] ]g ON EARLY RIPENING OF GRAPES. 



sequently the fruit is better nourished and its maturation 

 hastened. It is certainly a considerable point gained in the 

 culturt oi the vi- e, to be able to bring the fruit to perfec- 

 tion, by a process so simple, and so easily performed. But 

 lest there should be any misconception in the foregoing 

 statement, 1 will briefly describe the exact method to be 

 followed by any person, who may be desirous of trying this 

 p r0 p er t ] me f mode of ripening grapes. The best time for performing 

 performing the the operation: on vines growing in the open air is towards 

 the end of July, or beginniig of August ; and it is a ma- 

 terial point, not to let the removed circle of bark be too 

 wide: from one to two eighths of an inch will be a space of 

 sufficient width ; the exposed alburnum wilf then be covered 

 a^ain with new bark before the following winter, so that 

 there will be no danger of injuring the future health of the 

 tree. 



It is not of much consequence in what part of the tree 

 the incisioil is made, but in case the trunk is very large, I 

 should then recommend, that the circles be made in the 

 smaller branches. 

 Caution. It is to be observed, that all shoots which come out from 



the root of the vine, or from the front of the trunk situate 

 below the incision, must be removed as often as they appear, 

 unless bearing wood is particularly wanted to fill up the 

 lower part of the wall, in which case one or two shoots may 

 be left, 

 Apr:icab]e to Vines growing in forcing houses are equally improved in 

 vuie»m forcing point of size and flavour, as well as made to ripen earlier by 

 taking away circles of bark : th<- time for doing this is 

 when the fruit is set, and the berries are about the size of 

 small shot. The removed circles may here be made wider 

 than on vines growing in the open air, as the bark is sooner 

 renewed in forcing houses, owing to the warmth and 

 moisture in those places. Half an inch will not be too 

 great a width to take off in a circle from a vigorous growing 

 vine, but I do not recommend the operation to be performed 

 at all in weak trees, 

 and perhaps I think that this practice may be extended to other fruits, 



other fruits, t hasten their maturity, especially figs> in which there 



™>rticiilariy ° * r . i • , 



is a most abundant flow of returning sap ; grid it demon* 



strate^ 



4 



par 



