458 



CULTURE OF THE GRAPE-VINE UNDER GLASS. 



be frequently turned, always keeping it rather dry ; it may then be wheeled 

 into the bed or border. The loam when put into the bed or border should 

 be in pieces about the size of bricks and half-bricks, brought from the stacks 



Fig. 348. Vines trained according to the Thomery system. 



or tiers where they were originally piled, mixed with the manure, and laid 

 once for all in the place where they are finally to remain, without any turn- 

 ing, chopping, or pounding whatever, which only injures the loam, and ren- 

 ders it too compact, and too much akin to puddle, for vine-roots to prosper 

 in. About 16 feet wide, and from 2 feet 6 inches to 4 feet deep, may be 

 considered a moderate width and depth for a vine-border, on a substratum of 

 draining, at least one foot deep. 



967. Planting, — On the top of this the vines reared in the manner here- 

 after stated may be planted. If out of doors, plant the vines 3 feet from the 

 front of the house, just covering the root -ball of each about 2 inches, over 

 which place a hand-glass. This will keep off rain and concentrate heat. 

 Then lay the cane about 2 inches under ground, till it enters the aperture 

 or arch into the house, and over this place another hand-glass ; or, instead of 

 hand-glasses, a layer of hot dung or leaves, 1 foot thick and 6 feet wide, may 

 be laid along it. It is presumed that the border has been made in autumn, 

 in which case this planting is to be done in February, especial care being 

 taken that the border does not get either too wet or too dry. In the former 

 case thatch it, and in the latter mulch it with fermented dung from old 

 linings or the like, and water it with clean water. 



968. To raise the plants^ get some eyes from plants which you have seen and 

 proved, cut them at half-an-inch above and below the eye, (606), and insert 

 them singly in pots (of the size 60) about half-an-inch under the soil, about 

 Christmas. Keep them growing in a moist heat, (say 60^ Fahr.,) and shift 



