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the berry. We have seen the blackest of berries in 

 situations where the sun had never shone on them 

 since they blossomed : indeed, it only requires a little 

 close observation for one season to dispel such a fal- 

 lacy. It sometimes, however, happens, that the 

 principal leaves on the same shoot with the bunch 

 are shaded by other main leaves, or by laterals ; such 

 shading is sure to be prejudicial to the colouring of 

 the berry, as well as to the maturation of the buds 

 connected with the shaded leaves. And here we 

 have one of the reasons for such close stopping as the 

 vine is subjected to» 



Over-cropping, alone, will lead to bad colouring; 

 indeed, is one of the most fruitful sources of it. It 

 exhausts the tree of every particle of prepared sap, 

 and produces a kind of debility in the root, which 

 renders it readily susceptible to the stagnating rains 

 of an unpropitious season. 



In order to promote good colouring, the ripening 

 process should not be hurried. It is evident, that 

 very high temperatures are not required for this pur- 

 pose, for the Black Hamborough, on common walls, 

 is not deficient in colour, in a good season. Now the 

 colouring process, in the latter case, occurs in the 

 end of September, when the temperature at night 

 must sometimes be near the freezing point. It is a 

 common observation of practical men, that the cold 

 nights of autumn hasten maturity in many crops ; 



