56 THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE 



floor, pathways, etc., the last damping down being done 

 at closing time in the afternoon the hour of taking off 

 the air varying from 3 P.M. to 3.30 P.M. in May, and 

 from 3.30 P.M. to 4.30 P.M. in June and the two 

 following months using water from a tank or tub 

 standing in a vinery or in a sunny situation out of 

 doors. This will cause the vines to make quick and 

 clean growth, which if there, be a free circulation 

 of fresh air about the vines and foliage will be sturdy, 

 short-jointed, and well-opened in due time. A little air 

 should be admitted through the top ventilators at half- 

 past seven o'clock in the morning, gradually increasing 

 and decreasing the amount given as the temperature rises 

 and falls until closing time in the afternoon. During 

 September and the three following months, more or 

 less top and bottom air should be left on all night, 

 weather permitting, to assist in the maturation of the 

 wood. 



Disbudding and Stopping of the Vines. When the vines 

 push into growth that is, when the buds begin to 

 move select the strongest at about fifteen inches from 

 one another on each side, right and left of the main stem, 

 the young developing shoots retained on one side of the 

 rod being placed anglewise to those on the other. This 

 will afford more room for the development of growth 

 than would be the case were the shoots left opposite to 

 each other. All other growths pushing from the main 

 stem should be rubbed off as soon as they appear. 



When the vines have extended their growth about two 

 feet up the rafters, pinch the points out of them, and a 

 few days later pinch the lateral growth starting from the 

 top joint of each vine. This will cause the bud at the 

 base of the leaf of the shoot pinched, which in the 

 ordinary way would remain dormant until the following 

 year, to push into growth after a lapse of ten or twelve 

 days, the buds below, as wejl as the main growth, 



