Management of the Vine. 173 



let it be frequently turned, always keeping it rather dry ; it may 

 then be wheeled into the bed or border. The loam, when put 

 into the bed or border, should be in pieces about the size of 

 bricks and half bricks, brought from the stacks or tiers where 

 they were originally piled, mixed with the manure, and laid once 

 for all in the place where they are finally to remain ; without 

 any turning, chopping, or pounding whatever, which only injures 

 the loam, and renders it too compact, and too much akin to 

 puddle, for vine roots to prosper in. About 16 ft. wide, and from 

 2 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. deep, may be considered a moderate width and 

 depth for a vine border, on a substratum of draining at least 1 ft. 

 deep. 



On the top of this the vines reared in the manner hereafter 

 stated may be planted. If out of doors, plant the vines 3 ft. 

 from the front of the house, just covering the root-ball of each 

 about 2 in. ; over which place a hand-glass. This will keep off 

 rain and concentrate heat. Then lay the cane about 2 in. under 

 ground, till it enters the aperture, or arch, into the house ; and 

 over this place another hand-glass ; or, instead of hand-glasses, a 

 layer of hot dung or leaves, 1 ft. thick and 6 ft. wide, may be 

 laid along it. It is presumed that the border has been made in 

 autumn ; in which case, this planting is to be done in February ; 

 especial care being taken that the border does not get either too 

 wet or too dry. In the former case, thatch it; and in the latter, 

 mulch it with fermented dung from old linings or the like; and 

 water it with clean water. This I consider preferable to recent 

 drainings from the cattle layers. 



To grow the Vines. — Get some eyes from plants which you 

 have seen and proved ; cut them at ^ in. above and below the 

 eye, and insert them singly in pots (of the size 60), about 

 ^ in. under the soil, about Christmas. Keep them growing in 

 a moist heat (say 60° Fahi'enheit), and shift them regularly as 

 they require it ; training their stems against the wall or trellis in 

 the hot-house. With good culture, in twelve months, they will 

 have stems as thick as the little finger, with 4 ft. of well-ripened 

 cane, and plenty of vigorous roots. 



Whe7i planted in the Vinery^ let them be grown in a like heat 

 till autumn, when the house may be uncovered to ripen the wood : 

 but care must be taken to prevent their freezing. In winter, cut 

 back till you find the wood of a firm texture and good size. 

 Under good culture, from 6 ft. to 9 ft. of firm short-jointed 

 wood may be got. It is always better to leave the canes rather 

 short than otherwise. As regards stopping the leader in growing 

 the canes, I should always grow 5 ft. or 6 ft. of useless vine ; 

 that is, I should not stop the vine till it had got 5 ft. or 6 ft. 

 beyond where I expected to cut to in the winter pruning. When 

 you commence growing in the spring, which should not be too 



