" Vine Culture."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6002, 24 February 1891, Page 2

" Vine Culture."

— _-, Sir,— Your correspondent "Pip" deserves thanks for his remarks about grape growing. For the last two years, a great deal of correspondence has been elicited by the Auckland papers : re ; vine cijlturef % Accidentally it has been found that ground culture is the proper method. I may observe that it was considered impossible to grow grapes outdoors as a payable crop in the northern districts. But now through a closer and more natural method, ib has become almost settled that a different method will have to be observed, viz., ground culture. Scientific reasons should be given for the difference of - treatment, and that can be readily understood if we bear in mind the necessary conditions requisito for the successful result. Grape vines require heat and moisture, steady and continuous. Under glass houses these | conditions can be maintained. Now, out in the open variations of temperature are often taking place, especially the further we rise from the surface of the soil. The earth absorbs a vast quantity of heat from the sun's rays, which is given back again towards nightfall in the form of dew. I am not competent to give even an estimate of how much, or what quantity of heat is evolved during the night. Only this, that whatever heat radiates from the soil soon becomes lost, if not immediately absorbed by vegetation. Consequently to capture this evolving heat we must trail the vines close along the ground. Not more than two feeb high will give the best results. Some advocate a trench being du>, so that the branches being suspended can then be watered occasionally. My excuse fojc penning these few lines is to enlist the interests of those who care to advance the prosperity of the race. I am confident that grapes can be grown in large quantities by the right method, and we have a lot to learn yet, only we must get out of the old ruts. — I am, &c, Homo.