248 FLORIDA FRUITS GRAPES. 



all the materials required. The bottom of the bottle is cut 

 off by a heated wire being drawn along a file mark ; then 

 the string is passed through the cork in the mouth of the 

 bottle, its lower end, with a nail (or small stone) tied to 

 it, hanging about two thirds of the way down to the lower 

 part of the bottle ; this, you will see at once converts the 

 latter into a bell, the nail being the clapper; the bottle 

 must now be hung up on a twig of the plant to be pro- 

 tected, either by a continuation of the clapper string, or, 

 which is much better, by a wire passed around the neck 

 of a bottle. The least breeze causes this novel bell to 

 tinkle, and a number of them, placed here and there in 

 an orchard or vineyard, will effectually frighten away the 

 birds, and preserve the fruit from their ravages. 



Another enemy we have to contend against is the leaf- 

 roller, which devours the young leaves, and thus prevents 

 the fruit from maturing. The following is claimed to be 

 about the only effectual method of destroying them : 



To ten pounds of flour mix enough petroleum to reduce 

 it to a thin liquid, no lumps ; then add one pound of bo- 

 rax and a half pound of sulphate of iron. Apply with a 

 spray fountain pump ; a light application will answer the 

 purpose, the lighter the better. A fine, frost-like coating 

 will be left on the leaves, protecting them from other in- 

 sects as well as the leaf-roller. This emulsion is excellent 

 for the trunks of trees, and, diluted with whale-oil suds, 

 for spraying young trees. 



In picking grapes to send to market great care must be 

 taken not to handle the bunch itself, as this will rub off 

 the bloom, which lends so attractive an appearance to the 

 grapes ; the stem only should be held in the hand. 



Five-pound boxes, not larger than these, are the proper 

 size for packing them in; they are very cheap, and are 

 made either of very thin pieces of wood or of stiff paste- 



