26 THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



about two inches. The same compost may be used for 

 each repotting, and the ball of earth around the roots 

 should not be broken, neither should the plants be 

 placed more than a half inch deeper than before. The 

 proper time for repotting is when the roots have reached 

 the sides of the pot and become crowded. The fresh 

 soil put around the roots should be pressed in firmly, to 

 make it of the same density as the ball of earth contain- 

 ing them. The plants should always be kept tied to 

 stakes, and the ends of side shoots pinched off, not 

 allowing more than two additional leaves to remain on 

 them at any one time. The plants should also be 

 allowed plenty of room, so that their leaves may fully 

 expand, and receive plenty of light and air. If this is 

 not attended to they will grow tall and slender, and 

 often fail to ripen their wood ; besides, they will be very 

 likely to be attacked by mildew. The plants should 

 receive the direct rays of the sun from the time they are 

 firmly established in the small pots. 



To hasten the ripening of the plants, toward autumn 

 pinch off the top, and lower the temperature by giving 

 them more air. A little close observation during the 

 growth of the plants will enable the propagator to judge 

 of their wants, and the proper amount of water, heat, 

 etc., they require. Sometimes it will be necessary to 

 give them a little liquid manure, but this will seldom be 

 required if the compost in which they are grown is prop- 

 erly made and the plants allowed good-sized pots. 



The propagation of our hardy varieties from single 

 bud cuttings in houses is not now practiced as exten- 

 sively as it was years ago, but it is still employed for 

 multiplying new and scarce sorts, as well as for foreign 

 varieties raised for growing in graperies. 



Planting in Beds. To avoid the expense of a suf- 

 ficient number of pots of the various sizes required for 

 repotting a large number of plants several times during 



