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THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



tlic plants being in a state of progi'essive welfare. When 

 such roots appear, let a little mould be laid over them, to the 

 lliickness of three-quarters of an inch, or an inch and a half 

 at most. Such mould should be of the same quality as that 

 of which the hills are formed, and for this purpose should 

 have been in the bed for a day or two, so as to have attained 

 a temperature equal to that of the rest of the mould in the 

 iVaine. It is well not to put too much of this mould round 

 the roots at once; a little should only be put at a time, and 

 that often repeated, and upon the appearance of the roots this 

 should not be neglected. Towards the end of the month, if 

 the plants were planted out towards the beginning, the shoots 

 \» ill be making fust progress ; and if the first bud, while yet 

 in its embryo state, was picked out at the time of potting-off, 

 or, if not then done, when they were ridgeJ out, one, two, or 

 ])r<.»bably three shoots will now be formed, which, as they ad- 

 vance, should be stopped ; that is, by pinching off the point 

 of each shoot a little above the first or second eye or bud : 

 this will cause them to throw out lateral shoots, and from the 

 first or second joints of such lateral shoots, fruit will most 

 probably show. If such should not, however, be the case, 

 these shoots, in their turn, should be topped or shortened in 

 like manner, and so on until fruit or female flowers ap- 

 pear. This will not only throw the plants into a state of 

 greater fruitfulness, but will also render the plants more strong 

 and stocky. Such runners now formed by this first pruning, 

 will most probably show fruit at their first, second, and third 

 joints. In many cases, where the principal shoot or runner is 

 not thus stopped, it will probably run three, four, or six feet, 

 without showing fruit, or without throwing out side or lateral 

 shoots to fill the bed with vines. As the vines (as they are 

 technically termed) or runners proceed in their growth, let 

 them be stopped when running too far without showing fruit ; 

 and as they advance, be neatly and regidarly trained down to 

 the surface of the mould by small hooked pegs, to keep them 

 in their respective places, and keep them close to the mould, 

 so that, as they advance, they may emit roots to strengthen 

 themselves and afford nourishment to tlie fruit. 



No further pruning will be necessary for them until they are 



