CHAP. II VILLA GARDENING 325 



shortly after the house is closed at four o'clock or so, should run 

 up to 100°, no harm will be done ; but whenever a high tem- 

 I^erature is permitted there must be abundant moistm'e in the 

 atmosphere. This atmospheric question is a most important one. 

 A heavy, saturated atmosphere, if it continues long without the 

 stimulating effect of sunshine, means stagnation and mildew, and 

 soft flabby leaves, which, when the weather becomes hot, in July 

 and August, will probably fall a prey to red-spider. Where the 

 ventilation is intelligently carried out, the leaves are strong and 

 healthy, and neither red -spider nor mildew find a lodgment on 

 them. But no amount of writing can tell everything. Many 

 things must of necessity be learned by experience. 



Renovating Old Vines. — When vines get out of hand, nine 

 times out of ten the cause must be sought for at the roots. If 

 from any cause the roots of the vine leave the sm-face of the border, 

 which is under the warming and sweetening influence of the sun, 

 and descend to unknown depths after moisture, oue may be sure 

 that at no distant day there will come long-jointed wood, long- 

 stalked bunches of Grapes, with many-shanked berries. When 

 this state of things comes to pass prepare a lot of turfy soil, mixed 

 with some crushed bones and old mortar or plaster. Then open a 

 trench along the border right down to the bottom, wheehng the 

 earth taken out to some other part of the garden, where a top- 

 dressing is required. This trench should be 4 feet wide, and all 

 roots found in it may be cut clean off. Having obtained a clear 

 space the length and depth of the border, commence with forks to 

 loosen and remove the remainder of the earth, working upwards 

 from the trench, saving all the roots by turning them back and 

 covering with mats to keep them fresh. It is best to do tlie border 

 in sections if the house is a long one, otherwise it may be all taken 

 at once. As soon as the border is all cleared out and the drainage 

 put right, fill in with the prepared soil, lay the roots out straight 

 near the surface, covering over all with a mulch of rotten manure. 

 If the border is over 12 feet wide only a part may be made at first, 

 the other portion to be added in a year or two, or when more sup- 

 l)ort was required. If everybody could be convinced how easy and 

 beneficial it is to lift vine roots, no one, I am sure, would jDut 

 up with shanked or unsatisfactory Grapes. The lifting may be 

 done at any season when the vines are not in active growth. I 

 have lifted vine roots at all times from September to March, and I 

 tlo not know that I have any preference. 



Bottling the Grapes. — It is a distinct advantage to be able 

 to cut the Grapes soon after Christmas. It gives an opportunity to 

 prune and clean the vines, and allows a longer period of rest. 



