,92 buist's family kitchen gaudener. 



stored up in the remainiug parts. Never prune back wood of 

 the present year to one eye, as is usually recommended, but 

 leave a long spur of three eyes ; the eye or bud nearest the 

 old stem is frequently blind, and even if it does show fruit, it is 

 not so fine as the eyes farther up the shoot ; but be careful to 

 retain the best, and rub off the remainder at the earliest stage 

 of growth, always encouraging the base bud shoot to be 

 retained for the next season's operation. Summer jwuning 

 must be strictly attended to, stopping every shoot two leaves 

 above the bunch, after which laterals, or new shoots, will soon 

 be produced. These, stop again every two weeks, to concen- 

 trate the energy of the plant on the swelling of the fruit. 



Thinning the Fruit. — This portion of culture is too frequent- 

 ly neglected. As soon as the berries are the size of small 

 peas, cut out about one-third of them with a pair of sharp- 

 pointed scissors This will allow the others to swell more freely. 

 Again, before they begin to color, if they appear crowded, thin 

 out the smallest. This will not reduce the weight of the 

 bunch, unless the thinning is carried to extreme. Never touch 

 the fruit after it begins to color. Handling destroys the fine 

 bloom on the fruit, which is a point of beauty. Tieing up the 

 shoulders does not improve the fruit nor add to the effect. 



Routine of Culture under glass, without fire heat. As 

 soon as the frosty nights are over, clean all the wood-work by 

 washing, or white-washing. Lift up the vines from where they 

 have been laid all Winter, and wash them with strong soap- 

 suds, or soft soap and tobacco water, rubbing off all the loose 

 bark, and cleaning them thoroughly. After which tie them up 

 to the places appropriate for them. Every morning after they 

 begin to grow, give them a syringing with water, about an 

 hour after sun-rise, provided the sashes are on the house. If 

 the sashes are not on, they do not require it so frequently. 

 About the end of April, or first of May, the sashes must ne- 

 cessarily be put on to protect tlie blossom, encourage the 

 growth, and prevent injury in cold nigl ts. 



