THE VINE 235 



rather larger, and half a gallon of :|-inch bones to a barrow of soil may be 

 added. It is better to repot the vines in the house where they are growing than 

 to run the risk of damaging the foliage and checking their growth by taking 

 them elsewhere. All the vines that were potted into 7-inch pots will not be 

 large enough to put in the fruiting pots, so a selection must be made of the 

 strongest. It is useless trying to fruit weakly ones the first year ; only the 

 vigorous will give a good crop of fruit the following season. I have seen so 

 much harm result from the injudicious use of artificial manures that I hesitate 

 to recommend their use except in very moderate quantities, and especially so in 

 the case of the pot vine. The object of the cultivator should be to provide a 

 soil that will best encourage root growth. Artificial stimulants can afterwards 

 be applied safely in a liquid form. 



In potting disturb the roots as little as possible. A few of the most 

 prominent roots must be drawn out a little, so that they may at once come 

 into contact with the new soil. As the soil is added make it firm. When 

 potting is completed the surface soil should be less than an inch below the rim 

 of the pot. No better place can be found for the pot vine when potted than 

 an ordinary melon or cucumber house. When the vine is 8 feet long it should 

 be stopped ; this is long enough for all practical purposes for a pot vine of one 

 season's growth. Lateral shoots as they form should be stopped at the second 

 or third leaf. If the vines are in good health they will soon fill their pots with 

 roots, and will need more water at the roots, indeed, on some very warm days 

 they will require watering twice a day, and weak manure water should be 

 given at least with every other watering. 



The best stimulant I consider is fresh deer manure, and the most convenient 

 form m which to prepare it is by placing it in a bag, sinking the bag in a tank of 

 water. Where this is not to be had sheep or cow manure must be substituted, 

 adding to it a small quantity of soot. An occasional change of manure is 

 beneficial ; for instance, weak guano water for a few days, taking care that it 

 is well dissolved, and, again, some other reliable artificial manure may be used. 

 I prefer to mix in the water before using rather than to spread the manure 

 on the surface and wash it in. Towards the end of summer, provided all has 

 gone well, the vines will be well developed and the wood will be hard, 

 growth having practically ceased. When this is the case more air must be 

 given and a cooler temperature maintained until the vines, towards the end of 

 August, are placed in a warm and sheltered position out-of-doors, where the canes 

 can be fastened to some improvised trellis to prevent their being blown about. 

 They must still be carefully looked after as regards watering, and if plunged in 

 ashes, so much the better, the roots will be cooler and more moist and less 

 water will be necessary. After the leaves have fallen and winterly weather is 

 probable, they should be removed to a light shed or some other cool structure, 

 and there remain until wanted to start into growth again, taking care not to 

 expose the pots to frost. To grow a pot vine from a bud in one season 

 strong enough to produce a crop of fruit the following year is not easy, 

 still it is quite possible. The majority of pot vines offered for sale are 

 really two years old, that is, they are grown in 7-inch pots the first year, 



