THE VINE 221 



to Christmas, the month of October being best. For this purpose vines 

 grown from " eyes " inserted the previous spring are preferable, and may be 

 purchased for a few shillings each. They should be removed from their pots, 

 the soil shaken from the roots, and the latter dipped and washed clean in water. 

 The roots will probably be tangled, and must be unravelled. Before com- 

 mencing planting, holes 2^ feet square and 9 inches deep should be made in 

 the border, and soil less coarse than that recommended for the bulk of the 

 border will be necessary to place in contact with the roots. The soil should 

 be made firm as planting proceeds, vines planted in loose borders are 

 never a success. Long and strong roots must be shortened to about 1 8 

 inches or 2 feet ; place the soil about each root with the hand until all are 

 covered to the depth of about 6 inches. Place a narrow ridge of turf on the 

 surface, some 3 feet from the vine, in order to make sure the roots will receive 

 the benefit of water given, and also that the soil in which there are no roots 

 is not uselessly saturated. Towards the end of November the vines must be 

 pruned, and the way to do this is to cut the vine down, leaving only two of 

 the lower buds, one of which will form the new cane for the next year's 

 growth ; one bud is really enough, but it is safer to leave two in case of an 

 accident to one. To a small stake long enough to reach from the border to 

 the base of the trellis the vine should be attached. Protect the plants from 

 damage by insects by placing soot around each stem about 4 inches from it. 



Summer Planting. — The best time to do this is the first week in July, 

 and the vines most suitable are those called " cut backs," that is to say, 

 vines grown from " eyes " the previous year, cut back to one or two buds 

 the following spring, and grown on again in pots. By July the canes 

 will be 4 or 5 feet long. Give the plants a good watering the day before 

 removing them from the pots. The same care must be observed in laying out 

 the roots as advised when winter planting, the young vines are in full growth, 

 so the roots must not be unduly disturbed or the vines will certainly suffer. As 

 soon as planting is completed the vines should be well watered with warm 

 water. Take great care not to allow them to become dry, plants grown in 

 pots are very liable to do so when planted out. The vinery should be kept 

 warm and moist. Shade heavily until the roots have taken hold of the new 

 soil, which will soon be apparent. 



Treatment after Planting. — The young vines should be encouraged 

 to make rapid and vigorous growth during the next two months by keeping 

 the atmosphere moist, by syringing copiously before closing the house. A 

 moderate amount of air must be given on warm bright mornings, a little 

 being admitted as early as 6 a.m. in the summer. The less fire heat then used 

 the better the vines will succeed. During the whole season of active growth 

 the atmosphere of the vinery should be kept moderately moist in order to 

 encourage strong and healthy growth, and the way to secure this condition is 

 by syringing the borders, walls, and paths of the house several times during the 

 course of the day, and also at least once in the evening. When the young 

 vines are 10 or 12 feet long they should be stopped, that is, the ends of the 

 canes pinched off ; side-shoots (" laterals ") will then form, and should be 



