Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/198

 stored up in the remaining parts. Never prune back wood of the present year to one eye, as is usually recommended, but leave a long spur of three eyes; the eye or bud nearest the old stem is frequently blind, and even if it does show fruit, it is not so fine as the eyes farther up the shoot; but be careful to retain the best, and rub off the remainder at the earliest stage of growth, always encouraging the base bud shoot to be retained for the next season’s operation. Summer pruning must be strictly attended to, stopping every shoot two leaves above the bunch, after which laterals, or new shoots, will soon be produced. These, stop again every two weeks, to concentrate the energy of the plant on the swelling of the fruit.

.—This portion of culture is too frequently neglected. As soon as the berries are the size of small peas, cut out about one-third of them with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors. This will allow the others to swell more freely. Again, before they begin to color, if they appear crowded, thin out the smallest. This will not reduce the weight of the bunch, unless the thinning is carried to extreme. Never touch the fruit after it begins to color. Handling destroys the fine bloom on the fruit, which is a point of beauty. Tieing up the shoulders does not improve the fruit nor add to the effect.

under glass, without fire heat. As soon as the frosty nights are over, clean all the wood-work by washing, or white-washing. Lift up the vines from where they have been laid all Winter, and wash them with strong soap-suds, or soft soap and tobacco water, rubbing off all the loose bark, and cleaning them thoroughly. After which tie them up to the places appropriate for them. Every morning after they begin to grow, give them a syringing with water, about an hour after sun-rise, provided the sashes are on the house. If the sashes are not on, they do not require it so frequently. About the end of April, or first of May, the sashes must necessarily be put on to protect the blossom, encourage the growth, and prevent injury in cold nights.