i88i.] THE FRUIT-GARDEN. 165 



buds to break (grow) together, and so be of uniform strength, as those 

 which are uppermost are apt to start first and absorb any sap which 

 may be ready for use, and thus cause the lower ends to break weakly. 

 For this reason, also, it is not wise to try to get the Vines to start too 

 many spurs. In regard to temperatures and time of starting, the 

 advice given before applies here. We ought to say, however, that it 

 is good economy to aid the plants with artificial heat in the early 

 spring months, so that the fruit and wood may have a chance of 

 ripening early. We do not like the practice of keeping up the heat 

 by means of the fire-shovel late in autumn. The results are never 

 equal. Aid them w^ith fire -heat in spring, for the ripening process 

 does not go on satisfactorily without plenty of sun, although growth 

 may be promoted to a great extent without it. 



Instead of tying your rods to the trellis (which should be at least 

 16 inches from the glass) as before, we advise you to hang them by 

 means of stout cord, 8 or 10 inches further down. The reason for 

 this is, that by so doing you will have more room for foliage, and it is 

 a good thing to allow the Vines to carry as much foliage as possible, 

 without overcrowding. The common practice is to stop the shoots at 

 one, or at most two, leaves beyond the bunch. When a bunch is left 

 to every spur this is too little leaf-power to bring the bunches up to 

 perfection, and hence many only take a bunch from every alternate spur. 

 You cannot afford to do this, so you ought to hang the rods below the 

 trellis, and so give the branches a chance to spread upivards as well as 

 outv)ards, and room to carry three, four, five, or six leaves beyond the 

 fruit, without overcrowding. Whenever the shoots are stopped, all 

 subsequent attempts at growth should be pinched off at the first leaf. 



Each growth will produce a bunch, and maybe two. Put off all ex- 

 cept one on each growth, otherwise the Vines will be over-cropped — not 

 by any means an uncommon occurrence. After the berries have be- 

 come the size of peas they must be thinned out. This will go against 

 the grain, for it looks, to the beginner, like throwing away part of the 

 crop. It is not so, however, for the bunches will not be any lighter, 

 ultimately, for having two-thirds of the berries cut out, and the quality 

 will be much enhanced. When thinning, it should be borne in mind 

 that ultimately the berries will be about the size of marbles, and room 

 should be left for them swelling to that size. Generally speaking, two- 

 thirds will require cutting out, but practice and experience of varieties 

 alone can determine what is the exact quantity to remove. Only the 

 best berries should be left, and an eye should be kept to having sym- 

 metrical bunches. The uppermost limbs of large branches — shoulders 

 they are called— should be suspended (so that their weight may be re- 

 moved from the lower parts of the branch) by means of a thin shred of 

 tying material. 



After the fruit is ripe the house should be kept rather cooler and 

 drier, and less water on the borders will sufiice. Should it be necessary 



