20 



A TREATISE ON THE 



diately seal the end of the detached piece with seaHng-wax. Tie 

 the wood to a rod with the bunches suspended; each bunch to 

 hang perfectly free, so as not to touch one another : for the con- 

 venience of carrying them, no more than two dozen bunches 

 should be attached to one rod. When the whole are cut, sealed, 

 and tied, convey them with the utmost care (choosing, of course, 

 a fine day) to a dry room in a dwelling-house ; the rods to be 

 suspended from the ceiling, or supported on tressels, only taking 

 care to allow a small space between each, just enough to prevent 

 touching one another. If proper care be taken in occasionally 

 looking them over to remove any decayed berry, they will remain 

 in a perfect state for months. I generally cut those I wish to 

 preserve about the middle or latter end of December; they con- 

 tinue good until the end of March (previous to which time the 

 young crop is fit to cut). By allowing the fruit to remain on the 

 vines after the leaves show signs of decay, it by no means im- 

 proves, only tending to shrivel ; and even in the best glazed and 

 ventilated houses grapes are not exempt from damp, whereas, by 

 removing the fruit from light, air, and moisture, they retain in 

 a wonderful degree their size and flavour, which are objects worth 

 attending to, enabling gardeners to exhibit excellent fruit every 

 day throughout the dark months of winter. In thus removing 

 the crop, the vines are greatly relieved; and it enables the grower 

 to treat the vines in the most advantageous manner for their 

 future bearing, which must be done by withdrawing all artificial 

 heat, and admitting air freely, both by day and night. 



The interior as well as the exterior border must now receive 

 a good dressing of equal quantities of sheep-fold and well -rotted 

 farm-yard manure. Eemove with care the surface-mould of the 

 border to the depth of one or two inches, or as much as can be 

 cleared off until the roots are visible, when a covering of the above 

 mixture must be placed immediately on the roots to the depth of 

 four or five inches. Water the inside border copiously over the 

 manure; frequently repeat the watering tlu'oughout the winter 

 and spring, in order to wash the strength of tlie manure amongst 



