3H THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



in the roots in the upper half of the border, and in layers straight and even, working 

 the soil into the angles, and make it moderately firm. Any long bare roots may be 

 shortened, but a vine cannot have too many roots, and all that are available for laying 

 in the top half of the border should be preserved. Some cultivators clear away one- 

 third, and in some cases half, the width of the old border without any regard to the 

 roots, and only re-make the border about a foot wider than the shortened roots extend. 

 This answers well when the vines are fairly well furnished with roots near the stem, 

 the remainder of the border being added as more root space is required. 



If the soil is moist, water need not be given, otherwise afford a thorough supply. 

 With the vines in leaf, shading must be continued until the foliage is able to bear 

 exposure, the house being kept close, and the vines and house syringed several times a 

 day. In a fortnight or three weeks the vines will have pushed fresh rootlets and show 

 it by growth in the laterals, when ventilation must be resumed, and the usual treatment 

 given. Late summer and autumn lifted vines need less shade and less moisture, but 

 the foliage should be kept fresh, to favour root action. Whenever vines are lifted the 

 roots must be protected from the drying influences of the atmosphere, and kept as short 

 a time out of the soil as possible. 



What is termed border renovation in some instances is merely top-dressing. This 

 consists in removing the surface soil down to the roots, clearing it from amongst them 

 carefully, raising such as are eligible, especially the young and fibry, and laying them 

 in fresh loam near the surface. Thus borders may be renewed half their depth with 

 great benefit to the vines, provided the draining is efficient, the new soil duly watered, 

 and liberal top-dressings applied. 



Aerial Roots. These are adventitious roots produced on the stems, rods, and spurs 

 of vines. They afford evidence that the atmospheric conditions are more favourable to 

 root production than are those of the soil. Yet, keeping the house close, moist, and 

 warm will induce stem roots on perfectly healthy vines with the ground roots in the 

 best of borders. Aerial roots often signify too rapid forcing, excessive atmospheric 

 moisture, and deficient ventilation. To prevent their formation in such cases is a simple 

 question of management, namely, less forcing heat, less frequent damping of the canes, 

 less atmospheric moisture, and more air. 



But roots on the stems are frequently the consequence of those in the earth being in 

 a cold outside border, and it is important that the roots of early forced vines be esta- 

 blished in a congenial inside border. Keciprocal activity between the roots and branches 



