CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 185 
the shoots are sufficiently advanced to stow the best 
cepting these, may be rubbed out. It is best, however, 
t’ leave an extra one on each spur, in case of accident, 
for, when fire-heat is not used, the young shoots are quite 
amount of woody fibre is formed at their base to connect 
them firmly with the parent branch. For the same rea 
son they ought to be handled very carefully, and not be 
drawn down to the wires too soon. Towards the middle 
or latter part of the month, according as the locality is 
free from frosts, the house should be kept more closely 
shut, and the vines allowed to commence their growth 
in earnest. Let the temperature be gradually raised a 
degree or two each day, beginning with 70°, and in- 
creasing to 85° in the middle of the day. Do not 
open the lower ventilators, as the cold air checks the 
circulation of the sap, and paralyzes the action of the plants. 
Close the house early at night, use water freely over- 
head, and give the vines every chance to push into vig- 
orous growth. The outside borders should also be 
attended to. We will presume that a mulching of manure 
was applied in the fall, which should now be forked over, 
leaving the soil loose and open, to allow the air and sun 
to aet upon the sub-soil, thus invigorating the roots. 
If this covering of manure was omitted, apply it at once, 
after lightly Soaking « over the border. The spring rains 
will carry the soluble fertilizing material to the roots, as 
tcod for the plants. 
THE FORCING HOUSE. 
The earliest crops will now be ripe, and the second 
early “stoning.” When the last swell of ie frat come 
mences, syringing 
