284 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



introduced into heat, to forward the buds previous to potting, and in the first 

 week in February the buds are prepared in the usual way. I insert one 

 only in a four-inch pot, just covering the wood ; I use leaf-mould finely 

 sifted, mixed with a small portion of silver sand. The pots are then 

 plunged half their depth into a bottom heat of about 70° ; if the young 

 vines receive due attention, they will require a shift in the middle of April 

 into eight-inch pots, using a mixture of well rotted cow-dung, leaf-mould, 

 and strong 1 lam, in equal proportions. 1 then again subject them to bottom 

 heat, until the roots fairly show that another shift is wanted, which is the 

 final one. I employ at this shift fifteen-inch pots, and use a soil composed 

 of three parts strong loam, and the other part cow-dung. I train near the 

 glass, with a view to ripen the wood effectually, and pay strict attention to 

 stopping the laterals, preserving the main branch to the length of eight 

 feet. I always allow one foot in addition to the bearing wood, in case of a 

 bud starting at the top, which it often does when the vines are luxuriant. 

 During the growing stage of the vines in the fruiting-pots, I apply liquid 

 manure once a week, made from cow-dung, and when the shoots exhibit a 

 tinge of brown, I pick out the laterals with my finger and thumb, retaining 

 the leaves, and two or three laterals at the extremity. When the wood is 

 fully matured, water is gradually withheld, and the vines pruned to the 

 required length and stored away in a dry shed exposed to the north winds ; 

 there they remain until they are required for forcing. A week previously 

 to introducing them into heat, the plants receive a thorough watering with 

 clear liquid manure in a tepid state. Treated as above described, they 

 fruit most abundantly ; the number of good-sized bunches I manage gener- 

 ally to bring to perfection, is from ten to fifteen on each vine. I may men- 

 tion that I moss the stems for about a foot and a half in height from the 

 surface of the pots ; the stems root freely into the moss by keeping it con- 

 tinually moist. When the fruit is swelling, I supply the plants liberally 

 with the liquid manure above mentioned, and, in addition, I apply guano- 

 water once in eight days, in the proportion of about a pound of guano to a 

 gallon of water; by this application I have proved that three or four pounds 

 of fruit may be brought to perfection on a vine. The pots are placed in 

 pans on a flue, and trained near the glass. — ( Gard. Chron. p. 253.) 



Art. II. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Saturday, May 1, 1847. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held 

 to-day, — the President in the chair. 



The committee appointed for fixing the days of the annual exhibition, 

 reported that they had decided upon Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 

 the 22d, 23d, and 24th days of September next ; anj the report was ac- 

 cepted. 



