THE VINERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20976, 12 September 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE VINERY.

TIME FOR VIGILANCE. The time has again arrived when increased vigilance will have to be given to the requirements of the vinery. It is when the vines are starting and during their early stages of growth that the greatest care is necessary in regulating the temperature. It is now that every assistance should bo given in order to secure a nice even break of the buds, and much can be done in this direction by tlie free use of the syringe, and by maintaining a genial moist atmosphere. Ko attempt, however, should be made to force the vines into rapid growth by keeping up too high a temperature, as strong, short-jointed lateral growths can only be obtained by allowing the vines to start as naturally as possible, and without being in any way excited by excess or fluctuations of temperature. One of the chief points that every grower should aim at is to try to secure strength of growth and a good show of fruit. When once this is attained, the vines can be pushed on more rapidly with every prospect of success. With the latest varieties, such as Grog Colman and others, that are often difficult to colour and ripen before cold weather sets in, a certain amount of forcing after the growth is fairly well advanced is the surest means of colouring and ripening the fruit. As the season advances, increasing heed will have to be given to their requirements, for vines, unlike most other fruiting plants, require almost daily attention from the time they have started into growth until the maturing and ripening of the fruit. ATTENTION TO THE BUDS. At the time the vines are starting it sometimes happens that the buds do not start evenly. Those upon the upper parts of the rods start into growth, while those on the lower portion of the rods remain almost dormant. In such_cases, a good plan is to bend the rod so lhat the upward flow of the sap is checked and forced into the lower buds. If this is carefully done, it will invariably have the desired effect. As soon as an even break is secured, the canes should bo tied up to the trellis. This requires care, as the young, brittle shoots are easily broken. In securing the main cane to the trellis, it is safer to allow the cane to hang three or four inches below rather than close up to the trellis, as the laterals are more easily secured than when they have to be bent downwards. REMOVAL Or WEAK SHOOTS. After the vines are fairly started the next important operation is disbudding, that is removing all weak superfluous shoots that grow out around the base of the spurs, leaving one or two of the strongest and most promising shoots to grow until the the one showing the finest bunch can be determined, when the other can be shortened back or removed if not required to furnish the trellis. The laterals should not bo unduly crowded, as every lateral should have ample space to fully develop its foliage. A well-covered trellis with clean, hoalthy foliage, is an important factor in the production of well grown and ripened grapes.