joo THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



point composed of small leaves and tendrils, cut it to a joint with a sound bud, and take 

 the lateral forward as leader. 



Setting the Grapes. "With the vines in good condition there is little difficulty in 

 securing a good set of fruit with most varieties. Muscat of Alexandria and all the shy- 

 setting varieties require as much light as possible during the flowering stage, and it may 

 be desirable to tie a few of the leaves back that shade the bunches. This particularly 

 applies to Muscats, and they require a temperature of 70 to 75 at night, with a rise of 

 5 from fire heat on dull days. Both top and bottom ventilators should be left slightly 

 open a mere chink during the flowering period, except when cutting winds or night 

 frosts prevail. Damping down may be done in the morning and afternoon, but a dry 

 atmosphere is necessary in the middle of the day to have the pollen in the right 

 condition to effect fertilisation. When the flowers commence throwing off the " caps " 

 every bearing shoot should be sharply tapped with a stick at midday, when the pollen 

 will be distributed over the stigmas of such flowers as are then exposed. To remove 

 the caps the hand may be gently drawn over the bunch, especially at the point. It is 

 absolutely essential to fertilisation that the pollen come into contact with the stigma 

 of the flower; this is effected naturally by the dislodgment of the cap, the anthers 

 pushing it off, and the jerk causes the pollen to be dispersed. Self-fertilisation 

 is thus easily accomplished ; but artificial impregnation is necessary with some grapes, 

 and always in crossing for raising new varieties. 



Fertilisation is readily effected when the stamens are erect and cluster round the 

 stigma, as in Fig. 91, $; but with the stamens deflexed, as in U, bad setting results 

 unless pollen is applied to the flowers. This may be done with a large camel's-hair 

 brush, or a rabbit's tail mounted on a stick, lightly sweeping the bunches when in 

 flower, and if they contain pollen, the brush will be charged with the yellow powder. 

 It is then only necessary to pass it over the stigmas wherever the flowers are fully 

 developed. Where there is a deficiency of pollen it should be taken from varieties 

 that afford it abundantly, such as Black Hamburgh. It is well in all cases of shy 

 setting to brush the bunches over for the removal of the " caps " or the drops of 

 glutinous matter which sometimes adhere to the stigmas before the flowers are 

 touched with the pollen. The forenoon never later than midday is the best time 

 for pollenisation as suggested, continuing it from day to day till all the flowers are 

 fertilised. Alnwick Seedling requires particular attention in the application of pollen 

 from another variety, and ought never to be neglected, nor should Canon Hall, Muscat of 



