476 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 299. 



from washing through and keep the drainage open. At the 

 lower end a piece of ordinary grcenliouse heating-pipe was 

 used as an outlet, built into the wall so as to allow free flow 

 when copious waterings were given. For this border a good 

 loam made of sod, previously stacked, was used with a 

 sprinkling of coarse bone-meal, and the soil was twelve inches 

 deep after it had settled, exclusive of the drainage. 



In April, 1S90, I planted five vines of Black Hamburg, two 

 of Foster's White, one of Gros Morac and one Sweet-water. 

 Wires were fastened to each rafter with long galvanized eye- 

 screws with a parallel wire on either side, sixteen inches from 

 the glass and fourteen inches from the centre of the rafter. 

 No greater distance from the glass could be given, as other- 

 wise the door which opened into the house would strike the 

 wire. The vines were planted under each rafter, and as they 



the house until they were planted outdoors in the spring, when 

 the temporary bench was taken down, and the border received 

 a top-dressing of good loam mixed with well-decomposed cow- 

 manure. Every vine broke strong and showed two or three 

 bunches on each lateral, and the strongest ones were allowed 

 to carry ten or twelve bunches each, according to their 

 strength, and the laterals were pinched to the third eye be- 

 yond the bunch. This allowed them to meet those of the next 

 vine, but not to crowd the foliage, and the sub-laterals were 

 allowed but one leaf, but each leaf had sufficient space and 

 light for free development. The vines which had been cut 

 back soon reached the top of the house again, when they were 

 pinched, and the laterals were also pinched to prevent crowding, 

 and the entire roof was covered by the end of June. Liberal 

 soakings of water were given at intervals after the Chrysanthe- 



Fig. 69. — Chinese Cercis in Flushing, Long Island. — See page 474. 



were started at this time the shoots were rubbed off to a point 

 where the vines were afterward cut, with no danger of bleed- 

 ing when the leaves were produced. They made a growth 

 which was yet short-jointed and solid, and in July they had 

 reached the top of the house and were sending out laterals. 

 "Being pinched at the top, the laterals also made very strong 

 growth. In autumn a temporary bench was made in the mid- 

 dle of the house and a permanent one at the back of it, with 

 shelving above the bench, and all were filled with a stock of 

 Chrysanthemums and bedding-plants, The first year the vines 

 matured some splendid canes, and about the ist of January 

 were pruned back. The strongest canes were left ten feet long, 

 the others six, while the laterals were cut close, leaving one 

 eye. The minimum temperature during the winter was from 

 forty to forty-five degrees. The Chrysanthemums occupied 



mums were cleared out, and diluted liquid-manure from the 

 stable-cistern was added after the grapes had stoned. They 

 ripened in the latter part of August, sixteen months from the 

 time of planting, and about one hundred pounds werecutfrom 

 the vines this season. Before the grapes were cut the house 

 was again filled with stock-plants for another season, including 

 someMusas and the like. The laterals were then cut half-way 

 back to admit light, and the same course was pursued this 

 winter as before. 



In January, pruning on the short-spur system was done, and 

 one or two eyes left, according to the condition of the wood, 

 such new canes as had made laterals being cut to one eye. 

 During the winter the house was kept at a temperature with a 

 minimum of forty-five to forty degrees, and in March the vines 

 at the warmest end of the house had started into growth. As 



