GROWING GRAPES IN POTS. 33 



ten, eleven, or thirteen inch ; but the ten or eleven inch 

 are large enough for three or four years. 



The vine must be well established in the pot by the 

 month of October, and about the end of November it 

 may be cut back to, say, three feet, and tied to a stick 

 fixed in the pot and may then be set in the house where 

 there is but little or no fire heat, for a week or two. 



I find that if vines in pots are pruned and at once 

 placed in much heat they will bleed. Of course all 

 depends upon the state of the roots ; if they are at all 

 in an active state which they frequently are when grown 

 in pots they will bleed if introduced into a brisk 

 heat immediately after pruning. In the course of a 

 fortnight from the introduction of the vines into the 

 forcing house' the heat may be raised ten degrees, and 

 so continue till the temperature rises to 70, where it 

 may stand until the fruit shows. 



When the fruit is fairly set, a few degrees more 

 may be added to the temperature to swell off the 

 berries quickly. No more young wood must be allowed 

 on these vines than is absolutely necessary, that is, 

 only just the quantity of wood which bears the fruit, 

 and as many laterals springing from the base of the 

 spur as will be required for fruiting next year. If only 

 one bunch is allowed on each lateral, the second bud 

 from the base will be a plump one for fruiting next 

 season, but some care is necessary to maintain a good 

 and vigorous habit in these pot-vines by weekly 

 waterings with liquid manure as soon as the fruit is 

 set. The spur system of pruning must be adhered to. 

 The pots should be set on beds of soil or tan and 

 allowed to remain there till after fruiting, or till the 



D 



