CALENDAR. 2/1 



to the middle or end of January. All young stock in low 

 pits, that can be covered from dusk till dawn, should be 

 covered in preference to firing hard to keep up the tempera- 

 ture ; and whenever the temperature exceeds 65 by sun-heat, 

 give a small amount of air at a number of openings, instead 

 of much at a few. 



Vines. Give every attention to late grapes still hanging, 

 keeping them at a steady temperature of 45 with a dry 

 atmosphere. Instead of opening ventilators on mild foggy 

 days, keep them shut, and embrace the opportunity afforded 

 by clearer weather of giving a little increase of heat and air. 

 The former practice fills the house with moist air, while the 

 latter expels it. Go over every bunch twice a-week, and 

 remove all decaying berries before they communicate their 

 rottenness to others. Prune all vines from which the fruit 

 lias been cut, and that have shed their leaves. Wash every 

 inch of inside surface, not even excepting gangways. Paint 

 the hot- water pipes and wood and wire-work, if they require 

 it ; and if the vines have been infected with red-spider last 

 year, wash and dress as has been directed. Remove 2 inches 

 of the surface-soil from the inside border, and if the roots are 

 inside the house, top-dress with 2 inches of horse-droppings 

 or other short manure, and cover it over with an inch of 

 loam. Early started vines will be set, and in some cases 

 thinned. These, if required as early as possible to succeed 

 the late grapes, may be pushed briskly along, but let the 

 forcing be done by day principally. 65 is sufficient tem- 

 perature at night, unless in very mild weather, when it 

 may rise to 70. Avoid an excess of moisture, especially 

 in dull weather, and give air on all favourable opportuni- 

 ties, and always in the earlier part of the day, shutting up 

 early in the afternoon. If this crop be in pots, great atten- 

 tion must be paid to watering, keeping the soil regularly 

 moist. Vines in bloom require to be freely aired, avoid- 

 ing cold currents as much as possible. Thin the bunches 



