MANAGEMENT FOR THE SECOND YEAR. 69 



culture, than allowing a house to be closed until it becomes 

 hot, and admitting at once a great quantity of cold air; in 

 grape growing, it leads to the most baneful results. Open 

 so m, and close early, ought to be a maxim well riveted 

 on the mind. Always have a thermometer hanging mid- 

 way in the house, about four feet from the ground, and 

 shaded from the sun ; observe it closely, and be guided 

 by it, and experience in ventilating will soon be acquired, 

 better than can be described by words — always remem- 

 bering that a gradual rise and fall are the desiderata. 

 Attention for a little while will teach, that early closing 

 tends to regulate the heat in the after part of the day, and 

 a due observance will lead to exact adaptability. 



As the flowers continue to open, go over the house 

 once a day, and shake the bunches by a light flirt of the 

 finger, which assists in distributing the pollen, and enables 

 impregnation to go on with more certainty. This opera- 

 tion is best if performed in the morniHg, about the time or 

 immediately after giving air, as the flowers of all plants 

 are then in greater activity, and consequently there is the 

 chance of more peifect feitilization. There are certain 

 kinds, as the Alexandrian Muscat and its allies, — purple 

 damask, &c.j which do not readily fertilize with their own 

 pollen in a cold house ; that may be much assisted by 

 shaking over the flowers a bunch of Hamburgh or other 

 hardy sort, and as there are more bunches than is required 

 for ripening, there is always enough to spare for this purpose. 



When blossoming is past, and the berries are fairly 

 set, a good syringing over-head will clean all the decayed 

 portions of flowers Avhich cling to and among the berries, 

 and will invigorate the Avhole plant. Let water now be 

 freely administered over every part, being careful that at 

 no time it is driven with force against the fruit, as in such 

 case it injures the surface, and produces " rust/' 



