302 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



the summer rains and the warmth of the sun, and also to 

 avoid the walking which is necessary inside of the house 

 in checking, thinning, and otherwise caring for the vines. 

 For early forcing, however, the roots should be kept 

 warm; and this is most economically done by keeping 

 them within the house, and covering the border where it 

 is necessary to walk. When the fruit is not to be ripened 

 until May, or afterwards, the roots may extend into an 

 outside border which is well protected from frost, as be- 

 fore described. It is best that the houses rest upon stone 

 or cedar posts, so that the vines may be planted inside, 

 and the roots may have free space to ramble. The 

 breadth of the border will, of course, depend upon the 

 length of the cane. If trained to the rafter, it is a fail- 

 rule to have two or three feet of border inside the house, 

 and a width equal to the length of rafter outside the 

 house, except for very early forcing. It is not necessary 

 that this whole width should be made at once. The bor- 

 der may be extended during the second and third years if 

 more convenient. These borders will require moderate 

 annual top-dressings of ashes, plaster, bone-dust, or stable- 

 manure, when the vines are in bearing; those elements 

 being supplied of which the border seems most deficient. 

 Keep it light by frequent forkings. 



