106 THE GARDENER. [March 



starting the following year. The border being ready for planting, 

 and its temperature tested with the aid of a ground thermometer, 

 in order that the roots may not receive a check through being 

 planted in soil of a lower temperature than that in which they have 

 been growing, the Vines should be planted at a distance of 3 feet 

 apart, for reasons which shall be referred to towards the end of our 

 remarks. 



In planting the Vines, it is important to have all the ball of earth 

 in an equable moist state, so that when it is pricked with a sharp- 

 pointed stick it will mould down in the hands. All that is neces- 

 sary is to prick the outer surface of the ball of earth and remove the 

 soil on the surface of the ball down to the roots, and disentangle 

 the latter, laying them out at equal distances. Over the bed of soil 

 shake a little fine earth amongst the roots, and press firmly, making 

 the whole bed of soil and the ball of earth of equal firmness. 



There is no advantage, but rather the reverse, gained by shaking 

 the balls of earth to pieces, if this important matter is not attended 

 to and skilfully performed. Neither is there much objection to shak- 

 ing them out if people desire to do so, if the season is not too far 

 advanced, and the Vines have not made too much leaf-growth. After 

 planting, water at a temperature of 85°, and mulch the surface of the 

 border with about an inch deep of horse-droppings. 



Vines from eyes for planting in a similar way can either be pur- 

 chased when about a foot long, or, indeed, at any time up to mid- 

 summer, when it is safe to remove them. If they are grown at home, 

 they should be grown on Mr William Thomson's plan of inserting 

 the eyes in pieces of square turves. A hole is made in the centre of 

 the piece of turf, and a little sharp sand put into it, and the Vine 

 eye pressed down into the sand, leaving the " eye " peeping above 

 the soil. 



The turves should be laid on the surface of a bed, with a gentle 

 warmth, and moistened over occasionally with a syringe : this is all 

 the labour necessary for a considerable time, until the eyes calyx at 

 either extremity of their base and emit roots shortly afterwards. 



As soon as the roots increase in number, and are travelling over 

 the surface of the turves, a layer of sifted earth should be laid over 

 them : this, of course, will fall away when the turves are separated 

 individually, and leave a healthy mass of roots ready for planting out 

 in the border. We have kept Vines on turves in this way to the 

 end of May, until an early crop of Grapes was cleared from old Vines 

 and a new border made ready for planting. But it is safer when 

 such a case is anticipated to grow the Vines in pots, and plant the 

 ball of earth intact. We have now, as it were, the Vines planted and 



