It is to be feared that pot-Vines from which ripe Grapes were at one time expected by the 1st of May will be quite a fortnight or three weeks later, owing to the severity of the first three months of forcing. They may now, however, be pushed along at a brisk pace if April prove a clear sunny month, and high temperatures can be had without hard firing. . Unless on very cold nights, they may be subjected to 70° all night when shut up early with sun-heat. They must now be steadily supplied with water, and fed with top-dressings of horse-droppings, Standen's manure, and weak guano-water, up to the colouring point, when the stimulants should be less strong. As soon as colouring begins, increase the amount of air slightly, and do not increase the heat - rather let the night temperature decline a few degrees, and never omit a chink of air on all night. Owing to so much fire-heat early in the season, let a sharp look-out be kept on red-spider, and let the first appearance of it be attended to with a syringe and a little soapy water, taking care not to pull the leaf-stalks about in the process.

Succession early permanent Vines that have their roots partly in inside, partly in outside borders, and that are now swelling their fruit rapidly, must have the inside border, especially near the hot pipes, frequently noticed, so that by any chance they do not get too dry. We do not approve of much sprinkling all through the day of the floors of vineries; but after bright days, when a maximum of air is necessary, let all surfaces be moistened with a syringe when the vinery is shut up on sunny days, and close the ventilators for an hour or two, after which let a little air be put on the front-lights for the night, and in extent according to the state of the weather. All Grapes that are thinned may now have a higher night temperature than is desirable for earlier crops when at the same stage. At 10 p.m. on fine nights the heat may stand at 70°, falling 5°, or even 10°, before morning, just according to the state of the weather. Tie down the young growths of later houses, and thin the bunches of free-setting sorts to about the number to be ultimately left for the crop. Disbud all Vines that are just broken half an inch, leaving the strongest buds and those best placed for being easily tied to the wires.

Late Vines intended to ripen thoroughly by the end of September without being hurriedly forced should now be shut up and started, taking care that inside borders are thoroughly watered first. In the case of oldish vines, give the borders outside and inside a good top-dressing of bone-meal, and over it two or three inches of substantial farmyard manure.

Vine Forcing #1

Keep all Vines from which the crop has been gathered as cool as possible. Syringe the foliage occasionally to keep it clean and healthy, until it has done its work sufficiently to leave the Vines in a good state for another season's crop. Leave a mulching on both outside and inside borders, to prevent them from becoming too dry and cracking. All ripe Grapes should be kept cool and dry by leaving top and bottom air on all night. Remove all fresh lateral growths immediately they appear from all early Vines, so as to concentrate the energies of the Vines in perfecting the fruit-bearing buds for next season. Give more air to Grapes that have just begun to colour, and lessen the air-moisture by degrees. Examine the borders as soon as colouring begins, and if at all dry, give a good soaking of water; and if the borders are not mulched, let a thin covering of manure be laid on to prevent evaporation, and nourish the Vines in the heat of summer. Vines that are swelling-off their crops should be liberally supplied with water if the weather be dry and warm.

Shut them up early with sun-heat, rising to 85° or 90°. Put on a little air for the night between 6 and 7 p.m., and use no more fire than is necessary to prevent the heat in Muscat-houses from falling below 75°, and other varieties 70°, as a minimum for the night. Should red-spider make its appearance, attack it immediately by hand sponging; or where the water is quite clean, the syringe may be used. Want of sufficient water at the root and insufficient ventilation are conditions which favour red - spider, and these conditions must be avoided. Late crops now being thinned should be more freely thinned than Grapes that are to be cut before winter. And as Grapes swell very rapidly at this season, attend to thinning both bunches and berries immediately they are the size of Radish-seeds, except shy-setting sorts, which should be left unthinned until it can be seen which are the properly fertilised berries. Attend regularly to the pinching of all lateral growths immediately they appear. Vines planted this spring will now be getting a good hold of the border and growing rapidly. Tie them to the wires as they grow, and allow those that are to be cut down for permanent Vines to make as much foliage as there is room for without crowding.

Temporary Vines to be cropped next year should have the laterals stopped at the second joint. If pot-Vines have not been already shifted into their fruiting-pots, let them be attended to at once. Place them in a light position near the glass, and encourage them by every possible means to grow freely, stopping them when 6 or 7 feet long.