SHALLOTS. 



463 SHEARS, GRAPE GATHERING. 



in the form of bowls, cylinders, and cones, 

 to be placed over the plants. Bell-shaped 

 covers of earthenware, pierced with holes, 

 are sometimes used as shades, and earthern 



FIG. 2. BROKEN FLOWER POT UTILISED AS 

 SHADE. 



shelters in the form of a flower pot or 

 nearly so, with a piece taken out of one 

 side, so that the opening can be turned to 

 the opposite quarter to that from which an 

 inclement wind or the sun's rays are pro- 

 ceeding. The nature of such a shelter 

 may be gathered from Fig. 2, in which a 

 flower pot with a large piece broken out 

 of its side is utilised for this purpose. 

 When a large pot is broken in this manner, 

 it is better not to reduce it to fragments 

 for crocking, but to reserve it for the pur- 

 pose indicated in the illustration. An 

 unbroken flower pot also makes an excel- 

 lent shelter. 



Shallots. 



Prepare a bed of light, rich soil, with 

 which a liberal dressing of wood ashes, if 

 they can be obtained, and soot has been 

 well incorporated. Rake the surface finely, 

 and even consolidate the soil by beating 

 it lightly with the spade. Then set out 

 the bed in rows 9 inches apart, and place 

 the bulbs at the same distance apart in 

 the rows, pressing them firmly into the 

 earth until they are nearly hidden by it. 

 In mild situations, sheltered from the 

 north and east, and in warm positions, 



the shallot, like the potato onion, may 

 be planted at midwinter ; but it is usual 

 to plant them at the commencement of 

 autumn, or at the end of winter or begin- 

 ning of spring. The subsequent manage- 

 ment is similar to that prescribed for 

 potato onions. See Onion, Potato. 



Shears for Grape Gathering. 



In gathering grapes the means of sever- 

 ing the bunch from the 

 stalk must be combined 

 with the means of hold- 

 ing it fast when severed : 

 it is necessary, therefore, 

 to have an . instrument 

 which shall act as scissors 

 and pincers at the same 

 time. It is clear that if 

 there is a projecting 

 flange within the edge 

 of the cutting blade, 

 against which the other 

 blade which in itself 

 is also of s.ome thickness 

 can be brought, the 

 bunch to be severed will 

 be gripped and held just 

 below the part that is cut. This is effected 

 by the instrument shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration, which consists of a 

 pair of scissors constructed on this principle. 

 One arm is fixed on the end of a -long 

 handle, and the other is movable. The 

 blades are closed by means of a ring or 

 collar, which is pushed up as far as the 

 projection on the right of the illustration 

 when it is sought to open the blades, 

 which are pressed apart by the action of 

 a spring when the collar is placed in this 

 position. The instrument is then placed 

 so that the stem of the bunch to be cut is 

 enclosed between the arms or blades of the 

 scissor-pincers, and the collar is pulled 

 down. The pressure of the collar acting 

 on the lower part of the movable arm 



SHEARS FOR GRAPE 

 GATHERING. 



