CULTURE OF LATE VINES IN POTS. 



183 



XXVII. — Propagation and Culture of Late Vines in Pots. By 

 Mr. Toy, Gardener to Col. Challoner, F.H.S., at Portnall 

 Park. 



(Communicated, with bunches of Black Hamburgh and West's St. Peter's 

 Grapes, January 19, 1847.) 



From the latest grape-house I take shoots of the West's St. Peter's 

 vine, cut them into lengths of about 6 inches, and with the knife 

 carefully remove all the eyes except one at the base of each 

 shoot. I then pack them in dry sand and place them in a cool 

 shed till the end of May, when they are put into 6-inch pots 

 filled with light sandy soil and plunged in a bottom-heat of about 

 80°. 



If intended for pot culture, I take particular care that they 

 receive no check while growing, or till the wood is ripe, which 

 is about the end of November, when I allow the soil in the pots 

 to dry ; I afterwards place them in a cool shed till the approach 

 of spring, and then turn them out with care, shaking the soil 

 from the roots and re-potting them. I now replace them in a 

 cool situation till the buds begin to swell, when I remove the 

 plants to a house or pit, plunge them in a bottom heat of about 

 80°, and give them a good watering, either tilting or throwing 

 the lights wide open night and day in order that the temperature 

 may be as cool as the season will admit of. 



For the successful culture of late Grapes a span-roofed house is 

 preferred ; .the border should be inside, for this will allow of its 

 becoming dry when the growth of the vine is to be retarded. In 

 preparing the border I take out the good soil, if any, and throw- 

 in in its stead about a foot of brick-bats for drainage, which I 

 render perfect by a layer of coarse heath. As compost, I mix 

 equal parts of turfy loam, decayed leaves, night-soil, old mortar, 

 brick-bats, and bones, which upon being thrown into a mound 

 I allow to lie for about six months. 



In the middle of June I prepare dung and leaves to make a 

 hot-bed 2 feet high and 3 feet wide, besides a layer of the com- 

 post 1 foot thick, and I finish making the border by adding 2 

 feet more of the compost in such a manner that when the dung 

 and leaves are quite decayed, the surface shall be level. If the 

 house be span-roofed, the bed should be in the centre, running 

 its whole length. 



The border will be ready to receive the young vines by the 

 beginning of July ; I then turn them out of the pots, keeping 

 the balls entire, and I put a little fine earth round the roots and 

 over the surface. 



Respecting the routine work of tying in the young shoots as 



