2Q6 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



sometimes, and then it is damped to the greatest advantage. Moisture is as necessary 

 when the vines are in flower and the grapes ripening as at any other time, and extra 

 ventilation effectually prevents any consequences unfavourable to the setting or keeping 

 of the fruit. Even a moderate amount of atmospheric moisture is essential to the sound 

 keeping of early grapes, while it preserves the foliage in health ; but the air must not be 

 still, nor moisture be deposited on the berries. A somewhat drier atmosphere is required 

 when the grapes are colouring, and by the time they are ripe the moisture arising from 

 the border will be sufficient for late grapes. When these are fully ripe what is known 

 as a dry atmosphere should be maintained by judicious ventilation and warmth as 

 may be needed in the hot-water pipes. 



Mulching. Instead of covering vine borders with stable or farmyard manure, as 

 was formerly done, often to a depth of a foot, to become a soapy mass and deprive 

 the soil of air, it has become the practice to use none. This is going from one extreme 

 to the other, and is a mistake. A judicious dressing of manure induces the emission 

 of numerous feeders near the surface, and not only enriches the soil, but prevents 

 evaporation. Vines in the best condition have plenty of fibrous roots just under the 

 surface of the soil, and they should be as abundant near the stem as anywhere. To 



keep them there depends upon the sustenance provided. For light and poor soils, 



# 

 i-bushel of short farmyard manure or lumpy cow manure per square yard, applied 



when the vines are in leaf, and renewed from time to time as required to maintain the 

 thickness, not increase it, until the grapes commence colouring, is highly beneficial. 

 Heavy soils are best mulched with horse-droppings, sweetened before placed on borders 

 inside the house. Soil passed through dry earth-closets, with a couple of good handfuls 

 of wood ashes, and a similar quantity of steamed bone-meal mixed in every \ -bushel, 

 forms an excellent top-dressing, applying that quantity to the square yard about a 

 month prior to the vines starting into growth and covering it lightly. Where manure 

 has been used as a mulch, enough air-slaked lime to make the border evenly white 

 may be advantageously employed in the autumn, lightly pointing it in, and it is better 

 to do this every year than supply heavy dressings at distant periods. 



SPRING AND SUMMER ROUTINE MANAGEMENT. 



Disbudding, Stopping, and Tying. As soon as vines have fairly started into growth 

 some of the shoots will require removal. If this is done as early as possible they 

 may bleed a little, but it is desirable to wait only till the best bunches can be dis- 



