403 GARDEN MANAGE3J:E^•T. 



birds, wasps, &c., by bagging the best bunches in gauze cr paper bags. In 

 October, the bunches are ripe to bursting, and ready to gather, preparatory 

 to a new year of growth and decay ; bearing in mind that success depends on 

 well-ripened wood— a short-jointed branch, ripened shoot under an August sun, 

 being a fruitful bearer of highly-flavoured fruit : for this purpose a light porous 

 earth is preferable to more tenacious clay soils. When the bunches of grapes 

 are formed, pinch off the leading point of the growing shoot one joint above 

 that from which the bunch proceeds. This is done to check the tendency of 

 shoots to overlap one another. After the j'oung points have been stopped, each 

 joint below the stopping will put forth a side-shoot. These are termed lateral 

 shoots. While this close stopping limits the extension of the tree, the size of 

 the berry is much inci-eased. This stopping is continued till the stoning 

 period commences. This process occupies six or eight weeks, during which 

 the growth of the fruit remains stationary, and the leading shoots may be^ 

 suffered to push wherever they may. 



1 197. During the swelling of the berry, the fruit begins to acquire flavour, and 

 the buds plumpness and firmness. Henceforth they must have all the sun- 

 light possible. To obtain this, all the lateral spray and others which shad© 

 the larger leaves must be stript away, leaving the larger leaves exposed to tho 

 Sim ; for the fruit receives its flavour through the agency of the leaves. 



1 19S. Pruning varies with the fancies of the operator. Spur priining consists 

 of carrying up one leading shoot to the whole extent of the house or wall, either 

 at one year's gi-owth, or two or three, leaving spurs or lateral shoots to develop 

 themselves at regular intervals on the stem. This is usually the result of 

 three years' growth, the cane being allowed to make a third of the length 

 of the first year, a second third the second yeai-, and the remaining third 

 dui-ing the third year. There will thus "be five branches the first year, ten the 

 second year, and fifteen the third year. The subsequent pruning is confined 

 to pi-uning each of the laterals back to the last eye at the base of the shoot. 



1 199. Loiifj-rod Pruning consists in establishing a stump with three strong 

 branches or collars, from each of which, in its tuni, a shoot springs, which, 

 by a regular system of pruning, is worked in successive lengths, the one- 

 running the whole length of the rafter, the second half the length, and the 

 third, recently pruned back, is to produce the renewal-shoot. 



1200. Where the object is to cover a wall or house, the leading shoots are- 

 carried almost at random, the pruner selecting those which suit him, without 

 heeding much, so long as they are short-jointed and strong, shortening back 

 the renewal-shoots, according to the space they are to occupy, from three to 

 six or eight eyes. 



1201. <So?-i5.— Early Black ripens in July, in situations where the Black 

 Hamburgs fail. Miller's Burgundy, known by its white downy leaf, is- 

 verj- early and hardy. White Sweetwater is an early sort, with a fine large- 

 berry, but sets badly. White ^Muscadine, excellent for all purposes. 



1202. Black Hamburg ripens out of doors in fine seasons, but is very- 

 capricious iB colour. White Frontignan is a fine early grape, sweet but 



