28 Grape Culture. 



When the fruit is set, hang pieces of lead on the points of 

 the bunches that show a tendency to be curved or one-sided. 

 Also twine in and secure the long shoulders of such bunches on 

 Black Hamburghs, &c. But those with stiff shanks cannot 

 be thus twined around to increase the size and symmetry of 

 bunch such kinds are Gros Colman and Lady Downes. 



This is rather an art in grape growing managing to work 

 in the long shoulders that seem to come as a supplement to 

 the main bunch, but which cannot often be easily dispensed 

 with. Another point requiring attention at this time is to 

 cut out one of the points when more points than one are 

 forming on a bunch. 



CHAPTER XI. 

 THINNING THE BUNCHES. 



THIS is a work of very great importance, and to do it properly 

 requires experience and knowledge. To allow every spur to 

 bear a bunch would be far too heavy cropping, and would 

 cripple young vines for years to come. If one-third of the 

 bunches were removed, what is left would be a fair crop. 

 This, of course, depends on the vigour of the vine, and a good 

 surface of well- developed foliage, and also the size of the bunches 

 that are to be retained. All these circumstances must first 

 be taken into consideration. A few large bunches are to be 

 preferred to many smaller ones. Two-year-old vines will 

 carry two bunches each, averaging 3 Ibs. to 4 Ibs. in weight, 

 lyook over the laterals at this stage, and do any pinching 

 required. As soon as bunches are all well set, lower the 

 temperature 5 degrees at night, or to what it was before 

 flowering. Close early in the afternoon and commence 

 damping again. Damp in the morning and at closing time in 

 the afternoon. 



