92 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE, 



cut out in the autumn pruning ; be careful, in doing this, not 

 to injure the bud or the leaf of the cane where you cut, for 

 from this eye your fruit is to come next summer. 



As soon as the leaves are falling, cut back the cane to eight 

 or nine feet, and the two spurs to one eye, each. 



AVith a painters' brush, put on the vines a composition of 

 soft soap and sulphur, in the proportion of four pounds sul- 

 phur to two pounds of soap ; be sure to cover all the wood, 

 and particularly around the eyes. To prepare this wash, mix 

 the two substances well together when cold, and pour hot wa- 

 ter upon them ; it should be of the consistency of cream when 

 put on the vine. 



The first of December, lay do-\vn tiie vines, horizontally, 

 near the ground on the front of the house, and cover them 

 from the sun, Russia mats are the best for this purpose ; 

 cover the border as last year. 



This will end the second season of their growth. So far, 

 we have considered the house a cold one, or without fire heat ; 

 if the vines have been planted in a greenliouse, and a fire 

 kept up, then they will have started in February or March ;* 

 if they are so situated, let the house be kept at as low a tem- 

 perature, night and day, as the safety of the plants will 

 admit ; the treatment should be the same for the season, ex- 

 cept the covering of them with mats, which would be un- 

 necessary. 



Third Year. 



The third season, air the house, as directed the last year ; 

 uncover the vines from the first to the middle of April, as the 



* The only serious objection to growing grapes in a greenhouse is the trouble 

 caused from insects which infest the plants in the pots, and spread, not unfrequently, 

 over the vines. The red spider is the most injurious, and, in the autumn, the insects, 

 (if any.) when the leaves drop, are, by these means, conveyed to the plants again. 

 In the treatment of the vine thus situated, the rules for priming, thinning, &c., must 

 be followed. As regards temperature, etc., they must be subject to the treatment 

 given to the plants, so long as the plants arc in the house. It will be the better plan 

 to keep the vines from pushing, as long as possible, in spring, by having as low a 

 temperature as the plants will thrive in. 



