8 A TREATISE ON THE 



disturbing the young fibres ; and, as the work is proceeded 

 with, give a good supply of water from a pot with a rose, 

 provided the border is dry. Ite particular, likewise, as you 

 go on, not to trample on the portion fresh watered, as it is 

 desirable that the soil on the surface should be hollow, to give 

 access both to sun and air. 



Many persons entertain an opinion that the border may, 

 without detriment to the vines, be laid under some light crop, 

 but I am perfectly convinced that such a plan is the very 

 worst economy that can be practised, for even a bed of flowers 

 would be sufficient to exclude from the roots below the action 

 of the air and sun, which are necessary to their well-doing. 



When the leaves have acquired the faded appearance of a 

 forest tree in November, and the wood is perfectly hard and 

 ripe, then, and not till then, is the proper time to give them 

 rest by exposure. At this time the vines should be pruned, 

 and, in doing so, it is the practice of many persons to cut the 

 young rods down to within a bud or two of the original stem, 

 thus deferring the time of bearing for another year, with a view 

 of invigorating and establishing the vines ; but I am perfectly 

 convinced and prepared to say from experience, that, provided 

 the foregoing instructions for the treatment of them up to this 

 period have been fully and carefully observed, they will be in 

 a fit state to carry out a good crop the next season. My own 

 system of pruning is as follows : Shorten the young rods two 

 feet from the top downwards. By doing this, the vines, in the 

 next forcing, will have room to shoot forth and bear their fruit 

 without coming in contact with the top or back of the house. 

 The side lateral shoots should also be cut off to within half an 

 inch of the bud from the base of which they proceed. When this 

 is done, the next thing will be to arrange them for their season 

 of rest, or wintering ; a period of six weeks, at least, should 

 be allowed for the purpose, and as much longer as possible. 



And now I hope to be able to prove the second advantage 

 given by the double walls. The only thing required is to slide 



