8()0 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



authors on this subject, that some would put this matter off, 

 perhaps another month, but if the apphcation of fire-lieat be 

 at all necessary, less trouble and expense for fuel will attend 

 the process of ripening the shoots in September than in Octo- 

 ber. Another consideration is that, as it were, you take up 

 vegetation on the way and hurry her forward to the end 

 her journey, instead of allowing her to lag behind, and then 

 forcibly push her on against her inclination : a matter of the 

 very first consideration and importance in every species of 

 horticulture." 



Very slight fires will be sufficient to effect all that is ne- 

 cessary at this time, but as the season advances, the tempe- 

 rature may be gradually raised, so that the thermometer may 

 stand mornings and evenings about 70", and at this point it 

 should remain until the shoots be of a brownish color, and 

 sufficiently hard or ripened as far towards their extremities, as 

 it is calculated that they will be cut back to in their autumnal 

 pruning. 



As the wood begins to ripen, both air and water must be 

 gradually reduced in quantity until the latter be entirely dis- 

 pensed with ; but this should be done by degiees, somewhat in 

 the proportion in which it is wished that vegetation should stop. 

 The waterings at the roots should be desisted in some time 

 before that of the engine over the leaves, the latter of which 

 will keep the plants less liable to the attacks of the red spider 

 the following season, by destroying great part of its eggs upon 

 the wood of the vines, and also upon the wood-work of the 

 house. By November, the vines will be sufficiently ripened to 

 be pruned for the ensuing season. 



