88 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



two parts clay, reduced with water to the consistency of 

 thick paint. Vines may be thickly coated over with this 

 mixture when they are at rest without any fear of injury, 

 but in the case of young vines with smooth close sur- 

 faces, there is not so much necessity for it. If red- 

 spider did not exist the previous year, a washing with 

 soap and water is all that is required. 



Then fix the vines in their proper places to the wires, 

 remove the dry soil which is loose in the surface of the 

 inside border, and fork the surface to the depth of two 

 inches, or as far down as there is no danger of interfer- 

 ing with the young roots. Put as much fresh soil over 

 the surface as has been removed, and the house is ready 

 for starting when required in spring. During the course of 

 winter or early spring an eke of fresh soil should be put to 

 the borders, presuming that only a portion of it was made 

 the first season. Any protection from rain during win- 

 ter that has been put over the outside border should not 

 be removed till the vines are starting in spring. 



Throughout the whole spring keep the house cool and 

 well aired, applying no more fire-heat than is just 

 sufficient to exclude frost. Vines intended for the 

 supply of late grapes should be allowed to break into 

 growth without the aid of fire-heat. This in ordinary 

 seasons they will do from the middle to the end of April. 

 In the case of vines intended for early forcing, shut up 

 the house on the 1st February, and apply fire-heat to keep 

 the temperature from falling below 45°, to be increased to 

 50° at night by the beginning of March, and 60° as soon 

 as the vines have pushed their buds a quarter of an inch — 

 the temperature to be increased and regulated as direct- 

 ed for the first season's growth, and as shall again be re- 

 ferred to in treating of the fruiting year and forcing the 



