176 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



keep the temperature down by increased ventilation, and provided 

 the house is sufficiently ventilated, there is no danger of scorching. 

 The early part of May is undoubtedly the best time for planting, 

 but the most perfect success may be insured by planting in June, 

 provided vines more advanced in growth are selected. To speak 

 more plainly, they should now be about thirty inches or so in height, 

 instead of twelve inches, which is the proper height for those planted 

 earlier. 



Until the end of August they should receive rather liberal sup- 

 plies of water, be syringed moderately once or twice a day, as the 

 weather may happen to be cool and moist, or hot and dry, and 

 after the month mentioned, the syringing must be withheld, and 

 the ventilators opened as widely as possible night and day to insure 

 the proper ripening of the canes. After the beginning of No- 

 vember, the ventilators may be closed in case of severe frosts, aa 

 it is better for the vines not to be exposed to these. The pruning 

 may be done some time during the winter, and this consists in 

 shortening the rod back to the end of the rafter, if it has gone 

 beyond that point, and the removal of the lateral growth, which 

 must be cut off close to the cane. The soil must be main- 

 tained in a nice moist state throughout the winter, for, contrary to 

 the general opinion, vines suffer severely if the border is allowed to 

 become dust dry. The vines may be forced in the same manner as 

 those in pots, and may be started at any time after Christmas, but 

 amateurs will find it more advantageous to start them with a gentle 

 heat in March. From ten to fourteen bunches may be left upon 

 each vine, according to the length of the rod. When they com- 

 mence to grow freely, cover the surface with a layer of half-rotted 

 manure ; and as soon as the berries begin to swell, supply alternately 

 with weak liquid manure until the grapes begin to colour, and then 

 discontinue its use, and supply them exclusively with clear water. 

 As soon as the crop is gathered, the vines should be pulled up and 

 destroyed, for they are no longer required, as better results are 

 obtained from vines that have been planted one year only. 



To produce a crop annually, only one-half of the house must 

 be planted each year, unless there are two houses available for the 

 purpose. In the case of a span-roof house, one side may be 

 planted this year, and the other the next, and so on. There is no 

 loss of space in having two houses, for the house from which the 

 crop of grapes is gathered, say this summer, may be devoted to the 

 preparation of plants for the conservatory during the remaining 

 part of the autumn, to the protection of bedding plants during the 

 Avinter, and to the production of an early crop of strawberries 

 without firs-heat in the spring. By the time the strawberries are 

 gathered, then another batch of vines must be planted. The house 

 can also be devoted to the late summer and winter crops of cucum- 

 bers, if it is so desired. 



It will be needful to strike a batch of eyes every season, and 

 these should be put in small pots, filled with light soil, and when 

 nicely rooted be shifted into six-inch pots. Until just before the 

 berries begin to colour, these should remain with the vines in bear- 



