16 



GLEANINGS ON HORTICULTURE. 



season, that our souls may be engaged in prayer and pfaise ! 1 

 find that I have perpetually to struggle against my corrupt in- 

 clinations, and that the thoughts and intents of my heart are. 

 only evil, and that continually; but these dark truths shall soon 

 be cleared up, and all that appears noio to be intricate ; and we 

 shall find that blessings arose to us firom what at one period pi'o- 

 mised to be injurious to us. I am sure that you will agree with 

 me, that God's love has been manifested towards us since our 

 youth until the present moment; — may we in everything strive 

 to live to His glory, and may the enjoyment of horticultural pur- 

 suits, and the bounties of His providence, elevate our souls to 

 the " delectable mountains," through faith and confidence in the 

 sole merits of our Redeemer. 



TREATMENT OF YOUNG VINES, 



The shoot fi'om a young vine should be allowed to grow until 

 it reaches the top of the rafter; and one rod will be sufficient 

 where plants are required to be kept during the Winter as bear- 

 ing wood. The partial shade of vines is advantageous to plants, 

 and many continue longer in flower in consequence. In autumn, 

 cut down the one shoot of the young vine to the bottom of the 

 roof-sash ; for it is between this part and the top where grapes 

 are to be produced. The second year, the vine will make rapid 

 progress in growth, and a vigorous shoot will reach the whole 

 length of the roof-sashes. This shoot should be stopped at the 

 highest point of the house, and the wood will be perfectly ripe 

 by the end of the Summer. Grapes ought not to be allowed to 

 grow upon any vines trained in hothouses, until the third season 

 after planting ; and then only a limited crop should be taken, 

 until the stem of the vine measures three inches, according to 

 the scale before mentioned. When the autumn pruning arrives, 

 the before-mentioned shoot should be shortened two-thirds back, 

 allowing only one-third for bearing ; and it will be found the 

 ensuing Spring that it will show for fruit at every eye ; probably 

 at some eyes two or three bunches will appear; but these should 

 all be removed except one — a bunch to an eye is enough — other- 

 wise the bunches and berries will be small, liable to shank, and 

 be of an indifferent colour. The leading main shoot which has 

 sprung from the top eye, must be trained to the extreme point 

 of the house, and then stopped. The lateral shoots, producing 



