7 8 THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE 



case of young, strong-growing vines of Lady Downe's, 

 inarched the same individual shoot, twice within one 

 week, to fill the gaps made on the same side of the vine 

 by two consecutive buds failing to start into growth. 

 In this way vines which push into growth irregularly 

 in the way indicated above, are easily and effectively 

 patched, and good and natural-like spurs provided for 

 the ensuing year. It is a trite saying that " necessity is 

 the mother of invention." It was so in my case when 

 it occurred to me many years ago to make good the 

 blanks on my vines in the manner described above. 



PACKING GRAPES 



There are various ways of packing grapes to be sent 

 away by rail and other means of transit. But the most 

 popular as well as most efficient means of packing grapes 

 for market are the common cross-handled peck baskets, 

 and flats with baby baskets made to fit inside. The 

 packing is done in this way : A little wood-wool 

 is placed in the bottom and round the sides of basket. 

 This being covered with a couple of sheets of tissue 

 paper, the bunches, having been cut with a few inches 

 of wood attached on either side of the stems, are stood 

 on their ends in the individual baskets close together 

 round the sides, the stems being secured to the top edge 

 of the baskets with a piece of fine string or matting. A 

 sheet of tissue is then placed in the space in the centre 

 of the basket against the bunches, and into this space 

 are carefully and closely deposited as many bunches as 

 can be conveniently lodged therein, always keeping the 

 crowns of the bunches on a level with, or slightly 

 below, the rims of the baskets. Cover the grapes with 

 two or three double sheets of tissue, securing the paper 

 in position with a few cross and longitudinal ties of 

 matting. The address label, with the words " grapes 



