THE VINE AND ITS FRUIT. 



303 



and roots are thoroughly matured. Some grape- 

 growers prefer aUowing their young vines to hreak 

 naturally before they plant; hut by planting early 

 a march is stolen upon the summer, which may prove 

 cold and unkind. The young canes have plenty 

 of time to make and mature their growth before 

 the end of August, when they have a good rest, 

 and are in a suitable condition for early pruning, 

 and an early start the following 

 year. 



The Second Year's Manage- 

 ment. — Fnming. — If all has gone 

 well and the foliage has fallen early 

 in November, the vines will be fit 

 for shortening back by the middle of 

 December. As those intended to 

 Temain another year before they are 

 •allowed to carry fruit, have made 

 two canes where they are five feet 

 apart, and three canes where six feet 

 has been allowed, pruning must be 

 regulated by the space at command. 

 In either case cut the maiu rod down 

 to, about nine inches below the top 

 of the front light, and take off the 

 aide shoots as iu Eig. 14, down to the 

 lowest hud, a. If one rod only is to 

 be allowed to grow up the second 

 year, the bud, o, may be rubbed off 

 when all have started, and the shoots, 

 « and b, are considered safe from 

 accidents. If two rods have been 

 decided upon, then allow b and c to 

 grow on and stop the shoots a, when 

 they have made five or six leaves. 

 Shorten back the supernumeraries, 

 from which some six bunches of 

 grapes are to be taken, to within 

 about six feet of the front sill, 

 and pruning for the second year will be complete. 



Immediately after the vines are primed, apply 

 styptic to every cut to prevent bleeding when they 

 are again started into growth, and at once proceed to 

 cleanse the house as well as the rods, preparatory to a 

 fresh start early in the new year. As cleanliness is a 

 very important item, let every part of the glass and 

 woodwork be thoroughly washed with soap and water ; 

 also scrub the canes with a soft brush, and when dry, 

 apply a solution of Gishurst compound, 8 oz. to a 

 gallon of water, to destroy the larvse of red spider or 

 other insects which may be lurking in the loose 

 scales at the base of the buds. Wash the walls with 

 quick-lime, to which a handful of sulphur has been 

 added, and sling the rods out of the way for the pre- 

 sent. 



Fig. M.- 



Only a moiety of the border having been made, 

 examine the retaining walls, and if the roots have 

 reached the outside, fork down a small portion 

 of the turf, and add the first three feet of the exter- 

 nal border when the weather is dry and favourable 

 to the handling of the soU. As it is by no means 

 desirable to let this new compost become saturated 

 with rain or snow-water, cover it up with fresh 

 horse-htter, place shutters or lights 

 over all, and allow them to remain 

 Until wintry weather has passed 

 away. Next proceed to remove all 

 old mulching and loose soil from the 

 internal border ; prick up the surface 

 with a hand-fork, and make up to 

 the requisite height with new rich 

 compost, free from animal manure. 

 If severe weather sets in after the 

 vines are pruned, warm the pipes to 

 keep out frost, otherwise keep the 

 house cool and well ventilated until 

 it is closed for forcing. 



Where a set of houses has been 

 planted for early, mid-season, and 

 late grapes, it is the practice with 

 some to start the earliest in February, 

 and to allow the late ones to break 

 naturally; but it is questionable if 

 it is not better to start aU of them in 

 February with gentle fire-heat, than 

 to be obHged to fire such late kinds 

 as Grros Cohnar and Lady Downes, 

 to ripen up the wood in the autumn. 

 Therefore, assuming that the buds 

 are plump and promising, and all the 

 preliminaries have been completed, 

 give each of the fruiting vines one 

 tie to the wire nearest the top of the 

 front sash, then gently bend or arch 

 it over inwards until the point of 

 the rod nearly touches the surface of the border, and 

 the least prominent buds at the base are raised to the 

 highest part of the arch ; secure it to a stick placed 

 in the turf wall, and mulch with two inches of short 

 horse-manure as prepared for a mushroom-bed. Shut 

 up the house or houses, say on the 1 st of February, 

 apply fire-heat to prevent the temperature from 

 falling below 45'' on cold nights, and 50° when 

 mild during the first month. Syringe three times a 

 day to soften the buds, and if at hand fiU in the un- 

 occupied space intended for the next moiety of the 

 border with fermenting leaves, or dung and leaves 

 together. This will keep the house constantly moist, 

 while it economises fire-heat, particularly if it is 

 turned over occasionally and a few fresh leaves added 

 when the fermentation begins to decline. As soon as 



■Maiden Vine ready for 

 Pruning. 



