CHAP. Ill VILLA GARDENING 329 



canes one year and fniiting them the next. Ripe Grapes have 

 frequently been cut from vines in pots from sixteen to eighteen 

 months old from the eyes. To do this there must be no hitch in 

 the work from the time the eyes are put in, in January or 

 February, till the Grapes are ripe the following April or May. 

 The eyes may either be started in sods of turf or in single pots, in a 

 brisk temiDeratm'e of from 60° to 65° at night ; and all advantage 

 possible must be taken of the sun's warmth by closing early in the 

 afternoon. As soon as root action is fairly vigorous, and the young 

 canes are moving rapidly upwards, they must be placed on a shelf 

 where the young rods can be trained to wires within a foot or so of 

 the glass. A shelf at the back of a lean-to house will do very 

 well, training the rods downwards. Firm short-jointed canes are 

 better for forcing than thicker wood, if less firmly built, by being 

 less exposed to light. In all forcing (and the preparatory work is 

 clearly a part of it) light in abundance is absolutely necessary. 

 The young canes should be stopped when they have reached the 

 full fruiting length, Avliich may be 6 feet. The laterals should 

 be pinched back regiUarly to one leaf in order that none of the 

 plant's energy may be wasted; and as soon as the growth has 

 ceased, and the requisite impulse been given to maturation, the 

 plants should be moved to a warm south wall in the open air, 

 and tacked up to it to finish the consolidation. When the leaves 

 fall do what little pruning is required, and start forcing in No- 

 vember if the Grapes are required early. Some cultivators prefer 

 to force the vines without repotting, on the assmiiption that to 

 repot tends to disorganise ; but this need not be feared, as I have 

 often repotted vhies before forcing began, and shifted them into 

 large pots or boxes, when the Grapes were set, with pretty much 

 the same result. I have also plunged the pots, M'ithout repotting, 

 into large pots, filling in the space with turf and manure. Another 

 plan, and a good one, is to enclose the pots with wire netting, 

 filling in Avith compost, into which the roots soon work. Whatever 

 plan is adopted the object is the same, viz. to supply the plants 

 with just the food they require — i.e. to place it within their reach, 

 and the roots will soon find it. Twelve-inch pots are a good size 

 for fruiting pot vines. They may be turned out into troughs or 

 boxes at the beginning of the forcing season, if this plan is more 

 convenient, instead of repotting or enclosing them in wire netting, 

 or trying by any other plan to supply the food they need. It is 

 best to raise young plants every year, although, if they are not too 

 heavily cropped, and are supported by artificial stimulants, a second 

 crop may be taken the following year, or a selection may be made 

 from the healthiest and strongest. 



