224 THE GRAPE. 



the third season after planting, the lower part of the house 01 

 rafters is furnished with a crop of fruit proceeding from wood 

 of the preceding year. At next autumn pruning, the longest 

 of these main shoots is shortened about eighteen inches from the 

 top of the rafter, and the next in strength to about the middle of 

 the rafter, and all the spurs which had borne fruit are removed. 

 Each vine is now furnished with two shoots of bearing wood, a 

 part of old barren wood which has already produced fruit, and a 

 spur near the bottom for producing a young shoot for the follow, 

 ing year. In the fourth summer a full crop is produced, both 

 in the upper and lower part of the house, the longer or oldest 

 shoot producing fruit on the upper part of its length, and the 

 shorter on its whole length ; from this last, a leading shoot is 

 laid in, and anothei to succeed it is produced from the spur 

 near the bottom. At the next autumn pruning, the oldest or 

 longest shoot, which has now reached the top of the house, is 

 entirely cut out and removed, and replaced by that which was 

 next in succession to it, and this in its turn is also cut out and 

 replaced by that immediately behind it, a succession of a year- 

 ly shoot being obtained from the lower part of the old stem. 

 (Mclntosh.) This is decidedly the most successful mode for a 

 vinery without heat, producing abundant and fair crops of fruit. 

 Hoare, who is one of the most experienced and ingenious wri- 

 ters on the Grape, strongly recommends it, and suggests that 

 " the old wood of a vine, or that which has previously produced 

 fruit, is not only of no further use, but is a positive injury to 

 the fertility of the plant. The truth of this remark depends on 

 the fact that every branch of a vine which produces little or no 

 foliage, appropriates for its own support a portion of the juices 

 of the plant that is generated by those branches that do produce 

 foliage." 



ROUTINE OF CULTURE. In a vinery without heat this is com- 

 paratively simple. As soon as the vines commence swelling 

 their buds in the spring, they should be carefully washed with 

 mild soap suds, to free them from any insects, soften the wood, 

 and assist the buds to swell regularly. At least three or four 

 times every week, they should be well syringed with water, 

 which, when the weather is cool, should always be done in the 

 morning. And every day the vine border should be duly sup- 

 plied with water. During the time when the vines are in blos- 

 som, and while the fruit is setting, all sprinkling or syringing 

 over the leaves must be suspended, and the house should be 

 kept a little more closed and warm, than usual, and should any 

 indications of mildew appear on any of the branches it may at 

 once be checked by dusting them with flower of sulphur. Air 

 must be given liberally every day when th3 temperature rises 

 in the house, beginning by sliding down the top sashes a little in 

 the morning, more at mid-day, and then gradually closing them 



