286 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



wounds, and the effect of losing a large quantity of this fluid just at the time it is 

 most required is to retard growth and induce debility. We say, therefore, prune early ; 

 vines for early forcing may be pruned a few days in advance of the leaves falling 

 rather than delay it long afterwards ; all should be pruned as soon as they are at rest, 

 and later vines directly they are cleared of the fruit. In cases of cutting out old rods 

 or large portions of the vine, it is the safest to act whilst the foliage is intact any time 

 from the leaves being full sized to their fall, and the parts which are left will be 

 benefited. All cuts should be made slightly in advance of the buds, not so as to 

 leave a snag or stump to be cut off afterwards, but close enough to the bud or branch to 

 insure the wounds healing over quickly. Any stumps should be cut clean off at 

 pruning time, for they harbour insects, and are unsightly. It is a good plan to dress 

 all the wounds carefully with shell-lac solution or best French polish, especially in 

 late pruning, as a safeguard against bleeding. When bleeding occurs, the house should 

 be kept as cool as is safe to check the flow of the sap, then dry the wounds with a 

 cloth, rub powdered alum over them, and dress with the French polish. Eemember 

 that bleeding is not a disease, but a result of amputation at the wrong time, and cauter- 

 ising the wounds with a hot iron is a barbarous practice, often killing the buds 

 immediately below. Early pruning is the best preventive of bleeding. 



MANAGEMENT OF VINES IN HEATED STRUCTURES. 



Particulars of the general management of vines in vineyards, against walls, in ground 

 vineries, cool houses, and greenhouses have received attention, and the training and 

 pruning of vines have been liberally treated. Instructions for the general treatment 

 of vines in heated structures from the time of starting until cleared of their crops 

 must now have consideration. Some of the subjects to be treated are applicable to 

 vines generally ; therefore, matters which have not been referred to in any of the 

 foregoing branches of vine culture will be found under their respective headings in the 

 following pages. 



Manures and Manw'ing. Poor or light soils require early, frequent, and liberal 

 dressings of organic manures, that is, substances of a nitrogenous nature, and which 

 supply humus. Such are found in stable or farmyard manure, turf and other 

 vegetable or animal matter. Blood, soot, horn shavings, sulphate of ammonia, guano, 

 and nitrates of potash and soda are nitrogenous manures of the first order. No vine 

 can flourish without a supply of nitrogen from the soil. Light soils need more nitrogen 



