young shoots from the injurious effects of late frosts, and from descending cold; secondly, from the first expanding of the blossoms, until the berries are well set ;-and, thirdly, from the period of the berries becoming transparent, and shewing symptoms of ripening, until the fruit be all cut from the vines. During this last-mentioned period, the coping will prove of the greatest advantage in keeping the fruit dry, for it may be remarked, that as soon as grapes begin to make their last swell, which is indicated by their becoming transparent; not a drop of rain should ever be suffered to fall upon them, if it can possibly be avoided. All the moisture which they stand in need of, they will freely imbibe from the atmosphere.

In concluding these observations on the construction of walls, it must be further observed, that in addition to the surface of a vine wall being as smooth as possible, it ought, also, to be a true perpendicular, and the wall itself to run in a straight line. These qualities are necessary to ensure an equal distribution of solar heat on its surface, and also an exemption from the increased action of violent winds, which is sure to be generated in some way or other, if the wall be built otherwise than in a straight line.

CHAPTER VIII.

ON THE PROPAGATION OF VINES.

VINES INES are propagated in the open ground, by layers, and by cuttings.

By layers. This is the most expeditious method of raising vines, provided the shoots be laid down in pots, and planted out the same summer. But vines raised from shoots laid down in the open ground, seldom ripen their roots well, and are, therefore, inferior to those raised from cuttings. There is also another objection to this mode of propagating vines. No shoots of a well established vine can be laid down in a border, without the roots growing amongst those of the parent vine. When the proper season arrives for the removal of the young plant, the ground requires to be digged to the depth of eighteen inches, in order to take up its roots as entire as possible. Now, a vine border cannot be digged to this depth, nor indeed anything like it, without very greatly injuring the roots of the parent vine. For this reason, therefore, and on account of the roots of young plants so raised, frequently dying off to a considerable extent in the ensuing winter, through not being sufficiently ripened, the raising

of vines by layers in the open ground, may be regarded as an inferior method of propagation.

To raise vines by laying down the shoots in pots, to be planted out in the current summer, the following directions, if observed, will ensure success. For each layer procure a pot of the size of No. 24, and prepare some rich mould, which must be sifted very fine. Put a large piece of potsherd, or a good-sized oyster shell, over the hole at the bottom; fill the pot about two-thirds full with the mould, and sink it three inches below the surface of the soil. Then take the shoot, the four last buds of which will be required to form the layer, and cut the fourth bud cleanly and smoothly out, so that no shoot can afterwards push from it. Bend the shoot carefully down in such a manner, that the second and third buds shall be at least three inches below the surface of the mould when filled in, and the first bud even with it, or rather, just peeping out of the mould. Secure the shoot firmly in this position, so that its own force will not raise it up, then fill the pot up with mould to within half an inch of the top, which space must be left for the purpose of holding liquid manure. If the mould settle down afterwards, and leave a greater space than this, more must be added to make good the deficiency. Shoots Shoots may be thus laid down, any time from the fall of the leaf to the middle of March. The latter period will be

quite early enough, as no roots will be made before the latter end of June, or the beginning of July. After the first of April, the mould in the pot must be constantly kept moist, for which purpose supply it as often as necessary with soap-suds or the drainings of a dung-heap. The layer must be separated from the parent vine sometime between the twentieth of August and the first of September, and planted out immediately, with the ball of earth entire, in the situation in which it is intended to remain. Supply it plentifully with liquid manure of the above-mentioned description, throughout the remainder of the season till the fall of the leaf. It is not necessary to ring, twist, cut, or pierce the layer, before bending it down in the pot: keeping the mould constantly moist with liquid manure, will excite it to root very freely without any such operation. If the foregoing directions be followed, the roots will be four feet long before the winter sets in.

It is necessary, however, to state distinctly, that the success of the operation depends entirely on keeping the mould in the pot continually moist, on separating the layer from the parent vine at the time above-mentioned, on immediately planting it in the spot where it is to remain, and in keeping it well supplied with liquid manure throughout the remaining part of the season. If the layer were suffered to maintain its union with the

parent vine throughout the autumn, the roots would nearly all die away, in consequence of their not having attained to a sufficient degree of maturity to support their own vitality. If the terminal bud when it bursts, should shew fruit, the latter must be pinched off immediately; and as the shoot advances in growth, it must, as often as necessary, be tied to a stake, or, what will be much better, trained against the wall. The tendrils should be cut off as soon as they are about four inches long, and the lateral or side shoots kept pinched back to one eye. At the end of the season, as soon as the leaves are shed, the plant must be cut down to the two lowermost buds. It may be remarked, that by laying shoots in this manner, fine grapes may be grown in pots for the purpose of being cut from the parent vine when the fruit is ripe, and produced at table as living plants in full bearing.

By cuttings. This is the best method of propagating vines in the open ground, when the plants are either to be raised in the situation where they are finally to remain, or to be transplanted in the ensuing winter, or at any subsequent period. To provide cuttings to be planted at the proper season, select at the autumnal pruning, a sufficient number of shoots of the preceding summer's growth. Choose such as are well-ripened, of a medium size, and moderately short-jointed. Cut them into convenient