320 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE, 



SUMMER PRUNING 



Should commence just before the vines are in flower. 

 The shoot may be shortened to one joint above the 

 bunch intended to be left. The laterals which grow be- 

 low the bunch must be rubbed off, while that which 

 grows by the bunch and above it is to be left and short- 

 ened to one joint. When the laterals have again made a 

 few leaves they need to be again shortened in the same 

 way, all through the season while the vine continues to 

 grow. 



MULCHING THE BORDER 



Is always beneficial if not indispensable to the well- 

 being of the grapery, not only to protect the roots from 

 being frozen in winter, but also because when such fer- 

 tilizing materials as stable manure is used, the roots are 

 drawn to the surface of the border, which greatly con- 

 duces to the health of the vine and the quality of the 

 fruit. 



PROTECTING THE VINES IN COLD GRAPERIES 



Is of great benefit. About the simplest way to do so 

 is to run a board along eighteen inches or so from the 

 front wall. After pruning the vines (which may be done 

 at any time after they drop their leaves), they are to be 

 taken down from the wires and laid down between this 

 boarding and the front wall, and the space entirely filled 

 up with soil or sand. It is necessary, though, to watch 

 that ground mice do not get to the vines, as they might 

 destroy them by eating the bark. We have found that 

 vines so covered up keep admirably, and that the plan is 

 less liable to draw vermin than when they are covered 

 with straw or hay. They are usually covered up about 

 the middle of December, and are not uncovered or other- 

 wise disturbed until the first of May, when they are lifted 



