GRAPE CULTURE UNDER GLASS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 3

GRAPE CULTURE UNDER GLASS.

Whatever may be the ultimate success in this North Island of grape-growing in the open air, it is well known that the culture of the grape under glass has in most instances been eminently successful. By the expenditure of a few pounds in erection of a vinery, most persons who are fond of grapes—and who is not fond of them? —might produce as many as would, in the course of a year or two, pay for all the expenses and trouble of their cultivation. Grape-growing is within reach of all persons who choose to make the attempt to grow them under glass. A ground viuery is a very simple affair ; it could hardly be more bo ; yet splendid grapes have been grown under them. For those who can afford it, however, a better way is to build a vinery either as a separate building or as a lean-to at the side of a house, • t an expense of about £20 for timber, sashes, and labour, a good, roomy vinery could be put up that would grow a dozen or more vines, which, iu a comparatively short time, i would, if properly treated, yield hundreds of bunches of grapes. These vineries have been | tried in the neighbourhood of Auck'and, with most gratifying results. They are made in various ways and sizes—some with frames to slide glass in ; othtrs with sashes, the latter much to be preferred, as during the winter months they can be all taken out and packed away. In respecD to ground vineries, the following are the dimensions as recomtntnded by Kivers :— "For a single vine in the centic, width at base, 30 inches ; slope of roof, 20 inches ; depth in centre, 16 inches. For two vines, 14 inches apart, width at base, 42 inches; slope of roof, 28 inches; depth in centre, 20 inches. Each of these vineries is seven feet long; but a further lenath can be added each year if required. I'ce frame is placed upon bricks, with the interval of a brick between for ventilation, the vine being trained from outside to grow beneath the frame. Rivers flowed his vineries with slates, upon which the vines were trained to run. But no doubt the slates may be dispensed with in this country. A vinery buiit at the side of a house or stable might be, say 30 feet long by 12 feet wide, with rafters 15 or 10 feet long ; the front of the vinery being three or four feet and the back 10 feet. Such a sized structure wouldhold a dozen vines at two-and-a-half feet apart, which could be tiained to run- along wire. A friend of mine had a vinery about this size; and he grew some first-class grapes, principally Black Humburghs, some of the bunches weighiug nearly olbs. each. While writing on this subject, it may be of interest to refer to what is being done in the siuglo island of Jeisey in the culture of grapes under glass. According to the Gardner's Chronicle of July 7, there was an exportation from one part of Jersey last year for the London and provincial markets of a quantity of grapes exceeding 100 tons the great bulk of which was the Black Ham. burgh, with, however, a mixture besides of Muscats, Gros Colman, Alicante, and, sparsely, one or two other varieties. The Black Hamburgh and the Muscat are the grapes upon which the ordinary Channel Islands grower pins his faith ; few other kinds receive from him the slighert attention. The expert iu grape-growing in Jersey is careful where he erects his vinery, choosing an aspect where the advantages of sunshine and heat can be enjoyed. He is also very particular about em lulling the soil devoted to ({rape-culture with suitable fertilizers, lime and phosphoric acid being largely employed. The vines having been started in pots from eyes of well ripened wood, he usually plants in thj i order when about one loot high, and trains up tj the height of the: roof of ihe vinery that same season, and the following, lest by any i.verstraiu they should be the least weakened,, allows but i.ne bunch of gtape* to grow and ripen up .n each stem. It is then his practice to cue hack a certain portion of the v ne every year for six or seven years—until, in truth, it has attained its full vigour, and in bearing to the c-mire extent of the roof, by whiuii time the grapes are equal in size and in quality from the top to the b.ittoin ot the stem. Some ot the vineries in Jersey are very large. Describing the I property of one grape-grower, a visitor writes as follows:—"It covers 14 acres, and has

close upon a mile of glass devoted to grape culture. One house alone, span-roof, is nearly 900 feet long by 132 feet wide, and is planted with Gros Oolman vines just p.oducing fruit. Another of the same size is now in course of construction, to be devoted solely to AluSL'ats; and a "lean-to," 600 feet in length, for Black Hamburghs, to be in the market early iu April, is the finest he possesses out o! tea other noble ones. We. saw the crop of tuis vinery iu bearing this year. There were hundreds of bunches of 21b., 31b., and some up to 4tb. in weight, and "the purple clusters flushing through the green" in all their wealth of bloom and richness, were as pleasing a picture to thu eye a% a tempting bonne boueh'e to the palate." It appears that such is .the faith of the Jewey ' people in the culture of grapes under glass,

j that the island is studded with glans-houaea - , for growing vines, the visitor above q noted , writiDg thus:—"Whenever yoa take,your walks abroad, whether in town or country, you will rarely—perhaps we may even say, never—come upon cither a pretentious t mansion, ornamented villa, or even a cottage . of gentility, where the desideratum of a giass- ( house for the fruit of the vine exists not." I A state of things that might be imilated with good effect in this country. For What is to hinder an extensive cultivation of vines under glass? And why should not the settlers generally take up (he matter and enter upon gi ape culture in good earnest? Money can be made by this industry, grapes of a good character generally meeting with a ready sale. Agsicola.