THE CULTURE OF THE GEAPE. 77 



to the full rays of the sun and air, by which means the 

 majority of the roots having been kept on the surface, 

 by the heat added as before mentioned, are more perfect- 

 ly ripened, so that in September I am enabled to give 

 them a light top dressing (though only the first season,) 

 of ground bones, loamy soil, rotten manure, and decayed 

 carrion, — these manures are all, I have proved, great fer- 

 tilizers of the vine, — covering the whole with an inch or 

 two of half rotten stable manure, to prevent evapora- 

 tion. 



" The vines planted on the inside of the house will re- 

 quire attention at the I'oot ; they want great support as 

 their foliage becomes fully developed. I make use of 

 liquid manure- diluted, and clear rainwater, alternately, 

 but always in a tepid state. I never allow a vine border 

 inside the house to be watered with cold water after veg- 

 etation commences, until the fruit or wood is ripe." 



Chapter 4th. " Presuming that all has gone on favor- 

 ably the last season, you may expect a nice sprinkling of 

 grapes from your young vines only planted one year ; 

 but I caution the tyro not to be anxious in wishing to 

 produce very early grapes ; if too sanguine, he will do 

 this at the expense, and to the great detriment, of the 

 future welfare of his young vines. The first, or middle 

 of March, I consider sufiiciently soon to begin forcing, 

 the second year. A few days previous to commencing, 

 lay on the border, to the width of twelve or fourteen feet, 

 good fei-menting stable litter and leaves, to the depth as 

 mentioned for last season. The time your vines will take 

 to break will be a fortnight or three weeks. (Previous 

 to forcing, the vines must be washed with a composition 



