64: THE GRAPE. 



When the canes have grown to the top of the roof do 

 not stop theui, but train the tops between the vines o- 

 the opposite side, if the house be a double pitch ; and if a 

 lean-to, they may be allowed to hang down by the back 

 wall, stopping the leader when it has advanced somewhat 

 downwards, and leave the laterals on the same lengtli. 

 Thus the plants will go on swelling their growth without 

 check, and adding bulk to their structure. 



Towards the middle of August, the air may be allowed 

 to become somewhat drier, and syringing overhead gradu- 

 ally lessened, as the wood will begin to mature : the lower 

 ventilators may also be opened on clear days — a little at 

 first, increasing more from day to day. By the third week 

 in September, water should be withheld altogether, and as 

 the wood will be ripening, air ought to be freely admitted 

 through the day, and the temperature decreased as the 

 canes approach maturity. When the bark becomes brown 

 and the wood solid, the house may be thrown open day 

 and night, excepting in case of frost or heavy rain, as the 

 object now is to let all go quietly to rest, and the leaves 

 to fall off yellow and fully ripe, when we may rest as- 

 sured that nature has done her work according to her own 

 will, and we have assisted her in accordance to her own 

 laws. 



So soon as the leaves are fallen, proceed to pruning 

 If all has gone on as it ought to have done, the canes will 

 average five-eighths to nearly one inch in diameter, ac- 

 cording to the natural vigor of each individual variety, and 

 a corresponding length when not stopped, of twenty -five to 

 thirty -five feet. Cut off the strongest to about seven, and 

 the weakest to five feet. Afterwards take out with the point 

 of a knife each alternate bud, which will leave the remainder 

 about fifteen to eighteen inches apart, the object of which 

 is explained in the chapter on pruning, Commence at the 



