Improved Method of Planting Vines for forcing. 5 



It may be noticed, that I did not use so much dung in my 

 compost as is sometimes done, for I have observed that an 

 excess of it retards the growth of the Vine, notwithstanding 

 it is considered to be a plant which will bear an extraordinary 

 quantity of manure. The addition of old tan to the com- 

 post, which is not usual, I recommend, because I know from 

 experience, that the Vines will root in that more freely than 

 in any other substance. 



In March last, the border, in front of the Vinery, was 

 cleared to the depth of upwards of three feet, below which 

 it was drained, and then filled up with the new compost to 

 the level of the bottom plate of the house ; this was done in 

 fine weather, and the new mould had full two months time 

 to settle well, before the young- Vines were planted in it. 



My Vine plants were raised from single eyes, in March 

 1818 ; they were treated in the usual way through the sum- 

 mer, and kept from the frost during winter, until March last, 

 when they were cut down to one eye, and placed in the 

 Pine-pit, in order to produce young shoots of sufficient 

 length to draw into the house at the time of planting. After 

 they had made shoots about two feet long, they were removed 

 to the green-house (which was at that time kept at a tempe- 

 rature of about 60°, for some other purposes) ; here they 

 continued growing, till they had attained to the length of three 

 or four feet ; by this treatment the whole plant was rendered 

 more hardy, and consequently more fit for its final removal 

 into the open border. 



Early in May, having made good the height of the border 

 quite to the level of the holes where the plants were to be 

 carried into the house, so that no part of their stem should 



