CULTURE OF THE FOKEIGN GRAPE. 57 



rafter. If the remaining shoots are below the one selected, tie 

 them out to the side wires and cut them off twelve or fifteen inches 

 from the cane. Cut off the old cane two inches above the base of 

 the new growth, and two or three weeks later cut the snag away 

 smoothly at its junction with the new growth. Tie the new cane 

 to the wire loosely, allowing for future growth. Cut back the lat- 

 erals, as they continue to grow, to the first leaf, saving two at the 

 top in case of accident to the leader. The temperature of the 

 house may be allowed to rise to 95° or 100°. With fair success 

 the vines will make from twenty to twenty-five feet growth by the 

 middle of September, whe^ they may be cut back one-fourth their 

 length, to ripen the lower portion of the cane. When the leaves 

 have fallen, cut the canes back to three eyes, and before severe cold 

 weather cover the small portion left with a piece of cloth or mat. 

 Open the upper ventilators every day during winter when the sun 

 shines ; and during March and April, until the buds begin to break, 

 open the house at top and bottom on bright days, keeping it as 

 cool as possible. After the buds break keep the lower portion of 

 the house closed. As the buds push select the strongest shoot, and 

 when hard enough to bend without danger of breaking, tie loosely 

 to the central wire, and if the other shoots are below the one selected 

 tie them to the side wires and cut them off at twelve or fifteen 

 inches from the cane. These laterals will show fruit, one bunch of 

 which may be allowed to grow. The care the second season is the 

 same as the first, with the addition of thinning the fruit, and as 

 there is supposed to be but one bunch on each vine it will not be 

 a labor requiring much time, but it will afford an opportunity for 

 experience and observation, which, if improved, will be useful in 

 the future. No rule can be given for thinning the bunches, as 

 much will depend upon the varieties and the weather when the 

 fruit is forming. 



When the grapes are of the size of ordinary peas there will be 

 more or less of them smaller than the average. Let these be re- 

 moved first ; then thin from the inside, preserving the full size and 

 form of the bunch. When the bunches are large the shoulders may 

 be tied at right angles with the bunch. It is desirable in thinning 

 to leave just as many of the largest berries, evenly distributed, as 

 will, when fully grown, fill the bunch out to its full size and make it 

 suflSciently solid, without pressing, to retain its perfect form when 

 cut and placed upon the table. 



