etc., hut T j consider that too elaborate compositions only act as a deterrent to people of small moans, and the benefits derived from these ingredients can bo easilv supplied from time to time, as will be described. THE KTND OF ROUSE, Grapes will crow in almost any house that is faithfully built; that is to say. +lio boards should fit properlv and no (be full of chinks for cold air to get through, they should get no air but what is given, or von cannot control the atmosphere. Yet there is one exception to that rule. Tfc is not important to have the glass closely fitting; it may even bo good in our climate to let a little in between the laps, it dries the glass quickly, and scarcely touches the leaves, if they are in their proper place. I was always inclined to think such ventilation' helped to keep mildew away. Top ventilation'should bo very thorough, for reasons which will bo explained in the nroper place. T mention this specially because it is usually very scant. Bottom ventilation need not be so liberally provided, it is not so much needed. Tf a srmn roofed house already exists in such a position that there is not room to make a border on either side, the border may bo made at the* sunnv end. and' +be rods (rained alone the rafters, instead of up them. Tf a special bouse is built the cheapest is a snan roof, because thorn is less waste of walls. Two boards will be sufficient for the side walls: the top one to be hinged in sections for raisiner. and a similar board at the to" of the roof on each side, also to open all the way along. To prevent this board warping, screw light iron bands at angles along it. Being able to open on either side, give the ■opportunity to open opposite to the way the wind is blowing from. The roof should not be too flat, or ventilation is not good, an angle of -Iff degrees is best. But those matters are of less importance in the Levin climate than in manv places. DISTANCE APART TO PLANT. Small houses will not induce such strong growth as larw ones; in them 3ft apart will be sufficient. Also if it is intendod. to grow for market, and the vi»e« will bo elnsolv cropped 3ft will be enough even in a large house. Tn a largo, or moderate- sized house where quality grapes ore to be grown, most, sorts will require -iff. Not so. hoii-prcr. undent crapes that am of moderate "Towth in regard to leafage, for them 3ft is enough. Bv large or small house T menu length of -rafter, not of house. «izo is of course usually nronortiohnfe. a small house usually having a short rafter. DIFFERENT ATTTTTODS OF TRAINING. Roughly there are three methods employed under glass, viz.. the "lons , rod." the. "short spur." and the "long'spur." Tt is bv the first named method that the phenomenal bunches spoken of are produced, and as they have ~\wp,v mentioned it may be we'll to explain first, and make some few remarks about the why and wherefore.. The grano vine is a. plant of giant growth, and it resents restriction. T{- has a. constant dosirV to so on and on, its best growths ato almost, without variance at the ends. Exhibitors know well (■.bat thev usually find their show biinobe. , ? near the top. or in other words the farthest nnrt of the vinofvfiiti the rof>t«j hnrirs the b°sf bunches. And if they could extend each year you would bavo to go higher and higher for the show bunches. But yon cannot extend fche roof: so the disciples of the "long rod" act extension another wav. This r>l an is partial Hi rlv useful when rrrownrs are raising sorts that fl>u>o largo b n, - ,f> be.s'. r> iv"! al'-o for on" of most noble of all "•rapes "Duke of Bncclnugli." a white variotv which tho writer was the first to fruit in New Zealand, and from whom the start for the. stock in circulation was obtained. This var iety will not do its best on rods that have been spurred a few years. The method consists in always taking tho fruit from a. young rod. which never bears twi'-e. • "When fully established each vine is furnished with three rods. One is hearing on the n~->«r half ojily which half was made the previous year, the lower half bore fruit in that year. This is the oldest rod. The .second rod is bearing on the lower half, thus completely furnishing the house with cranes Tt is now making the upper half of the rod. to bear next year. Tho third rod is the- youngest, it is bear ing no fruit, but will bear h.nlf-wav up the roof next year. Next winter pruning will be to cut out the oldest rod altogether, cut off the spurs from the lower half of number two. and shorten number three to half V.o long'b of tb* 1 rafter. The part left will bear Fruit next year, again completing the crop, it will compWe it'- growth bv ripening a rod at the top, and the following year it will bo the oldest rod, number two having been cut away. In the meantime from where tho iirst rod was cut out another young rod will be growing. A little study of the foregoing will show that the house is always fully filled with grapes, and that a system at first sight somewhat complicated, is in reality simplicity itself. I may say that it is nob common to use this system, a .modification of that and the spur system being more generally used. Thus, when a n»d has been spurred: a few years, and the grapes threaten to deteriorate, a new rod is run up. It is allowed to go up between tho leaves and the glass, so it will take no room. The following winter this is shortened according to its strength. If it is as thick as your thumb leave sft or Oft for bearing, and cut out tho spurs on the old rod to correspond. The young rod is tied to the old one and its bunches bang in tho same position, as if from the old rod . During the coming season the yowig rod will, again travel between leaves and glass. The next winter the former practice will be carried out, stripping the old rod of more spurs, till at length, when the young rod is fit to bear its full length, the- old rod will be cut out altogether. By this means a new rod will bo obtained without losing a single pound of grapes. Indeed, most probably, there will have been a gain from the young rod. (To be continued.)