92 



be now somewhat advanced, and every opportunity 

 should be seized of shutting up much solar heat in 

 the afternoons of sunny days. The thermometer may 

 be allowed to reach 90 degs. by these means, from 

 three or four o'clock p.m. until six or seven in the 

 evening, on such days taking care to apply much 

 atmospheric moisture with it. Still, however, persist 

 in an early ventilation the next morning, giving a 

 little air as early as six or seven o'clock. Dispense 

 with fire heat whenever solar heat can be thus 

 enclosed, and resume it as soon as the glass descends 

 below 70 degs. 



7. Second Swelling. — Little can be added pe- 

 culiar to this stage, excepting that the atmosphere in 

 general must be of a drier character ; not so dry, 

 however, as to cause undue perspiration in the leaf. 

 A somewhat closer system of stopping must be again 

 had recourse to, in order to concentrate the energies 

 of the vine in the neighbourhood of the fruit. Give 

 very free ventilation, avoiding, however, wind. Do 

 not remove any laterals with the idea of throwing 

 sunlight on the berry : this is one of the most erro- 

 neous ideas in vine culture. The berries will always 

 swell much finer under shade than in sunlight ; the 

 colouring, and, of course, flavouring, process being 

 accomplished through the medium of healthy and 

 abundant, yet uncrowded, leaves. 



8. Ripening. — As the grapes acquire full matu- 



