CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 195 



.^1 apery on the first of the month from the earliest 

 varieties, but this is not usually accomplished until the 

 middle or latter part of the month. As the ripening 

 progresses omit the use of water entirely, and give more 

 air, gradually opening the lower ventilators if the weather 

 is favorable. The object now is to insure a continued 

 steady action in the circulating medium, and prevent 

 sudden checks, which would arrest the chemical changes 

 going on at this critical period, and injure both the 

 coloring property and the flavor of the berries. When 

 the fruit is nearly ripe the upper ventilators may be left 

 open at all times, but it is well to close the lower ones at 

 night to keep out mice and currents of damp air. 



FORCING HOUSE. 



In this house as much air should be admitted as pos- 

 sible. All the doors and movable windows may be 

 constantly open, except during windy or stormy weather, 

 and then they ought to be only so far closed as to insure 

 safety to the house. Were it not that our glass roofs are 

 somewhat permanently fixed, it would be better wien 

 the grapes are all cut, to take off the glasses and leave 

 the vines entirely exposed, as the rains would wash ou< 

 many insects, and the birds assist in destroying the re 

 mainder, which would, in many instances, save much 

 labor in artificial cleaning without injuiy to the vines, 

 as the wood is now, or ought to be, pretty well ripened. 



EETARDING HOUSE. 



The operations of last month in the cold grapery will 

 now apply here, with the exception of maintaining a 

 temperature some 5° lower than there recommended, 

 and using a comparatively less quantity of water. Un- 

 less ''he weather prove veiy dry, it is best not to use any 



