48 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



compost expressly for this purpose, and where it is convenient the 

 following will be found excellent: — Fresh earth from a common, or 

 some other pasture land, that is of a light or sandy quality, whether 

 of a yellow, hazel, or dark colour, is not important ; it should not 

 be taken deeper than four or six inches, with the turf included ; 

 such soil will be sweet and fit for immediate use. First having beaten 

 out the earth from the turf, and clearing it of obnoxious insects, 

 add to it about one-third of decomposed cow-manure, to be well 

 incorporated with the above ; before using, rake out large stones, 

 but do not screen the compost, it is much better without. About 

 the beginning of September is the proper time to prepare the beds 

 for planting ; if the soil be wet, the beds should be raised about 

 six inches above the paths or surface of the ground, laying at the 

 bottom some of the coarse rakings from your heap, by way of 

 drainage ; but if your soil be a dry one, three inches will be 

 sufficient. 



The compost intended to plant the roots in should be about one 

 foot thick, therefore you must remove some of the garden earth to 

 make room for it. The beds should be made up at least two or 

 three weeks prior to planting, in order that the soil may settle ; 

 before you commence, stir the surface of the bed to about three or 

 four inches deep, then raking it to a level surface, divide it into 

 four-inch squares by drawing lines each way, and plant the roots in 

 the centre of the squares, which will keep them in line in an uniform 

 distance. Some use a small trowel for this purpose, while others 

 make use of their fingers ; it matters little which, so that the bulbs 

 are planted about two inches and a half deep, with the eyes 

 upwards ; this being accomplished, with the back of a rake draw the 

 earth over the crowns of the roots, so as to cover them about two 

 inches thick. The best season of planting, for an early bloom, is 

 about the middle of September, and for a middle bloom, in October ; 

 others, for still later flowering, may be planted in December, or the 

 beginning of the year, and, though late, in most seasons flower exceed- 

 ingly well, but do not produce such fine increase. J. W. 



GENEEAL MANAGEMENT OF THE GRAPE VINE. 



BY H. W. P. 



^^^^jE will begin by treating of the management of the grape 

 vine in the open air, and will presume that care has 

 been taken in selecting the most suitable position on 

 planting, for it is quite certain, that unless the roots of 

 out-door grapes are in a very favourable position, there 

 will exist but little probability in our variable climate of the fruit 

 ever attaining to perfection, as regards flavour, even if it ripens at 

 all. Let them, by all available means, be placed so that they may 

 be fully acted upon by the sun, and if, in addition, the supply of 

 moisture can be acted on, it will greatly facilitate their management. 



