468 FORCING GRAPES IN POTS. 



eight bunches as well as they could be finished, and to grow more 

 than that quantity upon a single vine is no gain. 



The best compost for pot vines is rich turfy loam, about a sixth of 

 fresh dry horse-droppings, and about one pint of bone-dust to each 

 vine, mixing the whole intimately together, using it when compara- 

 tively dry, and at the time of potting making the soil as firm as possible, 

 not only by compression with the hand, but also by ramming it with 

 a blunt stick. The best drainage is oyster-shells, using them three or 

 four deep, and some crushed up and mixed with the soil will not do 

 any harm, but, on the contrary, much good. 



In the earlier stages of their growth the young plants will be much 

 benefited if they receive the assistance of a bottom heat of 75 to 80 ; 

 but more than that is not desirable. The secret of complete success 

 is to start a plant vigorously, and never let it know any check until 

 the growth necessary for fruiting purposes is completed ; then bring 

 it gradually to a state of maturity and final rest. Do not, however, 

 believe that maturity is attained when you see brown bark and yellow 

 leaves ; but maturity means that stage of growth when the pith in the 

 centre of the young shoot has given way to hard matured wood, and 

 when the leaves drop from the leaf-stalk, leaving the latter attached 

 to the wood. Such may be considered a matured, well-ripened plant ; 

 and such a plant, with proper management, in the second season is sure 

 to produce fine, well-matured fruit. To grow vines to this state of 

 perfection, it is necessary that they be trained close to the glass, 

 allowing each sufficient room for the development of its foliage (say 

 eighteen inches apart), and that they be kept clear from insect enemies 

 of all kinds. With the most genial atmosphere and daily syringing 

 necessary for the successful growth of the vine, this is sure to be the 

 case. If the vines attain maturity early in the autumn, then they may 

 be set out of doors, with the branches nailed up to a south wall, with 

 advantage, the object being to bring them early to rest; but, unless 

 the wood is thoroughly ripened, a fruiting pot vine should not be set 

 out of doors at all. 



For very early forcing, to produce ripe grapes the vines should be 

 ripe by the end of July ; and, if such is the case, then they may be 

 placed in a south aspect for a month, and dried off by giving them no 

 more water than may be necessary to keep the leaves from drooping, 

 and then during September the pots may be laid down under a north 

 wall and kept as cool as possible ; and this will be the only winter or 

 dormant season which they will get. 



Forcing the Grapes in Pots. Pruning is a very simple matter, and 

 consists in removing the lateral or secondary branches and shortening the 

 vine to a given length. If the wood is thoroughly matured to the top, the 

 best plan is to leave the vine the full length, say seven feet or eight feet, 

 and then, as the finest buds are at the point, coil the lower part down 

 into the pot, so that four feet to five feet of bearing wood may be left out. 

 For this purpose it will be wise to pot the vines rather low at the last 

 shift, not only to facilitate the coiling, but also to admit of a liberal top 

 dressing of fresh soil over the roots. The coiling will be found a very 



