THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 49 



Could we, under all circumstances, regulate this, much would be 

 done to insure a crop of ripe grapes every season ; thus by irri- 

 gation, the new developments might be encouraged in early summer, 

 when they are often stationary, in consequence of dry weather ; 

 and, on the other hand, in autumn, had we the means to thoroughly 

 drain the mould about the roots, it would go far to induce ripeness, 

 which, under the influence of ordinary seasons, is deferred till so 

 late, that injury from frosts is a matter of frequent occurrence, and 

 in wet autumns the fruit is entirely spoiled, because of its inability 

 to ripen. The strange anomalies that yet prevail in the science of 

 horticulture, from a waut of attention to principles, is perhaps 

 nowhere so evident or frequently met with as in the management 

 of the vine. We plant them against a wall to induce previous 

 maturity, which at the same time we prevent by placing the roots 

 in a soil as unctuous as the bed of a river, and crowd the branches 

 so thickly together, that the wood and its fruit are as completely 

 shaded from the influence of the sun, by the over-luxuriant foliage 

 consequent on the position of the roots, as though the whole were 

 enveloped in a blanket, and yet marvel that our grapes so seldom 

 ripen. 



The " long rod " method of training is to be preferred for vme3 

 in the open air because of the less amount of shade ; and that the 

 wall may be properly covered, the horizontal branches should be 

 trained along at about a foot from the ground, and the rods upwards 

 from them, at not less than two feet from each other. By the 

 beginning of March all pruning should be completed, and the plants 

 nailed up ; after which no further attention will be required until 

 Midsummer, by which time the bunches will have set, and the 

 berries require thinning ; this should be done with a pair of pointed 

 scissors, leaving the remainder loose upon the bunch, so as to have 

 room for each individual to swell to a full size, and at the same time 

 the branches which bear them should be shortened to the joint 

 beyond the fruit, and any after-shoots that may appear from these 

 laterals must be taken away as they come, that the bottom growth 

 may be encouraged to occupy the wall for the next year. In 

 nailing the young shoots of a vine, care should be taken to leave the 

 shred loose round the branch, because the latter will swell very 

 much and if at all obstructed in its upward progress, become 

 crooked or perhaps break. Towards the end of summer, if very dry 

 weather occur, the plants are liable to attacks from red spider, and 

 if this happens before the fruit is fully grown, measures must bo 

 taken to reduce their numbers ; clear water thrown with force from 

 a garden-engine is perhaps the best remedy, and if frequently re- 

 peated, will certainly dislodge them, or the leaves may be dusted 

 over with sulphur. When the fruit is j ust ripe it should be covered 

 with gauze bags to exclude insects, and on the approach of winter 

 the branches should be partially unnailed, that the air may get at 

 the back of the branches, to ripen the part previously couhned to 

 the wall. The pruning may then be done, and the wall washed 

 with a mixture of lime, sulphur, and soot, if it is supposed there are 

 many insects in the crevices. 



February. 



