THE 



GARDENER. 



DECEMBER 1873. 



— ^'■^^i^p-e* 



KEEPING GRAPES IN WINTER. 



E have recently received letters from various localities, 

 stating that Grapes that should have hung in good 

 condition on the Vines for a long time have moulded 

 and dropped from their stalks. In one case, the whole 

 crop of Muscats was literally lost. Considering the general damp- 

 ness and want of sunshine which characterised the Grape-ripening 

 months of August and September, and the heavy rainfall, it is 

 not by any means surprising that Grapes should, in many instances, 

 not keep well. There cannot be a doubt that the successful keep- 

 ing of Grapes throughout the winter depends very much on the 

 circumstances under which they are ripened. At the same time, 

 very much depends on the way in which they are managed after they 

 are ripe, especially from the middle of October up to the time that 

 the Vines shed their leaves and become comparatively inactive. We 

 know, from the loss that has occurred to several, that this is a sub- 

 ject that may be discussed with profit to some of our readers; and, 

 after opening the subject with a few remarks, we will be very glad to 

 have the experience and ideas of our correspondents. 



Glancing first at the difference which certain treatment in the ripen- 

 ing of Grapes makes to their hanging for a length of time after they 

 are ripe, with the greatest possible freshness and the least possible 

 loss from damping and decay, we consider it of great importance 

 that they should be grown and ripened under the influence of as much 

 light as possible, and freely subjected to a circulation of dry warm air. 



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