54 THE FLORIST. 



potted in 24-size pots, using rich turfy loam from a pasture in a rough 

 state, mixing with it some manure from the sheepfold. Pay atten- 

 tion to draining ; but at every shift the crocks must be removed from 

 the ball before repotting. The plants (if the weather is bright) 

 will require shading for a day or two after shifting. 



Stopping the Vines during their growth will now be the prin- 

 cipal thing requiring attention, and on this all chance of success de- 

 pends. Although this system of stopping will at first appear difficult 

 to understand, yet by a little practice, and adhering to the following 

 directions, the operator will soon become conversant with it. It 

 being very important that it should be properly performed, I shall 

 endeavour to give as clear an idea of it as 1 can. Suppose the plants 

 to have made a growth of six inches, stop them at the sixth eye, or 

 lower, according to the strength of the plants. The top lateral eye 

 will start first, which must be removed as soon as it makes its ap- 

 pearance ; this will encourage the top natural bud to start.* Keep 

 the extreme points of the shoots quite erect, by tying them to stakes. 

 The lateral shoots below the top eye must be stopped to the first joint; 

 but w^hen the leader has a fair start, they can be cut off quite close. 



The only danger in cutting the side-shoots off too soon, is in 

 starting the fruiting buds ; but, as I before stated, if the leader has a 

 fair start, the lateral shoots may be removed without danger of the 

 fruiting buds bursting. 



Continue stopping every fifth or sixth eye, as before recommended. 

 Do not allow the leaders to run and then stop them back to the re- 

 quired length, but pinch out the points as soon as they make five or 

 six eyes : as this is of great importance, the Vines should be daily 

 examined ; a day's neglect would make a material difference. Con- 

 tinue shifting, as the plants may require it, using plenty of drainage 

 and 11 -inch pots at the final shift. Liquid manure should be used 

 often, but not immediately after shifting. When the rods are from 

 four to five feet long, discontinue stopping, allowing the leader to 

 grow at will till the wood has ripened up to the last stop, when they 

 can be removed and tacked to a south wall to harden off". 



There are some desirable advantages attending this system of 

 stopping. Firstly, the wood is hard, short-jointed, better ripened 

 and stronger than when allowed to run ; at every stop the ords gain 

 in size, in consequence of not allowing them to make headway. 

 Secondly, when forcing commences the buds break readily ; and 

 more regularly from the base to the point, and of equal strength ; 

 by stopping, and managing the lateral shoots properly, the fruiting 

 buds will be very prominent. 



At every place where they seem stopped, there will be a knot or 

 burr formed, which will have a tendency to check the direct flov/ of 



* In order to make the system of stopping better understood, I have used 

 the above terms to distinguish the buds. The naturalhud is the one from which 

 the fruit is produced the following season ; but the leading shoot, after every 

 stop, must be obtained from a natural ' eye.' The lateral eye is the small bud 

 situated close to the fruiting bud, and always starts during the summer's growth, 

 a shoot from which never should be permitted to become a leader. 



