PLANTING AND MANAGEMENT. 65 



top, leave three buds, one for next year's leader, and the 

 two others for side spurs ; proceed downwards, leaving 

 each alternate pair (one on each side) to the wall plate, 

 and as beneath this, the leaves and fruit would be out of 

 the sun's influence, and only subject to encourage mil- 

 dew, all buds ought to be removed. 



The vines may now be carefully washed over with the 

 following preparation, which will destroy the larvse or 

 eggs of insects, if any should be existing. Whale oil 

 soap, one-fourth pound ; sulphur, four pounds ; tobacco, 

 one-fourth pound ; and nux vomica, one ounce : pour over 

 these boiling water, three gallons, and stir all up until 

 thoroughly mixed ; as the nux vomica is a deadly poison 

 to animals, care should be taken that it is not left care- 

 lessly about. A soft painter's brush is the best for the 

 purpose, and after the operation the canes may be slung 

 loosely to the wires till the weather begins to be severe, 

 when they should have a coating of straw three or four 

 inches thick tied around them, and the heads brought down 

 one over the other in a horizontal position, about two feet 

 above the ground level, in rows along the lines of plant- 

 ing; this will leave the lower parts of .the stem nearly 

 upright, and prevent the crown of the roots from being 

 strained or disturbed. At the same time, be prepared with 

 a quantity of recently rotted turf sods, or fresh earth, 

 which has been mixed up two or three months with a 

 third part of good stable or barnyard manure ; fork over 

 the borders both outside and inside of the house, and add 

 a dressing of three inches thick of the above compost. If 

 the crowns were planted slightly elevated, as before 

 recommended, this dressing will make the surfiice level, 

 and greatly assist the production of young rootlets next 

 spring, besides protecting the tender fibres through the 

 winter. Over the whole area may be put a good coating 



