GLEANINGS ON IIORTICUI.TURK. 



19 



the restoration of" the tarpaulin as an exterior cover against the 

 vicissitudes of our northern clime. The borders should never be 

 dug, but carefully forked a few inches in depth as soon as the 

 frosts are over, merely to render the surface more porous, and 

 that the roots should feel the genial influence and warmth of 

 the sun's rays. 



Begin the year by having the flues cleaned out, and well white- 

 washed outside with hot lime ; the woodwork and glass should 

 be also washed with soap and water, and the vines with a mix- 

 ture of soft-soap, sulphur, and tobacco. When the course of 

 forcing coincides nearly with the natural growing season, ripe 

 grapes may be cut in less than five months. 



The temperature should be about fifty to fifty-five degrees, until 

 every bud in the house has begun to swell ; if hotter, only a few 

 of the leading and strongest buds would start. Use the syringe 

 on the branches freely, and steam the house to enable the buds 

 to push more freely — keeping the thermometer only one degree 

 higher than the hygrometer, and the rise of the sap will be 

 facilitated. Afterwards, raise the temperature gradual!}' to sixty 

 and seventy degrees in the course of a month — then keep up the 

 moisture at eight o'clock in the morning, and the time the flues 

 are lighted in the evening, and fill the house with steam, giving 

 air during the day very sparingly — say two inches at the bottom 

 front lights, and six inches at the top lights. Use stable and 

 liquid manure constantly on the borders, and steam the house by 

 sprinkling the flues or pipes until the hygrometer reaches sixty 

 degrees ; then bring in some unfermented leaves ; these will kill 

 all insects, as they contain a great quantity of ammoniacal gas, 

 and can do no injury until the leaves of the vines expand. Pour 

 a solution of crude muriate of ammonia upon quick lime, and 

 the gas thus obtained may be applied with a pair of bellows to 

 the plants. Air should be admitted freely to strengthen the 

 young buds as they are developed, and the exterior and interior 

 temperature should be kept at an equal height ; this is of the 

 utmost use in vine culture. 



Vines will not bleed if they are pruned in the autumn, soon 

 after vegetation ceases, and when the wood is ripe. In all cases, 

 a preventive is better than a cure, and if once it happens to any 

 serious extent, it will injure the forthcoming crop and weaken the 

 vines. Should it ever occur, peel off the outside bark to the eye 



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