26 Grape Culture. 



CHAPTER X. 

 TREATMENT BEFORE AND AFTER FLOWERING. 



BEFORE the vines come into flower, examine the borders with 

 the border tester and see if they require water, as there will not 

 be an opportunity to water until the fruit is set. If the vines 

 are old and exhausted, sprinkle the border over with vine 

 manure. Water it into the soil and mulch border with moss 

 litter, or anything convenient as spent mushroom-bed manure. 

 This prevents evaporation until fruit is set. This is a very 

 critical period in vine culture. During flowering, retain a 

 warm, dry atmosphere in the vineries. The temperature must 

 be kept high during flowering 70 to 75 at night for Muscats, 

 with the usual rise by day. Most others and vineries in general 

 will be 4 or 5 less. Now is the time for careful airing. Keep 

 a warm, buoyant atmosphere. Keep on the heat unless very 

 sunny, and also take every opportunity of having a circulation 

 of air. Avoid cold draughts, as these cripple the bunches. 



POLLINATION. 



When the vine is in flower, go over the bunches at midday 

 and collect the pollen of free setters. This is done by giving 

 the cane a sharp tap, meanwhile holding a pane of glass beneath 

 to receive the pollen, which can be applied with a camel hair 

 brush to shy setters as Muscats. Be careful to give attention 

 at this stage, never allowing the temperature to fall at night 

 below your standard. Occasionally and daily brush the 

 bunches gently downwards with a rabbit's or hare's tail 

 mounted on a stick. 



The pollen may be blown on to the shy setters from the 

 pane of glass above described. If these details are in any way 

 neglected the result will be badly set bunches some may be 

 set at shoulders and not at the point. A chink of air at night 

 when there is no fear of frost is advisable, to allow the escape 

 of undesirable moisture in the atmosphere. 



