HOW TO THIN GRAPES. 63 



is actual space for is absurd, as well as injurious. With some close- 

 clustered varieties, such as Black Alicante, it is often desirable to 

 commence the thinning process before the flowers open. 



The mechanical operation of thinning Grapes is thus performed : 

 Procure a little cleft or forked stick about six inches long to use with 

 the left hand, in order to hold the bunch firmly without touching it, 

 and take a pair of Grape-scissors in the ri^ht hand. Trim the bunch 

 if required into proper shape first, then continue by cutting out all 

 the inner berries, next all the small berries, and then the side berries. 

 The expert hand will cut these off two or three or more at a time, not 

 singly, as the hesitating, unpractised hand will do. This, it will be 

 found, will have materially lessened the work, and it will only remain 

 to regulate the remainder to the required distance apart. 



The time that is occupied in thinning Grapes is very great, but it 

 must be given to the operation if good Grapes are desired. It will 

 take about five minutes for an expert hand to thin properly a one 

 pound bunch. With larger bunches it is frequently desirable to tie 

 the shoulders up, and so spread the bunch out, or loop them up to the 

 trellis with 5- sna P e( i pieces of thin wire of the requisite length ; 

 others prop the shoulders up from underneath with bits of wood ; 

 but for ordinary cultivators not any of these aids are required ; the 

 berries as they swell lift each other up, and the clusters thus remain 

 compact. Care should be taken not to make the bunches too thin ; 

 loose spreading bunches are objectionable and easily damaged. 

 They should be so thinned, that when ripe and cut the bunch or 

 cluster may remain firm and compact, whilst every berry has been 

 allowed to develop itself freely to its full size. . 



Very expert hands may be able to thin a bunch properly at one 

 operation small bunches may easily be so ; but, as a general rule, 

 they require to be gone over twice before the stoning period, and once 

 after, during what is termed the "second swelling," in order to remove 

 all small berries, and otherwise regulate the bunches. 



In the great Grape-growing establishments the greater part of this 

 work is performed by women and young persons, who are nimble 

 with their fingers. 



