80 FRUIT .CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



stronger and longer than the others, cut these back, and 

 dash a handful or two of dry sand about the roots, and 

 give them a shake. Eoot-pruning, however, is rarely 

 necessary when vines are grown as has been directed. 

 The vine is thus ready for planting. Eemove the soil 

 to the depth of 9 inches, and to a width sufficient to 

 take in the extended roots. In this space carefully 

 place the vine, spreading out the roots and keeping 

 the stem 6 inches off the front wall. Cover up the 

 lower roots with some of the finest of the soil, making 

 sure that every root stretches regularly out from the 

 stem all round. Pack the soil firmly about them with 

 the hand, and lay down each layer of roots with soil in 

 between and about them, till those nearest the surface 

 are covered 3 or 4 inches deep. Fix a stake in the soil 

 at the back of the vine, tying the top of it to the first 

 wire, and tie the vine neatly to it, so that as it grows 

 and strengthens the stem may be straight and neat. 

 Settle the soil about the roots with water through a 

 fine rose at a temperature of about 100°; then cover 

 the surface of the soil with a layer of old mushroom-bed 

 manure, to prevent evaporation and the necessity for 

 frequent watering. This is especially necessary if the 

 roots are near the pipes. Supposing that the lights are 

 6 feet wide, let a permanent vine, to be brought away 

 with two rods each, be planted to each rafter. This will 

 give a rod to every 3 feet jun of the vinery. Vines 

 should never be thicker, and in many cases 6 inches 

 or a foot more will be to the advantage of the vine, 

 though many begrudge the room. In the centre of 

 each light plant a vine to be trained with one stem, 

 for the purpose of being fruited the following season, 

 half-way up the roof; and where as many grapes as 

 possible are, as is usually the case, an object, plant a 



