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setting of the fruit, and more especially 

 in the earlier part of the forcing season, 

 use a camel-hair pencil to disperse the 

 pollen on the stigmas. Some kinds of 

 grapes have very little pollen, while 

 others have plenty to spare. In this 

 case take a sheet of white paper, and 

 hold it under the bunch that has abund- 

 ance of pollen, gently shake the bunch, 

 and then with the camel-hair pencil ap- 

 ply the pollen to such kinds as are deti- 

 cient." 



Thinning the Berries. — As soon as 

 the berries are set and begin to swell, 

 it is time to thin them. For this opera- 

 tion there are proper scissors, with long 

 handles and short blades. Provided 

 with these, some good soft matting, and 

 with something to catch the berries in. 



the tarpaulin is the best, as it keeps 

 them dry, and of course renders them 

 more able to endure frost." — Gard. 

 Chron. 



Vines in Pots. — The first week in 

 February is the best time for planting 

 the cuttings of vines in pots, to remain 

 in cultivation in them. If intended to 

 be fruited next season, plant the cut- 

 tings in thirty-twos, selecting well- 

 ripened shoots, with only one plump 

 bud, and cutting the shoot at each end 

 down to about one inch and a half of 

 the bud. Bury this bud in the earth, 

 composed of equal parts of fresh light 

 turfy soil and decayed leaves. Plunge 

 in a bottom heat of 90° ; temperature 

 of frame 60o to 90°. In April, shift to 

 the fruiting pots, twos or fours, accord- 



(which make excellent vinegar or tarts, j ing to the strength of plant desired. 

 &c.,) commence the operation by tying : Soil, two parts light turfy loam, and one 

 up the shoulders of such bunches as | part old night-soil. Temperature, 60° 

 require it, to the wires on each side of j to 80°. Place the pots so near the 

 the rafter ; or, if the bunches are very roof, that the shoots may be at once 

 large, fasten some thin narrow lath to trained near the glass as they advance. 



the rafter, to tie the shoulders to. 



Best length for the shoots, from four to 



Some persons use a thin piece of! six feet, though they will bear even ten 

 Jath notched at each end, to prop the | feet ; therefore stop each when a foot 

 shoulders off from the main body of the j longer than required for next season, 

 bunch; but I do not like this plan so j Manure water must be employed to 

 well as the matting, the props being apt i sustain the growth of the vines, and 



to drop out 



In order to have large berries, thin 

 very freely, so much so, that the bunches 

 look like slieletons. Of course thin ac- 

 cording to the kind ; some sorts under 

 the best management do not swell to 

 such a size as others ; hence it is ne- 

 cessary to know the mediu.-n size to 

 which every variety will swell, and thin 

 accordingly. 



Watering the Roots. — Use manure 

 water alternately with clear water. If 

 the border be well watered once a week, 

 it is sufficient. Remember to place 

 boards to walk on, and as soon as the 

 water has sunk in, and the surface be 



every means adopted to ripen the wood. 

 Early in September, the pots may be 

 placed out of doors, on the north side 

 of a wall, and laid on their sides, to 

 hasten the vines into a state of rest. 

 In November, they may be returned 

 under glass, and forcing commenced 

 to ripen a crop by the end of March. 

 If strong, and grown in No. 2 pots, 

 seven bunches may be left upon a Ham- 

 burgh, eight upon a Muscadine, but 

 u[)on weaker plants only about halt 

 those numbers. 



Mr. W. Stothard, gardener at Chant- 

 rey House, in 1841, gives these direc- 

 tions : — " When the vines that are let 



comes rather dry, go over it with a into the house have reached the top of 

 Dutch hoe and rough rake; the more { the rafters, instead of stopping the lead- 



frequently it is stirred the less water it 

 will take ; if, however, it is so smooth 

 as to let the water run off, instead of 

 sinking in, point the surface over with 

 a fork and leave it rough. 



Covering the Vines in Winter. — 

 " When the vines are not covered with 

 glass in consequence of other fruits 

 being grown in the house, protect them 

 from severe frost ; hay-bands may be 

 used, and long straight wheat straw ; 



ing shoot, as is commonly done, and 

 often too soon, which causes the eyes 

 to burst, and renders them useless for 

 the succeeding year, turn the shoot 

 back, and having ready a pot of suitable 

 size, well drained and filled w'ith fresh 

 turfy loam and rotted dung, of equal 

 parts, place it upon the back shelf or 

 wall of the pit, and as soon as the young 

 shoot has attained a sufficient length to 

 be laid into the pot, cut out two or three 



