102 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



to damp. When such weather occurs, rather keep the 

 ventilators shut, and keep a very slight warmth in the 

 pipes. Grapes are now very successfully preserved by 

 being cut before the dead of winter, after the vines have 

 shed their leaves, with a portion of wood attached to 

 the bunch, which is inserted in bottles of water having 

 a few pieces of charcoal in them, and ranged in rows 

 in racks made for the purpose, in a dry room where the 

 temperature can be steadily kept at about 40°. In 

 this way they can be kept for many weeks ; and where 

 it is necessary to have plants stored in late vineries, 

 it is far preferable to leaving the grapes to take their 

 chance along with them. Of course, the ilavour of 

 the grape is slightly deteriorated from imbibing part 

 of the water. But it allows the vineries to be used 

 for other purposes, and the vines to be pruned be- 

 fore there is any chance of their bleeding. 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF BOEDERS. 



In many cases borders do not receive that amount of 

 attention after they are first made, necessary to keep 

 them in good condition for a lengthened period. The 

 management of the borders being only another term 

 for the management of the roots, its importance is not 

 easily overrated. I have recommended that in making 

 borders, their completion should extend over a period 

 of at least three years. It would, however, be greatly 

 to the benefit of vines, if all interference with the 

 border and roots did not end there. It is for many 

 reasons not always convenient to keep adding to the 

 front of the borders for an indefinite number of years. 

 Space alone, in most instances, forbids this ; and this 

 being the case, the roots have a tendency, more espe- 



