Laxvns. 155 



for testing a small portion of wood of a supposed new variety of grape : 

 this was cut into single eyes, and started in the usual way in the spring. 

 When the young plants had reached some six inches in height, they were 

 cut back, and the tips were used as green-wood cuttings of the softest and 

 greenest : these were then struck in sand, and carefully nurtured, with a 

 view of increasing the variety as extensively as possible. Of course, they 

 were well cared for ; and, to enable them to produce as much wood as possi- 

 ble, they w^ere set in a border, and kept under glass during the whole season. 

 They were encouraged to the utmost. 



The result of such treatment was the remarkable vines exhibited, which, 

 for excellence in every particular, were certainly all that the most fastidious 

 vine-planter could desire. Here there was no room for cavilling : no one 

 who inspected the specimens could discover the injurious eflfects of the 

 steam propagation of the green-wood cuttings, nor the debilitating influ- 

 ence of the artificial climate produced by the glass structure in which they 

 were sheltered from the inclemency of a changeable out-door climate. 

 They were perfect vines. * 



LAWNS. 



The lawn should receive some dressing or protection, if possible, in the 

 winter, if the grass has been closely cut from it until late in the autumn. It is 

 natural for the grass-roots to have some protection ; for we find that grass, 

 when left to itself, furnishes its own protection for winter. Some persons 

 are in the habit of allowing the last growth to remain on to cover the roots 

 through the winter, and in spring, just before the grass starts, burn over 

 the surface to rid it of the old " fog," that would otherwise be in the way. 

 We should consider it unwise to treat our mowing-fields as many treat their 

 lawns. The best protection is horse-manure, spread over the surface liber- 

 ally, that can be nicely raked off in the spring. It sometimes happens that 

 small stones are scattered among the manure, and, if left, will be greatly in 

 the way of mowing the lawn the next season ; and they should be carefully 

 gathered up. In addition to the manure, ashes or guano can be used to 

 advantage in the spring. 



