212 



GRAPE CULTURE AND 



who works up only his own product; they are often rushed 

 by their supplies beyond their capacity, and the consequence 

 is a great deal of hasty and imperfect work, resulting in 

 faulty wines. 



IMPLEMENTS FOR PICKING. 



Knives are generally used, but I find a small scissor or 

 shear, imported by Justinian Caire, and manufactured at 

 Geneva, much handier. Fig. 25 shows the implement about 

 two-third's natural size. They are very 

 convenient, cut easily, can be held in the 

 hand without strain, a plated spring opens 

 them wide enough for cutting, and they 

 do not shake the bunch and vine as a 

 knife will, thereby preventing dropping of 

 berries and wastage. Their price is about 

 $7 per dozen, or 75 cts. retail. Large 

 pruning shears can also be used, but are 

 not near so handy. 



For receptacles of the grapes we gen- 

 erally use wooden boxes here, holding 

 from 40 to 60 pounds each, with oblong 

 holes in the ends, so that the workman 

 can carry them before him. They are 

 mostly bought in shocks, nailed together 

 at home, and bound at the ends with a 

 strip of rawhide or wire, to keep them 

 more solid. Care should be taken that 

 the bottoms are of one piece, as it pre- 

 vents breakage and waste through the 

 cracks. They are, when filled, carried 

 to the avenues, from where the wagon 

 takes them to the winery direct. When 

 grapes, especially the tender skinned 

 varieties, must be hauled a long distance 



