30 



THE SECOND YEAr's TREATMENT. 



the whole wood and glass of the house inside should 

 have a thorough good washing, and the canes should 

 be washed with soap and water with a brush, and 

 painted over with a mixture composed of 2 oz. soft 

 soap, 2 oz. flowers of sulphur, and 1 gill tobacco-water, 

 to 2 quarts of water ; stir the whole together, and add 

 clay sufficient to give it the consistency of paint, which 

 will destroy any larvae of red-spider or other insects 

 that may be left on them ; but where no spiders have 

 been on the vines during the summer, this painting may 

 be dispensed with ; and it never should be applied 

 after the buds begin to swell, as it will injure them. 

 When painted, let them be tied to the wires, and give 

 the surface of the border a slight prick over with a fork, 

 but beware of going so deep as to injure the roots. 

 Cover the surface of the border with horse-droppings 

 to the depth of 2 inches when they can be had : water- 

 ing over them enriches the border and feeds the roots, 

 preventing rapid radiation at same time. On the 1st 

 of February they may have fire-heat applied, beginning 

 as in the first year in regard to moisture and syringing. 

 As soon as the buds break, increase the heat at night to 

 60°, and by the time they have got some part of their 

 foliage fairly expanded, increase it 5° more, running up 

 10° or 15° above this with sun-heat. The atmosphere 

 should be kept sufficiently moist by sprinkling the 

 border and paths, if there is no steam-tray on the 

 pipes ; but avoid syringing the pipes when they are 

 hot, as this raises a great cloud of steam for a few 

 minutes, doing more harm than good. What the vine 

 requires for its growth, with healthy foliage of good 

 texture, is an atmosphere not arid, but certainly not 

 steaming like that of a cucumber-frame. This year, 

 the laterals that form on the young rods must be 



