THE GRAPE VINE. 8/ 



any red-spider about the vines the previous year, wash 

 them with a soft brush and soapy water. 



Then fix the vines in their proper places to the wires, 

 remove the dry soil which is loose in the surface of 

 the inside border, and fork the surface to the depth of 

 two inches, or as far down as there is no danger of 

 interfering with the young roots. Put as much fresh 

 soil over the surface as has been removed, and the 

 house is ready for starting when required in spring. 

 During the course of winter or early spring an eke of 

 fresh soil should be put to the borders, presuming that 

 only a portion of them was made the first season. Any 

 protection from rain during winter that has been put 

 over the outside border should not be removed till the 

 vines are starting in spring. 



Throughout the whole spring keep the house cool 

 and well aired, applying no more fire-heat than is just 

 sufficient to exclude frost. Vines intended for the 

 supply of late grapes should be allowed to break into 

 growth without the aid of fire-heat. This in ordinary 

 seasons they will do from the middle to the end of 

 April. In the case of vines intended for early forcing, 

 .shut up the house on the 1st February, and apply fire- 

 heat to keep the temperature from falling below 45, 

 to be increased to 50 at night by the beginning of 

 March, and 60 as soon as the vines have pushed their 

 buds a quarter of an inch the temperature to be in- 

 creased and regulated as directed for the first season's 

 growth, and as shall again be referred to in treating 

 of the fruiting year and forcing the vine. The vines 

 will this season grow with rapidity, and, having their 

 growth concentrated into two rods, with great strength. 

 Throughout every stage of their growth up till the 

 ripening period, the inside border must be regularly 



