274. THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
sunshine, by adopting a careful system of ventilation, so that the 
grapes may derive all the benefit possible from the solar warmth. 
This may be done by shutting up early; that is to say, on bright 
sunny days not later than five p.m. Let the house remain so closed 
until nine p.m., and then admit a little air at the top, and this 
should remain on all night. It is astonishing what progress the 
grapes will make if a judicious system of utilizing the sunshine is 
carried out. Close the house earlier on dull days, and reduce the 
atmospheric moisture considerably as the grapes advance towards 
maturity. But until the dull days of October arrive, avoid a dry 
atmosphere, or an attack of red-spider will be the result. It is 
important to bear in mind that heat and air are alike necessary in 
the development of flavour and colour in grapes. 
It may be well to warn the cultivator, that up to the time of 
writing this the season has been characterized by the smallness of 
the rainfall, and consequently vine borders are likely to suffer for 
the want of water. In our case we have been obliged to water all 
outside vine borders since the middle of May. We have given 
them a thorough soaking once every fortnight since, and our house 
of late grapes will receive the same attention until the end of 
August, should the weather continue dry. In the case of late 
grapes in districts similarly situated to ours, that have not been 
watered, I advise the watering of the borders without delay. Do 
not be satisfied with giving them a mere surface damping, for if the 
vines are to derive any benefit from the water, apply sufficient to 
penetrate the soil to the depth of ten to twelve inches. If at first 
it does not soak into the soil, freely loosen the surface with a fork, 
and extend the watering over a period of four or five hours, to give 
the water time to well moisten the border. After the watering, 
mulch the surface with half-rotten manure two or three inches 
thick. This mulching will materially lessen the amount of water 
required, as it prevents evaporation, and, keeps the border in a 
uniform condition of moisture for a longer period. If the roots 
have previously been kept in a moist state, do not give them any 
more water after they begin to colour. 
So much depends upon the time the crop will ripen, that general 
instructions only can be given for the management of the vines. If 
they were retarded in the early part of the season—a practice too 
common, and fraught with many evil consequences—they will 
require unremitting care and attention from this time until the 
grapes are ripe. The practice of keeping Muscat and other late 
grapes back in the early part of the season, under the supposition 
that they will keep better and hang longer, is wrong altogether. 
At the best our English summers are not long enough to mature a 
crop of Muscat grapes thoroughly without the assistance of fire- 
heat ; therefore, to deprive them of an early start, so that they may 
not have the benefit of a long season of growth, is adding to the 
difficulties at the end of the season. Unless actually forced, Muscats 
and other long-keeping grapes do not ripen too early; that is to 
say, they are never ripe before the autumn, and they seldom ripen 
satisfactorily without fire-heat. I make a practice of starting 
