120 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



back and end walls, washing them with lime and sulphur 

 is useful as a preventive against mildew. 



In September, begin at the lower part of the cane, and, 

 with a sharp knife, cut clean out all the laterals for eight 

 or nine feet, leaving those on the upper part of the cane 

 to be cut out in the autumn pruning ; be careful, in do- 

 ing this, not to injure the bud or the leaf of the cane 

 where you cut, for from this eye your fruit is to come 

 next summer. 



As soon as the leaves are falling, cut back the cane to 

 eight or nine feet, and the two spurs to one eye, each. 



With a painter's brush, put on the vines a composition 

 of soft soap and sulphur, in the j:)roportion of four pounds 

 sulphur to two pounds of soap ; be sure to cover all the 

 wood, and particularly around the eyes. To prepare this 

 wash, mix the two substances well together when cold, 

 and pour hot water upon them ; it should be of the con- 

 sistency of cream when put on the vine. You can thick- 

 en this wash with a little clay. 



The first of December, lay down the vines, horizontal- 

 . ly, near the ground on the front of the house, and cover 

 them from the sun. Kussia mats are the best for this 

 purpose ; cover the border as last year. 



This will end the second season of their growth. So 

 far, we have considered the house a cold one, or without 

 fire heat ; if the vines have been planted in a greenhouse, 

 and a fire kept up, then they will have started in Febru- 

 ary or March ;* if they are so situated, let the house be 



* The only serious objection to growing grapes in a greenhouse is the 

 trouble caused from insects which infest the plants in the pots, and spread, 

 not unfrequently, over the vines. The red spider is the piost injurious, and, 



