VINES UNDER GLASS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

VINES UNDER GLASS.

WORK TO BE DONE. 'All seasonable operations in respect to lilies should ii"W bo hastened. With the present weatlicr, even the latest varieties of vines should ho quite dormant, and ready fot pruning, without risk. '1 he prmiiiiu:, however, should ill all cases he done as soon as possible alter the vines hnvo ripened ami matured their wood, and should in no case bo left until the latest varieties are ready, llio longer season of rest the vines hnvo before being j[»ain started into growth, the better the plants will do their work the following season. In almost every instance, indoor lines are trained on the rod and spur system, so fliat. the method of pruning is practically the same when trained in this way. The writer has always favoured the leaving of two of the strongest buds at tho base of each lateral (or spur) for lo trust only to one bud often results in many blank spaces, and unprofitable «anes. " With growers who are riot thoroughly acquainted with tho different varieties "and their requirements, this is f,y far tho safest and best to adopt in pruning. When two strong buds arc loft, 2nd they both break into growth, the one showing the least promising bunch can always bo removed or kept, shortened back. Some varieties will not stand hard pruning, and often fail to start when pruned back to one bud; this is invariably the cause of many blank spurs seen upon vinos. With such varieties it is better to have two laterals to start, and if tho upper one carries the bunch, keep the lower one shortened back but not removed, as this lateral can be made to derelop strong buds for the next season s crop. At the next season's pruning, the tpper, or this year's fruiting lateral, is cut hard back, thus always keeping fairly short spurs, and yet securing strong lateral growths to each spur. It, on the other hand, the lower lateral carries the D.ms! promising bunch, the upper one C.-.n be removed.

METHOD 0? PRUNING. 'I no 'pruning should always be done ». ith u sharp knif'j so thai ;i clean, smooth (iii i.-5 made. The pruning, however, is hut a simple operation compared to the work of cleaning ami dressing the vines, am! thoroughly cleansing '.he house throughout, >'i as to destroy the various pests and produce sound clean fruit. This, tinder the most favourable eireumitanees, is no easy matter for there is si.iretdv a vinery that is not troubled -r.ith mealy bug and other injurious pests. Al't-r pruning gather up all cuttings, and leaves, and burn them. Thoroughly dress the vines with C.ishurst's compound or other effective insecticide. After dressing, remove all the looso Lark, but in no ease scrape with t'no kniie, as there is always a risk of wounding and injuring the inner Lark. Hie loose hark prats leadilv from the vines by rubbing with a coarse doth or stiff brush special tare being taken not to injure the buds. As soon as the bark is removed, the r fines should be again dressed with insecticide to destroy any pests that may have secreted themselves under the bark. The canes should then be painted, and for this puipose a combination of clay, foot and sulphur, mixed to the consistency of thick paint, will answer requirements, the object being to fill any crevices and forin an even smooth surface. DESTRUCTION OF PESTS. The most important thing is to thoroughly cleanse the whole oi Iho woodwork trellis, or. in fact, every pail, of tlm house in which insects may have secreted thorn'-elves Xo trouble should be spared at this time in endeavouring to eradicate injurious pests. After pruning, the house should still be left open and the. vines exposed to the weather as much as possible. This will assist in keeping the vines donnani until required for starting a pain into growth. Amateur growers often make the mistake. esperially with such Into grapes ■is firos C-olman, of following the idea that 'he later, the vines are started, the later the grapes will hang upon tin; vines. Him, however, is a mistake, for unless in houses wln-re there is the convenience of artificial hea!, the reverse is the case, kale grapes longer to properly colour and ripi.n than earlier varieties, 'lilt* sooner hue irrapes can be started after having a fair season of rest, unless where artificial heal is used, the more successful the grower will bo in growing the lat<M vai'i"'!es of grapes. ASI'AKACUS BEDS. SEASON FOR ATTENTION. I'-siabJ: !;, 1 p.iiagiK beds should nmv '"'■vi'.t [!'■;.,! a'ieniioo. During tin? winter ti:.- i• i~ are sometimes liable to oeconie too ;.-i dden wiih nioi.st.ure lor the v. 111 l.eiiii h>> plants. Asparagus 'not.; <]. > ie ; >e ji-- h excessive moisture and !>liouid ;n every case be provided will) ellii'a nl il-aioag.'. Keen when grown on '.used ;le s'des often become so levelled up with weeds and other refuse i!s to '"lieej.. t)»<* Irec outlet of surplus moisture |-i s• i<•!i eases, moio especi:'".v '! die :.i ii i.> at all inclined to be of a ' f L 'll reledlivt' nature, a good plan is ''' epen on! a trench Gin, to Sin. in ''eptii <i; ootid t'ne whole side of the bed. 1 ins will not only assist to remove any '"•VeOftsj<ii tnoistnre. but. will allow the air a 'iil warmth to penetrate tho soil and I'ssist ;oo t . growlli. Asparagus is naturally an early vegetable and any; king that will encourage early and heotliv root action should be done. Toivaid (lie end of the present month (• sprinkling of nitrate of soda, at "in rate of about loz. to tho square yard, should lie applied over tho whole ' ,c 'k I: is little use applying this too farly, or before the roots begin to move, much of its value would be lost before (l le loots are in a condition to de- - any benefit from it.