152 CULTIVATION OP THE GRAPE UNDER GLASS. 



may ripen well and naturally. After the leaves fall, the laterals 

 should be cut off to the main cane, and the main vine cut back 

 to six feet from the bottom of the rafter, all loose bark on the old 

 wood removed, the cane washed with tepid water and a little 

 soap, and painted with the mixture already mentioned. Wash 

 all the walls of the vinery with hot Kme whitewash, with a little 

 sulphur stirred in it, and clean all the wood-work and glass tho- 

 roughly, especially all the nooks, comers and crannies, with 

 plenty of soap and water. Lay down the vines, and cover well 

 with leaves as before. Sometimes the mice get into the house, 

 and finding the leaves an excellent place of concealment, take up 

 their abode in them, and eat the bark of the vines. It is for the 

 purpose of putting a stop to such mischief that the nux vomica 

 is put into the paint. Perhaps a better way is to twist tightly 

 some small straw ropes, and wind these securely around the 

 whole of each vine, from the ground to the top, completely 

 encasing each, and then laying them down along the front of 

 the house. The mice will not gnaw through the straw rope. 



In the third year the fires will be again started about the first 

 of February, the covering removed from the vines, the vines weU 

 syringed twice a day with tepid water until the buds burst. As 

 soon as it can be seen that two shoots are starting from one eye, 

 rub off the weaker, and discontinue the syringing of the vine 

 untQ the first leaf is fully expanded. The requisite moisture 

 should be maintained by the trays of water on the pipes and 

 sprinkling the floor. 



As soon as the bunches can be discerned, the heat of the 

 house, which has been maintained at from 45* to 50° by night, 

 and from 10° to 15° higher by day, should be raised about 

 5° higher, and gradually increased, so that by the time the 

 shoots have extended three inches in length, the heat will be 

 raised to 55° or G0° at night, and from 65° to 75° by day. From 

 this point there should be a daily increase of the temperature 

 until the vines begin to bloom, when it should have reached a 

 night temperature of 65°, and about 15' higher by day for 



