148 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



the walls. This is made of brick or stone, and should be 

 left open at every three feet, the distance at which the 

 vines should be planted ; if the wall is of wood, it can 

 easily be cut to suit the size of the vine. The plants we 

 used were strong one-year-old vines, and were set about 

 June 1st. By October they had grown to over twenty 

 feet in length. The varieties used were nine-tenths 

 Black Hamburg, with a few Muscats and Frontignans, 

 all of which have done exceedingly well. 



In November they were cut back to the bottom of the 

 rafter, or about three feet from the ground, and quickly 

 reached the top again the second year, with firm, well- 

 ripened wood. In November they were again pruned 

 back to about three feet above the foot of the rafter, or 

 six feet from the ground. On this shoot was produced 

 the fruit referred to, (the third year from the time of 

 planting). We prune any time in November or Decem- 

 ber after the leaves have fallen, and cut the shoot back 

 to about four feet from top of the rafter, or about sixteen 

 feet from the ground. 



Every December we lay the vines down along the front 

 wall after being pruned, covering them completely with 

 soil until May, when they are then taken up and tied to 

 the wires, which are 1 \ 16 galvanized iron, and run across 

 the rafters 15 inches apart and 15 inches from the glass. 

 The training followed is what is called the "spur" sys- 

 tem, which is simply to allow one cane or shoot to each 

 rafter, (or at three feet apart), and pruning the side 

 shoots or " bearing wood " annually back to one eye. In 

 the summer treatment of the cold grapery, the principle 

 must never be lost sight of, that to keep the vines in per- 

 fect health, a temperature of not less than 70 at night, 

 with 10 or 15 higher during the day is always necessary. 

 Any rapid variation downward is certain to result in mil- 

 dew. The floor of the grapery should be kept dashed 

 with water at all times, unless in damp weather, from the 



