i88i.] THE FRUIT -GARDEN. 77 



— for urine, especially cow's, is rich in potash salts — in order to have 

 strong vigorous growths, without which you may look for fine fruit in 

 vain. If you have used wood-ashes for opening material, they will 

 also supply potash. 



After your heap has lain a few weeks, it will be ready to put into the 

 border ; but in so doing it must be mixed. To do this properly, the 

 heap should be sliced perpendicularly with the spade. Fill in the soil 

 some inches higher than the floor level, and do not be afraid of tread- 

 ing it down if it is dry ; but if it is the least pasty, allow it to sink of 

 itself. Year by year you may add to the breadth of your border, until 

 it is 16 or 20 feet, or even more, broad. 



Having settled the question of soil, we must now think of plants, 

 and how to plant them. The best kind, if you are to put in the flue — 

 which'we hope, for your own sake, you will — is Black Hamburg. This 

 is regarded as the most desirable Grape, by the most extensive growers 

 in this country, even for their purpose ; so you can understand that it 

 is a good one. It is, moreover, very easily grown, and is just the thing 

 for you. We would strongly advise you to stick to this ; but if you 

 are determined to have a white one, let it be Reeves's Muscadine, or 

 Foster's Seedling, for such vineries as yours ; and we do not recommend 

 you to grow a collection. You cannot grow any more than four plants 

 in your house, for you must have 3 feet from plant to plant to allow 

 them proper room. Our advice is to have three of these Black Ham- 

 burgs. The best plants to buy are well-ripened canes of last year's 

 raising. When you buy them, see that they are not stunted plants that 

 have been cut back. After you have got them, water them when neces- 

 sary, and keep them in the pots until they begin to grow. When they 

 do so, rub off all the buds as they start except two, which should be left 

 about 4 inches from the surface of the pot ; but no pruning should 

 be done, or they may bleed ; then turn them out of the pots, disen- 

 tangle the roots, and plant them, with the roots spread out near the 

 surface, as you would plant anything else. After planting give them 

 a soaking of water at a temperature of 100° F., and mulch with rotted 

 manure. They should be placed about 6 or 8 inches from the front 

 wall. We are of course presuming that they are to be planted inside. 

 If the border is wholly outside, the plants will require planting outside, 

 and holes must be made in the front wall through which the canes will 

 pass into the inside of the house. In this case the buds must be left 

 further up the canes — just as far up as will allow of the plants being 

 planted outside, and the growing buds reaching a foot or so inside the 

 house. The holes and exposed part of the Vines should then be covered 

 over with straw to prevent the sap getting chilled, or the wind from 

 blowing through the holes — which ought to be 4 inches in diameter — 

 and so chilling and stopping the growth of the young shoots. 



J. H. 

 {To he continued.) 



