436 THE FORCING GARDEN. [NOV. 



" allusions," as they perhaps may be termed, de- 

 pends very much on the strength of the plants, and 

 their after treatment, in which, no doubt, a good 

 deal of latitude is to be given and taken. But a 

 proper manager of vines, as I have already observed, 

 must have a predetermination about him, and should 

 leave as little to chance as he possibly can. He 

 must manure well; water freely ; admit air freely; 

 keep up a proper degree of heat ; summer dress his 

 plants ; thin the fruit ; and, in short, be ever on 

 the alert, and be careful in all things concerning 

 them. 



And, it may fairly be said, few plants, (certainly 

 none under glass), would repay his trouble and ex- 

 ertions in a manner so bountifully as the vine. 



The further treatment of the plants, after prim- 

 ing, is in all respects the same as for those in the 

 forced house, spoken of last month, with respect to 

 washing or anointing the plants, dressing them to 

 the trellis again, and to forking up the border. Ob- 

 serve also to keep them from extreme cold, or much 

 wet, for ten days or a fortnight after pruning, by 

 shutting up the house at night, and in rain ; but 

 when the wounds seem quite heal, expose it as for- 

 merly. 



These plants might be gently forced from the first 

 or middle of March next season ; considering such 

 forcing, however, as preparatory to full forcing the 

 third year, which, if the welfare of the plants be 

 studied, is soon enough. The more kindly they be 

 treated now, the more grateful will they be after- 

 wards. Though a plant cannot speak and complain, 



3 



