386 Treatment and Management of the Viiies. 



mixture of soap suds, sulphur, and tobacco water ; at any rate, 

 this is a wash that is frequently used by gardeners. It is 

 generally used on peaches and nectarines, or any other trees 

 cultivated under glass, early in the spring, before vegetation 

 commences. Trees, (fee, receiving this treatment, are found 

 not to be so liable to disease or mildew, or the attacks of in- 

 sects, and it is therefore not altogether unworthy of notice. 



Breaking the Buds. — On the first of May, the vines begin 

 to swell their buds, and the canes, as before stated, being six 

 or eight feet in length, something must be done to ensure the 

 breaking of all the eyes. This may be done by simply tying 

 up the shoot at the front of the house, letting the remainder 

 bend to the ground ; the bud will very soon put forth at the 

 ligature, and then another tie may be made a little higher up 

 — bearing in mind to keep the end of the vine in a pendent 

 position, and so proceed until every bud has grown an inch 

 or more, at which time the vines must be carefully tied up to 

 the trellis. At this time, when the weather is fine, syringe 

 the vines every morning, and keep a moist heat in the 

 house by closing early, and watering the floor, &c. By the 

 20th of May, it will be necessary to stop the lateral growths 

 at the first joint above the fruit, and those shoots that have 

 no fruit must be stopped in the same manner : a free circula- 

 tion of air every fine day is indispensably necessary for the 

 health and strength of the vines, closing the house half an 

 hour before the sun leaves the glass at night, and give a little 

 air in the morning, as soon as the sun shines on the house, 

 increasing the quantity as the heat increases. This mode of 

 treatment will be found to be decidedly of more advantage to 

 the grapes than keeping the house closed up until the whole 

 is ventilated at once. In rainy or dull weather, discontinue 

 the watering until it is fine again, and when the grapes are in 

 flower, a drier heat is necessary. 



Smnmer Treatment. — June 10th The vines by this time 

 will need stopping again at the first joint above where they 

 were stopped the first time, also the laterals must be stopped 

 on each leading shoot, and kept so through the season. June 

 25th. — Thinning the fruit should now be commenced. This 

 should be done by a practised hand. When the fruit begins 

 to ripen, a drier atmosphere should be maintained. All that 



