The grafting of fruit trees, the details of which were given in the last chapter, ought to be completed in the early part of April.

Vines will be starting in unheated houses. Thin Grapes on early Vines, when the fruit has set and is beginning to swell, using a pair of long, slender "grape-scissors," procured from the seedsman. Begin at the bottom of the bunch, and work upward. Thin with judgment, forming an idea of what space each berry will require when it has swollen to its full size. Avoid touching the berries with the fingers or hair.

Melons In Frames

The present is a good time to prepare a frame for Melons. A bed of warm stable manure and leaves may be made up in the manner previously advised, and a mound of soil a foot deep put on the top, in the centre. A plant raised in a pot in a warm greenhouse or hot bed in the manner recommended in an earlier chapter, and with three or four rough leaves, may be planted out, and the tip removed to encourage side shoots to form. Superlative is one of the best varieties for frame culture.