6 



A TREATISE ON THE 



scorched, and the evils produced thereby will soon become 

 obvious and multiplied. In the first place, the injury thus in- 

 flicted checks the sap, and prevents it performing its proper 

 functions ; secondly, every injured part not only harbours insects, 

 but very frequently engenders red spider and thrip, whereas, when 

 the vines are trained at the distance before-named, a free circu- 

 lation of air passes between them and the glass, preserving the 

 foliage in a healthy and vigorous state, and in every way assisting 

 nature in the performance of her mysterious duty. 



Towards the end of March or the beginning of April the sap will, 

 without artificial heat, begin to circulate through the newly-planted 

 vines, and the buds will then of course be immediately put forth, all 

 of which must be removed with the exception of the two leading 

 ones, and the safest method of doing it is by pressure between the 

 finger and thumb, as the use of the knife would, at this early stage, 

 cause them to bleed. When the two reserved buds have broken, and 

 grown a foot or rather more in length, cut off the weakest, thus 

 leaving only one shoot to each vine. And here it may be as well 

 to remark, for the information of the learner, that this shoot will 

 in due time become a part of the bearing-stem ; consequently, 

 as it progresses, great attention must be paid to tie it in regu- 

 larly and carefully, and every precaution must be taken to pre- 

 vent its being bruised or broken, either by handling it roughly, 

 or tying it too tightly. In the latter case, be sure to give plenty 

 of room for expansion. The matting used for the purpose should 

 never be drawn tight, as, by doing so, if the brittle shoot is not 

 broken by it, the circulation of the sap will be obstructed, which 

 is an evil to be carefully avoided. When the shoot is grown 

 long enough to reach the top of the house, it will be necessary to 

 stop its further progress by pinching it off, and, provided it is in 

 as vigorous a state as it ought to be at this period, it will very 

 shortly thrown out a lateral branch at the bud nearest the extreme 

 end, where it has so recently been stopped, which lateral branch 

 must be allowed to grow until it has attained the length of twelve 

 or fourteen inches ; then it should be stopped, by taking a joint 



