THE GKAPE. 



291 



draining it thoroughly, that not a drop of water can lodge 

 about it. Then lay a few inches of small stones, broken 

 bricks, shells, etc., in the bottom for drainage ; and fill up 

 the remainder, six inches to two feet above the level of 

 the ground, and sloping outwards, with a good compost, 

 of three-fourths surface loam (turf from an old pasture), 

 and the other of well-rotted stable manure. All these 

 must be prepared by frequent turning and mixing a few 

 months beforehand. 



The vines may be one or two years old, and are prefer- 



. 143. SPAN CURVILINEAR-ROOFED HOUSE. 



able raised in pots from single eyes. They should be 

 planted in the spring. A plant is placed under each rafter 

 outside, or inside, and carried through under the wall 

 into the house. The stem is cut back to two or three 

 eyes, and when these break the strongest shoot is selected, 

 and the others pinched off. This shoot is trained, as it 

 grows, to a light trellis of iron, or thick wire rods attached 

 to the rafter, and twelve to fifteen inches from the glass. 

 If all goes well, it reaches the top of the house that sea- 

 son. In September the top may be pinched to check the 

 flow of sap, and throw it more into the lateral buds to 

 increase their strength. During the summer no other 

 shoot is allowed to grow but this. 



