MONTHLY CALENDAR. 423 



§ 7.— Fruit-Culture under Glass. 



1257. Supposing a crop of grapes to have been gatliered from early-started 

 vines, it is still very important to keep the foliage in a green and healthy state 

 for the next two or three months, when they shed them. This should be so 

 done, however, as to prevent a second growth taking place ; the borders should 

 be gently watered, the red spider kept down by using the syringe, and air given 

 on every possible occasion : the leaves may thus be kept in a healthy state, 

 highly useful to the vine while it ripens its wood. By this means, vines 

 endure early forcing for many years, without much diminution of their 

 energy. Where vines have been retarded for late grapes, by being turned 

 out, they should now be brought into the house and trained to the trellis or 

 rafters, and invigorated by syringing, to encourage the growth of young wood. 



125S. Houses where the grapes are ripe should be kept dry, and succession 

 crops encouraged by a little heat, according to theh' several stages. Although 

 the Tiights are now getting warm, it will still be necessary to apply artificial 

 heat, both in houses ripening and in later crops now in bloom, especially 

 where Muscats, West's St. Peter's, and other shy setters are grown, as they 

 rarely form perfectly-shaped bunches vv'ithout a warm and dry atmosphere, 

 which in om* climate requires fire-heat. Stop all lateral shoots in the suc- 

 cession-house after thinning the crop, that nothing may interfere with the 

 swelling of the fruit. As the season advances, air must be given in abundance, 

 the ventilators being left partially open by night. To prevent the atmosphere 

 from becoming too dry during hot weather, keep the floors, interior walls, 

 paths, and pipes, damp by sprinkling several times a day. This will also assist 

 to keep in check the ravages of the red spider. Where new vine borders have 

 been made in the spring, the present is a favourable time for planting if the 

 vines have been started sufficiently long to have a shoot of moderate length. 

 In planting, liberate the I'oots freely, and spread them in the direction of the 

 border, giving a slight watering, and mulching the surface. The house should 

 be kept rather closer for a few days, shading the newly-planted vines, if dis- 

 posed to flag, until they show indications of starting, when the usual routine 

 must be followed, preserving the young vines from injury by tying and 

 training the leader up the roof. 



1259. When grapes require to be kept for some considerable time, they must 

 be shaded during bright weather, otherwise the fruit will become shrivelled' 

 If the shoots have been stoj^ped at one or two joints above the fruit, the 

 laterals (which should be taken clean out up to the bunch) should be stopped 

 back to one joint, unless the previously-formed leaves are already sufiiciently 

 close together, when they should be stopped close back. All after-growths 

 are injurious when not required for shade. 



1260. As the crops are cut, let the vines be cleaned and syringed, to destroy 

 any red spider established since the ripening of the crop : they may be easily 

 eradicated now. Both inside and outside borders will require water occ-asion- 



