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THE FEUITING YEAR. 



Vines prepared as has been recommended may be 

 started on the 1st of January the third year. My 

 practice with vines of this description is to collect as 

 many oak leaves as will make a heap 3 feet deep on 

 the vinery floor, where they soon become hot and give 

 off a fine genial heat, which carries with it all the 

 moisture required. Young vines, especially if very 

 strong, are prone to start strong shoots at their points 

 that will monopolise all the rising sap, and leave the 

 others unsupplied. To prevent this as much as pos- 

 sible, sling the points of the vines down, so that they 

 hang on a level with the part that is tied to the first 

 or second wire, till all the eyes have made 3 inches of 

 wood, when they may be fixed. If there are means of 

 giving bottom heat, it should be applied so as to raise 

 the temperature of the border where the roots are to 

 60°. If this can be done, the heat from the hot leaves 

 may be supplemented by the heating apparatus, so as 

 to keep the atmosphere of the house at 50° by night, 

 and 55° by day, rising 10° by sun-heat. With these 

 appliances, and syringing with tepid water daily, the 

 vines will soon begin to burst their buds ; and as soon 

 as it can be observed that there are two shoots starting 

 from one eye, the weakest should at once be rubbed off 

 with the hand, and syringing discontinued. In its 

 stead a small portion of the hot leaves may be forked 

 over daily ; this will afford all the atmospheric moisture 

 necessary till after the fruit is set. The moment the 

 bunches can be distinguished, the heat should be raised 

 5° at night and the same during the day ; and by the 



