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GARDEN HINTS FOR AMATEURS. — FEBRUARY. 
§ 
The best time for budding Vines is when the sap is flowing freely into the buds in spring, and when 
the leaves are commencing to unfold. If done earlier they will bleed, and thus weaken the stock ; 
whereas Vines do not bleed if wounded after the leaf begins to unfold, unless a shoot or branch be cut 
off. A strong stem of a Vine may be budded all over with one or several lands, and if the operation is 
performed skilfully, and at the critical moment when the Vine is just coming into leaf, an inferior 
variety may by this means be made to bear the best kinds of grapes in one year after budding, thus 
offering the readiest means of making the best of what has often to be considered a bad bargain, and 
the cause of much disappointment, as in the case of Vines purchased under a wrong name. The sketch 
will show clearly the way in which I have 
budded many Vines, all of which have done 
well. As soon as the bud is nicely fitted into 
its place, it is tied tightly and neatly with 
bass, clayed over as in grafting, and a little 
moss tied upon the clay to keep it moist. Care must be taken to keep the bud exposed, so 
that it may be able to grow without interruption from the surrounding material ; and the moss 
should be moistened several times a day. As the buds begin to grow, the shoots of the Vine or 
stock must be gradually diminished in number until they are all removed, or they may be stopped in 
constantly through the season, to give all the vigour - of the stock to the buds. About Midsummer the 
matting round the buds should be gradually slackened, and in a week or two afterwards the union 
between the bud and stock is perfect ; afterward it may be wholly removed. We have had a crop from 
the main Vine the same year that the buds were inserted, and thus no time was lost. 
Inarching is a most successful method for changing the kind of grape without doing away with a 
healthy Vine, which may, perhaps, be more suitable for the soil in which it is growing than the kind it 
is desirable to have in its place. "When this plan is to be adopted, a healthy young Vine of the kind 
desired should be procured in a pot, and placed in the same house with the old or existing Vine before 
either begins to grow, in order that they may advance together, and be as nearly as possible in the 
same state when the operation is performed ; the best time for which is when the young shoots have 
grown about four feet in length. The Vine in the pot should then be brought so near to the shoot to 
which it is to be attached, and placed in such a position that they can be readily united. The young 
bark and a thin slice of the wood, four inches in length, should then be carefully removed from each, 
about three feet from their points ; the two parts thus cut should then be fitted exactly together and 
tied neatly, taking care not to injure the soft young wood. Moss the part over, and the business is 
done for the present. In about three weeks the ligature will require loosening : but care must be taken 
not to disturb the shoots, as very little will separate them. Every encouragement should be given to 
the marched vine, by removing gross shoots from the stock during the summer ; and, at the end of the 
season, the vine in the pot may be carefully cut below the junction. If all goes on well, fruit may be 
expected the following year. 
In cold damp places, where the more choice grapes do not succeed well, I would recommend plant- 
ing the strongest vines, such as the Nice or White Tokay, and budding or inarching the Muscat or 
other choice kinds upon them. The success which has attended the experiments we have fried here is 
most satisfactory. 
((priruTtt liitta frir titrates. 
FEBRUARY. 
W AVTNG in our preceding volumes given a very complete Calendar of garden operations suitable 
&& alike for practical gardeners, and for the amateur, it is our intention to confine ourselves during 
the present year to the amateur's garden only ; but still we hope to render the hints sufficiently lucid 
to be, as far as they go, seasonable remembrancers to practical men. The fruit-forcing department will 
be omitted, as it is considered those who force fruits have generally a gardener to attend to it. 
Plant-Souses and Pits. — This is a busy month in the greenhouse, as all plants which require it should 
be re-potted before the end. With lengthening days there is no fear of starting young plants into 
active growth, and such things as young Azaleas and Croweas must be cut in, and introduced into strong 
heat ; Boronias, Eriostemons, Chorozemas, Zichyas, Aphelexcs, Leschenaultias, Pimeleas, Polygalas, 
and Styphelias, into a warm greenhouse, where they can be kept rather close, and some of the free- 
growing Heaths may also be forwarded a little. In potting it is scarcely necessaiy to state, that soils 
mmML 
