218 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



as soon as the berries are well formed. As a rule, the improved 

 appearance of the remaining fruit is so great, as the result of 

 this thinning process, as to make the operation a paying one. 



Manures. Ordinarily new soils contain an abundance of 

 plant food. Grapes do not require much manure, and the best 

 kinds for them are those which have but a small amount of or- 

 ganic matter, such as wood ashes, or acid phosphate and potash. 

 Yet on gravelly or sandy lands, they may be much benefitted by 

 the liberal use of stable manure. Never apply manure as long 

 as the vines are making a satisfactory growth without it. A 

 very rapid, long, growth is not nearly as desirable as that which 

 is firm, well matured and moderate in quantity. 



Bagging grapes. In sections of the country where black 

 rot of the fruit is abundant it may be profitable to put all the 

 grapes in bags, but in sections where this disease is only occa- 

 sionally destructive it will seldom be a paying operation. But 

 in growing fruit for home use, or where something very nice is 

 wanted, it will often be worth undertaking, as the expense for 

 labor and material need not exceed a half cent per pound. The 

 bagged grapes have a little thinner skin than those not bagged, 

 are free from dust and spiders' webs, and are not so liable to be 

 caught by the first autumn frost. Some varieties seem to ripen 

 more evenly when bagged. 



Bagging should be done when the berries are about the size 

 of small peas, and if there is danger from rot, even earlier. For 

 this purpose ordinary one-pound manilla paper bags should be 

 used, such as may be obtained from any grocery store. They 

 should be cut down about two inches on each side, and a small 

 hole made in each bag, generally by cutting off the lower corners, 

 to let out any water that might collect in them. They are then 

 ready for use. A bag is brought up over the bunch, above the 

 branch, and securely fastened with a pin. The bags should be 

 left on until picking time, when the bag and bunch may be 

 taken off together. If the fruit is to be stored it will be found 

 that it will keep longer in the bags than without them. Gener- 

 ally the bags remain on the whole season without trouble, and 

 some growers use the same bags for two seasons. Cloth bags 

 made especially for this purpose will last about four years. In 

 France a wire bag is used to some extent for this purpose. 



