Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07
MAkING Wine N ENGLAND
VINEYARD POSSIBILITIES OF
BRITAIN TO BE TESTED.
Experiments at Wisely, Surrey,
Under Direction Of the Royal
horticultural Society.

From the London Mail.
If an experiment which the Royal Hor-
ticuitural Society is carrying out in
its gardens at Wisely prove success
full England may in the future be a
land of wine as well as of corn. her
sunny southern slopes be laid out with
vineyards and the juice of her grapes
in beverage form be added to the good
things which are homemade.
And all this will be the outcome of the
society's experimental vineyard. which.
planted three or four years ago with the
object of discovering whether there is
a good variety of vine that will flourish
IN the open air in this country, is now
proving interesting to the experts. who
are just beginning to be abe to dis
tinguish between good and bad.
Heavy Grape Crop.
The majority of the vines are now in
flower. and several are set for heavy
crops of fruit if the next six weeks give
seasonabie warmth and sunshine BY
the end of August there will be much
useful knowledge gained about the pos
siblities of English vineyards.
But what strikes the visitor at Wisely
more than anything else is the drastic
nature of the experiment. The society
Chronological station stands on the high
est boint in the gardens. and just below
it. at an altitude of about $50 feet above
sea level, are the trim rows Of healthy
and vigorous vines. More than thdt,
the vineyard is probably unique In its
aspect. The latter could hardly be worse
than it is, for the vines face north and
nartheast, on an exposed slope. and the
only shelter Gf under the circumstances
such term be admissiblep is of wood
lands on the south and west.
Severe Test for Vines.
The flourishing condition of the vine
ward is therefore a remarkable fact, and
1t is a natural inference that vines which
can do we'll under such conditions would
prosper on almost any reasonable site in
this country. The vineyard was laid
deeply under snow several times during
last winter, and once, In the early spring,
was subjected to no less than 32 degrees
OF frost. There were many other frosts.
all more or less severe. up to little more
than a month ago. the last June frost
cutting the bracken on Wisely common,
but leaving the vines unscathed.
There are eleven rows of vines In the
vineyard, representing several scores OF
varieties Of black and white grapes. most
The vines are placed fifty in a row. each
one a distance of ten feet from Its near
est neighbors, and the rows twelve feet
apart. Along the rows there are stakes
driven firmly into the soil. carrying line
of tarred hemp at a distance of eighteen
inches from the ground. The vines are
not allowed to grow tall, but are tied
down to the hempen line, so that they
spread close to the soil and obtain as
much as possible OF the warmth conserv-
ed by it,
That the vines are now well established
goes without saying. seeing how we'll they
came through the long and terrible ordeal
of last winter. The specimens of the
Brandt variety are in exceptionally prom
Using condition. and have made so much
growth that they are almost meeting In
their row. The Gammy NORA pretty
little black grape-ripened few punches
last year, but this year the vines are
massed with fruit. The Gammy Ereau,
the Royal Muscadine and the Pineau st.
Laurent (the latter now In prolific flower)
are other hopeful varieties.