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fitting them nicely together. It may he 

 observed, that the ligature must not be 

 so tight as in the old wood. The whole 

 may be covered with moss, and in six 

 weeks the junction will be complete. In 

 the mean time a progressive stopping oi 

 the spray on the stock must take place, 

 in order, by degrees, to transfer a portion 

 of the luxuriance of the stock to the 

 scion. When the pruning season arrives 

 the stock may be cut back in part or 

 wholly. Thus, a vinery possessing infe- 

 rior kinds may be renovated in a very 

 short period. 



Seed. Perfectly ripe grapes of the 

 kinds intended to be propagated from 

 should be pressed, the seeds washed and 

 thoroughly dried, and then secured, like 

 other seeds, until the following February. 

 They may then be sown in well-drained 

 pots, in a light, rich soil, rather sandy, 

 and plunged in a bottom-heat of from 

 70 to 80. In about a month they will 

 vegetate; the seedlings may be potted 

 oif, and henceforward reared as plants 

 from eyes, continuing bottom - warmth 

 until Midsummei, and train'ngthe shoot 

 (unstopped) fully to the light in a warm 

 situation. They may, in the autumn, be 

 cut back to two or three eyes, and grown 

 through the following summer as before, 

 again pruning back in the autumn. In 

 about four years they will fruit on their 

 own roots ; but, perhaps, a year will be 

 gained by inarcbing them near the ex- 

 tremity of a sound and fruitful old vine. 



Wall Culture. The first essential is 

 a mellow and thoroughly-drained soil. 

 An ordinary sandy loam is the best staple ; 

 but almost any common garden-soil will 

 suit, if it is capable of receiving and 

 transmitting moisture with facility. Vine 

 roots will descend to a considerable depth 

 if the soil be mellow ; but we would 

 rather grant them extra width, especially 

 if the situation is not particularly favour- 

 able. Whether borders, or, what are 

 much more economical, stations, are 

 made, we would first thoroughly drain the 

 site, and then place some imperishable 

 material, as stone, brick, or clinkers 

 rammed close beneath them, leaving only 

 half a yard of soil in depth, unless the 

 roots are securely limited in width. This 

 done, the natural soil must be examined 

 with practical accuracy, and accordingly, 

 as sand or clay predominates, so must be 

 the amount and character of the correct- 

 ing material. If destitute of organic 



matter or turfy fibre, something must be 

 introduced to enrich it, such as fresh 

 manure, and abundance of rotten weeds, 

 leaves, &c., indeed, anything of a decay- 

 ing vegetable kind ; remembering that a 

 good portion must be such as will endure 

 long, and slowly give out its enriching 

 qualities. Some coarse bone-manure 

 and rubbly charcoal will be a capital ad- 

 dition ; and a good deal of charcoal-rub- 

 bish or brush-wood. If the situation is 

 cool and damp, place half the volume of 

 this material above the ordinary ground 

 level. 



Planting. The end of March is the 

 most eligible time; and strong plants 

 being at hand, if in pots, let the soil be 

 shaken away gently, and every root be 

 carefully uncoiled, and spread out, liko a 

 tree fan-trained, and place a little supe- 

 rior compost about the roots, covering 

 the surface with three inches of coarse 

 charred material. This will absorb a 

 great amount of heat from the sun, and 

 admit water freely when necessary. As 

 the plants grow, they must be carefully 

 trained, and no stopping practised the 

 first season. In the autumn, however 

 they must be pruned back to three or four 

 eyes ; and in the next season the shoots 

 from these eyes must be trained to the 

 desired form, which will be regulated by 

 the character of the space they are to oc- 

 cupy, whether on a building or a wall. 



Out-door Culture duriny the Rest Period. 

 Pruning is a first consideration, and 

 this is done soon after the fall of the 

 leaf. Many conflicting practices, as to 

 out-door culture, have competed for the 

 palm of victory here, even as with in-door 

 vines; but it is probably best not to 

 attempt to tie the hands of those who 

 try their culture by too severe rules. One 

 safe maxim is, that no two of the principal 

 leaves should so overlap each other as to 

 obstruct the solar light. From about 

 eight to ten inches, therefore, at least, 

 may be given between each of the grow- 

 ing shoots. This, then, will be a guide 

 as to the distance at which the shoots 

 should be trained. As for root culture 

 at this period, nothing will be needed but 

 to preserve the surface fibres from the 

 spade, which is but too apt to approach 

 ;oo close to those ofa kitchen-garden walls. 

 When vines become somewhat exhausted 

 with much bearing, top-dressings of good 

 soil and manure become necessary. 



Out-door Culture during Growth* We 



