CULTIVATION OF FRUIT 



297 



previous summer's ripened wood, containing a bud. It is about 

 an inch long, being cut close to the bud on both sides. Each of 

 these " eyes " is capable under proper treatment of developing into 

 a fruit-bearing Vine. After each bud or " eye " has been cut 

 as shown in the month of January they are placed singly 

 in small pots, two and a-half inches in diameter. These 

 are previously firmly filled with a mixture of loam 

 and leaf -soil, and the "eye" is then pressed 

 into this, until only the bud is visible. 

 Plunge all the pots in fibre or sand over 

 hot- water pipes in the warmest house 

 at disposal, or a small hot-bed 

 of manure might be made. 

 Syringe them several times 

 a day, and shade when 

 the weather is bright. 

 The buds in a week or 

 two will commence to 

 burst. The soil hardly 

 needs water for two or 

 three weeks after the bud 

 has burst into growth, 

 for comparatively few 

 roots are formed; until 

 then keep the tiny plants 

 in a position near the 

 glass so that they may 

 have plenty of light and 

 sun, and they will soon 

 increase in size and vigour. 



Herbace- 

 ous Graft- 

 ing, that is, 

 the uniting 



YOUNG VINE AFTER SECOND YEAR'S GROWTH. of tWO grOW- 

 WAY TO PRUNE BACK ing shoots, 



and Inarch- 

 ing, are two useful operations, well worth knowing how to 

 perform. If, for instance, two Vines are growing side by 

 side, one of which is worthless, a shoot from the one that 

 is of value may be grafted upon the worthless one, and 

 the branches of the latter eventually cut down. The 

 operation is very simple : Choose two shoots that can 

 easily be brought together. With a sharp knife cut a 

 small piece from the side of each, and fasten the cut VINE EYE 

 portions together, so that on one side at least the outer edges 

 of both correspond. Bind them together firmly with matting, and then 

 cover this thinly with clay to prevent the access of air to the parts to 

 be united. In a month or two the union will probably be effected. The 



