DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19902, 23 September 1926, Page 16

DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB.

The Dunedin Gardening Club met on Tuesday evening, when there was a good attendance. Mr F. H. Hollingworth presided. The subject for the evening was a talk on “ Grape Vine Culture,” by Mr H. Clarke, who dealt with the matter in a very instructive way. He explained the planting and the preparation of the bed which required ample drainage. Drainage was essential for good results. Good sweet soil was what they liked. He said he favoured the single stem training, and it was necessary to open up the. house in the winter to ripen tho canes thoroughly. Pruning consisted of the removal of all side laterals to one eye. In cool greenhouses about September 1 was the time lo close up the house to start the vinos into growth, using top ventilation only. When the new lateral appeared a strong and wellsituated one was chosen, the remainder being rubbed out. When Tic lateral had grown and showed fruit, it was pinched off two buds beyond the fruiting one. All lateral or side shoots, that might form in this fruiting lateral were pinched out to one eye, and kept there by further pinching as growth appeared. The terminal bud, however, was pinched to one additional eye every time it made growth. Thinning the bunches should be done when the fruit was very small, about the size of small sweet pea seed, and it should he done with care. Attention and practice was necessary to thin a hunch properly. The hunches when ripe should he firm, hut not over-crowded. Care should he taken during the growing season witli the ventilation. Sudden changes in temperature or checks of any sort were fatal to good results. Mr Clarke also dealt with the diseases the vine was subject to and their prevention. After he had answered a number of questions, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Clarko on the motion of Mr J. Passmore. Mr f J. W. MTntyrc exhibited some fine specimens of native plants and Mr L. Fraser and others exhibited narcissus, polyanthus, wallflower, and hyacinths.