246 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



of a leaf or two, the strongest of the young plants raised in beds may be placed in 

 5-inch pots, the weaker in 3-inch pots, whilst those inserted in 3-inch pots may be trans- 

 ferred to 5 or 6 inch when the small ones are fairly filled with roots. They may be 

 arranged on a bed or on shelves over hot-water pipes, where they can be trained 

 near the glass or in all the light possible, syringing them in the morning and at 

 closing time. A gentle bottom heat for about a month is helpful to growth. The 

 cultivator should endeavour to secure a mass of fibrous roots, sturdy short-jointed 

 growth, and well-ripened canes. Such may be obtained by using rather light gritty soil, 

 without manure, feeding at the surface with phosphatic manure, stopping the laterals at 

 the first leaf and to one joint of subsequent growths, and growing in all the light 

 possible. The correct procedure in raising vines from eyes will be more readily under- 

 stood from the illustration, Fig. 74, page 245. 



The young vines must make and complete their growth in a light structure, due 

 attention being paid to ventilation, watering, and providing atmospheric moisture. 

 When thoroughly ripened and the leaves fall, keep the vines rather dry, yet the soil 

 must be sufficiently moist to preserve the roots sound and the buds plump. They are 

 best wintered on a bed of damp ashes, in a light airy house from which frost is just 

 excluded. 



Inarching. This method of changing an undesirable variety is best performed when 

 the first leaves are expanded, as the danger of bleeding is then past, and a speedy union 

 is effected. The desired variety is grown in a pot and placed so that it is easily 

 inarched on to the permanent vine, as represented in Fig. 23, L, g, h, Yol. I., page 135, 

 and described on pages 136 and 137. A complete junction is effected in about six 

 weeks, when the scion is detached just below its union with the stock. 



The desired variety is placed in a suitable position and a slice of wood is taken from 

 both shoots at a convenient place, forming a blunt tongue upwards in the stock and down- 

 wards in the scion, their cut parts exactly fitting ; then bind together with soft matting, 

 and shorten the stock shoot to a few leaves above the junction. When free growth 

 indicates that the union is complete, cut the scion half way through on the outside, and 

 loosen the bandage, otherwise a swelling takes place. If the scion receive no material 

 check by cutting it half through, cut it completely off its own stem in a week, and 

 remove the part of the stock above the junction. 



Budding. Budding the vine is practically " inlaying a piece of wood with the bud," 

 as shown in the two upper branches and lowest one on the right-hand side of the pear, 



