CALENDAR OF OPEKATIONS. 18-5 



the shoots are sufficiently ndvaiieecl to show the best 

 ones for fruiting, and also for next year's "SA^o'od, all, ex- 

 cepting these, may be rubbed out. It is best, however, 

 to leave an extra one on each spur, in case of accident , 

 for, when fire-heat is not used, the young shoots are quite 

 brittle, and sometimes burst out before a sufficient 

 amount of woody fibre is foimed at their base to connect 

 Ihem firmly with the parent branch. For the same rea 

 son they ought to be handled very carefully, and not be 

 drawn down to the wires too soon. Towards the middle 

 or latter part of tlie month, according as the locality is 

 free from frosts, the house should be kept more closely 

 shut, and the vines allowed to commence their growth 

 in earnest. Let the temperature be gradually raised a 

 degree or two each day, beginning with 70°, and in- 

 creasing to 85° in the middle of the day. Do not 

 open the lower ventilators, as the cold air checks the 

 circulation of the sap, and paralyzes the action of the plants. 

 Close the house early at night, use Avater freely over- 

 head, and give the vines every chance to push into vig- 

 orous growth. The outside borders should also be 

 attended to. We will presume that a mulching of manure 

 was applied in the fall, which should now be forked over, 

 leaving the soil loose and open, to allow the air and sun 

 to act upon the sub-soil, thus invigorating the roots. 

 If this covering of manure was omitted, apply it at once, 

 after lightly forking over the border. The spring rains 

 will carry the soluble fertilizing niateiial to the roots, as 

 food for the plants. 



THE FORCIXG HOUSE. 



The earliest crops will now be ripe, and the second 

 early "atoning." When the last swell of the fruit com- 

 mcuces, syringing overhead may be discontinued, and 



