Keep the vines well syringed, and all dry surfaces well 

 damped. Take care to prune all vines directly the 

 fruit is cut. Pay strict attention to the watering and 

 top-dressing of the roots ; also ventilate with care. 



FEBRUARY. 



1st Week. — Maintain a steady temperature in the 

 early vinery, and take every advantage of sunny 

 days by giving air by degrees early in the day; re- 

 ducing also by degrees will prove beneficial to the vines, 

 and save fire heat. In the case of the black Hambro', as 

 fjjX? soon as the crop is thoroughly set, any surplus bunches 

 left previous to their setting should be cut off at once, 

 and the berries carefully thinned on the remaining 

 bunches, when grown sufficiently to show which are 

 likely to swell off; but Sweetwaters, Muscats, and others 

 require time, or many berries will be found apparently 

 set, which, through imperfect fertilization, never swell 

 at all. In thinning, avoid handling the bunches or 

 rubbing the berries with the head, hands, or scissors. 

 Stop all lateral shoots in succession vineries, selecting 

 only those to remain growing from the main stem; also 

 tie the shoots in, to admit as much light as possible. 



2d Week — It is now high time to treat with the 

 74 



