PLANTING AND MANAGEMENT. 63 



progressing, aud water ought to be applied to the soil ac- 

 cordingly. As there may be reason in all things, so in 

 this, and the borders ought not to be saturated by too 

 often repeating the application, but of this there is not 

 much danger if the under base is well drained. A fork- 

 ing, both inside and out, over the whole surface, will now 

 be of service, but do not injure or disturb the roots ; this 

 will loosen up and render the bed more porous, and the 

 small rootlets will feel their way more freely, after which 

 a mulching of dung or short grass, four or five inches 

 thick, will prevent evaporation, keep an equal tempera- 

 ture and moisture in the soil, and, during hot and dry 

 weather, will almost entirely prevent the want of that 

 greatest of evil necessities, artificial watering, to the out- 

 side beds. Gradually increase the heat as the vines pro- 

 gress more rapidly ; by the beginning of June it may be 

 allowed to rise from 95° to 100'^ at mid-day, and if the 

 air is kept damp, scorching from so high a temperature 

 will be prevented, and both combined will enable the 

 plants to develop their fullest energies. 



Many persons do not give heat enough ; even some of 

 our very best grape growers are sparing in this respect. 

 We ought to consider that, as the grape vine is generally 

 grown under glass, we place it in a position, by the sup- 

 ply of rich food, to produce a more than natural disten- 

 tion of cellular tissue ; the larger leaves also are capable of 

 doing more work, in elaborating the juices drawn up from 

 the roots, and these large leaves being filled with an un 

 common amount of sap, require a corresponding assistance 

 in the form of heat and light, to properly chemicalize 

 (excuse the expression) this extra quantity of crude fluid. 

 Hence the necessity of a warmer temperature than would 

 suffice for the same plants, if they were growing in the 

 open air, and the roots in a soil only ordinarily fertile. 



