194 THE GRAPE. 



AUGUST. 



OUT-DOOR CULTURE. 



Those cultivators who have taken our advice witK 

 regard to early removal of superfluous shoots, and shorten- 

 ing-in of the fruit branches, will now see the advantage 

 in the promising fruit, and the thick solid texture of the 

 leaves. Were this more generally attended to, we 

 should not hear of so many instances of decay and 

 falling off of the fruit, or so much respecting the defi- 

 ciency in ripening. 



Continue to keep the ground free from weeds, and 

 when the hoe only is used, let the ground be deeply and 

 well stirred. 



Notwithstanding all the care that can be taken, there 

 may occasionally be some diseased berries, and now is 

 the time to remove such by cutting them out with the 

 scissors. A little care bestowed in this way w411 more 

 than repay the labor. It can be done with little expense, 

 even though it be over a large vineyard. 



COLD GRAPERY. 



During the early part of the month be on the look-oul 

 for mildew, more particularly in damp or foggy weather. 

 The sporules are now in the greatest abundance, and will 

 most readily germinate under favorable circumstances. 

 Counteract the liability to this fungus by a dry atmos- 

 phere, impregnated with the fumes of sulphur under slow 

 combustion, which the warm air inside the house wuU 

 afford during a fine day. When the grapes begin to 

 color, or soften to the touch, there is very httle further 

 danger from this pest, but water should be discontinued 

 overhead, and a gradually drier air maintained in the 

 house. It is possible to have ripe fruit in the cold 



