66 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



best time for planting will be from the beginning of August 

 up to the first week in September, according to locality. 

 The plants must be watered if the soil and weather be dry 

 at the time of planting. When the planting has been com- 

 pleted the border should be covered with ten or twelve 

 inches of litter. Vines grown under glass, without artificial 

 heat, take about eight months to ripen their fruit. As the 

 warm weather advances air must be given freely, and a moist 

 atmosphere must be maintained by syringing and watering 

 the floors. It is a good plan to give a little night ventilation 

 during the months of October and November. 



Rules as to Temperature, During the nights, beginning 

 with a newly-started vinery, no harm will result if the 

 temperature fall to 35 every night till the buds break; 

 such a low temperature is preferable to a high one by means 

 of hot-water pipes or flues. After the bud breaks, and from 

 that period onward till the branches come into flower, a 

 night temperature of from 45 to 50 will be sufficient in 

 cold weather. During the flowering period the minimum 

 should be 50 at sunrise, and after flowering and onward 

 till the grapes are ripe, it may range at from 60 to 70 (by 

 fire heat, if necessary), according to the weather. 



Day Temperature. From the time the vinery is started 

 till the buds break much should be made of the sunlight, 

 aided by fire heat. The heat should be got up early in the 

 day : on dull days the maximum should be 60, and on 

 sunny days 70 to 75. After the buds have broken, and 

 from then till the vines come into flower, the maximum by 

 sun should be 80, and in dull weather from 65 to 70, 

 according to the temperature out-of-doors. When the 

 berries are all set, it should be raised to 85 or 90 on fine 

 and 7 5 on cold and dull days, and a lower temperature should 

 not be given till the fruit is ripe. Space will not permit 

 in this treatise of going more fully into the culture and 

 management of the vine, which would require a volume of 

 itself. We can, however, with confidence recommend to 

 our readers a little work on the " Grape Vine: its Propa- 

 gation and Culture," by John Simpson, from which we have 

 obtained some of the above information. 



The insects and diseases injurious to the vine are the 

 vine-louse (Phylloxera vastatrix, which pest has not yet made 



