72 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



directions for rearing and planting both these descrip- 

 tions of plants will be given. 



PREPAEING YOUNG VINES FOE PLANTING. 



To prepare one-year-old vines for planting, about 

 the middle of January select the necessary number of 

 strong prominent buds from vines that have thorough- 

 ly -we]l and early ripened their wood. Cut away the 

 wood to within a quarter of an inch on the upper side 

 of the bud, and that on the under side to within an 

 inch — making clean cuts with a sharp knife. The 

 buds are thus ready for insertion. Take the required 

 number of 4-inch rather deep pots, drain them well, and 

 fill them up rather firmly with three parts light fibry 

 loam, and one part of finely-sifted, well-decomposed leaf- 

 mould. Make a hole in the centre of each to receive 

 the buds, into which they are to be inserted, and sur- 

 rounded with a little propagating sand. Cover them to the 

 very tips of the buds. When they are put in, place them 

 in a house slightly warmer than a common greenhouse ; 

 and if the soil is moist, do not water them for a week. 

 The first week of Feburary remove them to some house 

 or pit where they can be plunged near the glass in a 

 bottom-heat of 80° to 85°, with a night temperature of 

 55° to 60°. Keep them steadily and moderately moist, 

 and they will soon burst their buds ; and as they begin 

 to develop their leaves, raise the temperature 5°, and let 

 it run up 10° more with sun-heat by day before giving 

 air. The process of leaf-development and the formation 

 of roots wiR be nearly simultaneous, although generally 

 leaves slightly precede the roots. Consequently, after 

 they have formed two or three small leaves, they halt 



