52 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Previous to starting them for the second season's growth, prune 

 the canes back to about nine inches below the joint, at wliich they 

 were stopped in the summer, and remove all the laterals close to the 

 main stem. After they are pruned, wash them with hot water and 

 soap, and secure them to the wires with strong bast or rather etout 

 cord. The weight of the vines, when in full growth the follow- 

 ing season, will be considerable, and unless the supports are strong, 

 there will be a risk of their giving way. They must not be tied 

 tightly, or as soon as the cane begins to swell, the ties will cut it, 

 and much injury be done to the vines in consequence. As a pre- 

 cautionary measure, the ties should be loose enough to aftord space 

 for the rods, should they swell to double the size they are when 

 pruned. As they should not be forced the second year, they will 

 require no artificial heat to start them ; but to afford them some 

 assistance to bi-eak strongly, the house must be kept rather close 

 until the shoots are si.f inches or so in length, and they should also 

 be syringed twice a day. After this stage, admit the air freely to 

 promote the production of a stout and firm growth. The ventilation 

 will require regulating in much the same manner as during the first 

 season. The topmost shoot must be trained up the rafter, and 

 stopped when it reaches the to]) of the house. The other shoots 

 will require training out horizontally, and to be stopped when about 

 fifteen inches in length. Fruit will be produced on nearly all the 

 laterals; but as over-cropping at this stage will be most injurious, 

 all but four of the most promising bunches on each vine should be 

 i-emoved. The removal of the bunches may be deferred until after 

 the berries are set, without much injury to the vines ; but, as a rule, 

 there will not be much trouble in determining which of the bunches 

 are the best before they arrive at that stage. In cold, sunless 

 weather, a little artificial heat should be employed to prevent the 

 atmosphere becoming stagnant, but very little indeed will suffice to 

 accomplish the desired purpose. "When the fire is burning during 

 tlie day, the ventilators at the apex should be opened, to secure a 

 complete change of air. The laterals should be nine inches apart, 

 and if the canes are very short jointed, remove those not required 

 wlien two or three inches in length, and, as far as practicable, pre- 

 serve the strongest. 



HOW TO BEGIN BEE-KEEPING. 



HIS is the best time in the whole year to begin bee- 

 keeping ; but those who have resolved to begin, and are 

 not now prepared for action, may very well defer 

 operations until May or June. In the month of 

 February you may safely buy old stocks, for they 

 have passed the worst of the winter, and will from this time 

 improve. In May or June you may secure newly-hived swarms, 

 and, if that is your intention, you must arrange for purchasing them 

 some time in advance, that tliey may be delivered soon after they 



