50 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



In the greenhouse grapes can never be more than a secondary 

 consideration where the regular occupants of the house are at all 

 cared for, their management differing so greatly from that proper 

 for the majority of greenhouse plants. Yet, with some judgment in 

 alternating the treatment, and a little allowance for trifling in- 

 feriority in both, a medium crop may be obtained. As some part 

 of the collection will remain in the house until June or even longer, 

 the first stage of the vine's progress will be slow, and the ripening 

 of the fruit consequently deferred till rather late in the season, 

 unless an endeavour is made, through July and August, to get them 

 forward as rapidly as possible. The vines, in the earlier stages of 

 their growth, require au elevated and very damp atmosphere, which is 

 decidedly inimical to the health of the general collection of plants ; 

 the latter must therefore be removed to the open air, or some other 

 place, as soon as the weather will permit, and if some slight pro- 

 tection can be afforded them, the removal can take place at the 

 beginning of May. The house should then be kept close, com- 

 paratively, in order to raise the temperature to about 70° through the 

 day. Freely syringing the foliage every night and morning, and the 

 liberal use of water on the paths and floor, will maintain the requisite 

 amount of moisture in the atmosphere necessary to their full and 

 early development. As the berries begin to colour, the atmosphere 

 should be rendered as dry as it was moist before, that the fruit may 

 possess a full deep colour and rich flavour ; but unless this can be 

 effected in the early part of the autumn, by pursuing the course 

 pointed out, it will be quite impossible afterwards, as the plants will 

 require to return to their stations, and then the necessary waterings 

 will create so much damp in the house as, in all probability, will 

 lead to shanking and rottenness, especially if the weather prove at 

 all cloudy. The summer must therefore be devoted to the vines, and 

 after the crop is gathered, they may be taken out of the house, so 

 as not to interfere with the winter management of the plants. 



When grapes are grown in the regular vinery, of course they are 

 the permanent object, and nothing antagonistic to their welfare can 

 be permitted, though it not unfrequently happens that false economy 

 induces the introduction of other subjects as difficult to reconcile as 

 even New Holland plants. In such cases perfection never is or can 

 be arrived at. The period of starting the vines, as it is called, or 

 commencing the seasonal action, depends entirely on the time the 

 fruit is destined to be ripe. The earliest crops are started in 

 November ; these are usually ripe in April and May. But the most 

 usual time is January ; and for real excellence, perhaps, this is the 

 best that can be selected, because the vines then progress in unison 

 with the season, or rather they have the advancing season to aid 

 them. When it is determined to commence exciting the plants, 

 they should be pruned and cleaned, by removing the loose bark 

 from the stems and branches, and if insects are suspected of har- 

 bouring on them, the whole should be coated with a mixture of lime 

 and sulphur, or sott-soap and sulphur, made into the consistence of 

 thick paste, and applied with a brush, taking care to rub it into 

 every crevice. This will prove fatal to the mealy bug, scale, red 



