24 



THE GRAPE CULTURI8T. 



nearly free from impurities. That taken from common 

 sand banks often contains oxide of iron and other foreign 

 matters to an extent that renders useless all attempts to 

 grow anything in it. When pure sand can not be ob- 

 tained, the other can be made to answer by exposing it to 

 the action of the air and rains for a few months, or by 

 washing it thoroughly before using. 



After the pots have been filled with cuttings, they 

 should be placed in a temperature between 40 and 50, 

 and allowed to remain from two to three weeks, water- 

 ing just enough to keep them moist, but not wet. As 

 roots are formed at a much lower degree of tempera- 

 ture, and less rapidly than leaves, we are thus enabled to 

 cause the process of rooting to begin (which is very 

 essential) before we place them in a position to commence 

 growth ; and when this does start, the roots, being formed 

 or in process of formation, will then issue with such rapid- 

 ity that they will be capable of absorbing food to supply 

 the new growth as soon as it has consumed that food 

 which was laid up in the bud the previous season. 



After removing the pots from their first position, place 

 them in the frames, which should be partially filled with 

 sand and located over the flues or hot- water pipes, plung- 

 ing them at least one half their depth in the sand ; give them 

 bottom heat of 60 for the first few days, then gradually 

 raise it to 80 ; keep the frames partly open, and the tem- 

 perature of the atmosphere in them ten degrees lower, if 

 possible, than that of the sand under them, bearing in 

 mind that we wish to excite the roots to grow before the 

 leaves. When the buds begin to push, allow the tempera- 

 ture to increase to 90 or 95, close the frames and keep 

 the atmosphere moist by frequent waterings; a liberal 

 application once a day will usually be sufficient. Pure rain 

 water is best, and should always be of the temperature of 

 the air in the house, or nearly so. Cold water would 

 surely check the growth of the plants. Examine the young 



