THE GRAPE* 129 



be taken off at an early period, as they are injurious 

 to the vine by drawing nutriment to an unfruitful 

 branch. 



When the shoots begin to show fruit bunches, the 

 heat may be raised at night to 60 or 65 ; at all 

 events it should never be under 60 after this period. 

 The sun heat may be allowed to run 75 or 80. 



Finger Pruning.- The vines may now be finger 

 pruned by taking away all useless shoots with the finger 

 and thumb, and leaving the young wood as regular as 

 possible in all parts of the house. The young wood 

 may now be stopped where fruit bunches show one 

 or two eyes from the bunch, by nipping it off a little 

 above the joint with the finger and the thumb. The 

 weak shoots may be stopped one joint, and the 

 strong, two from the bunch. But where the young 

 wood is wanted to fill up vacancies, the shoots may 

 be left two or three feet in length to furnish such 

 places. 



Regulating and tying in the young wood. The 

 next thing to be attended to is the tying in, and re- 

 gulating the young wood, which should be very 

 carefully done by tying in the shoots neatly to the 

 trellis, with bass string, in a regular manner, so that 

 every part of the vine has free access to sun and 

 light. The lateral or side shoots may also be stop- 

 ped one eyefrorii the main shoot as before directed; 

 and every part of the vine should be kept neat and 

 clean. 



Management of the house, in flower. When the 

 vines begin to flower or blossom, the syringe must 

 be suspended ; as moisture too plentifully applied, 

 will, in a measure, injure the setting of the young 

 berries or fruit, by their being damped off; but care 

 9 



