WEEKLY CALENDARIAL REGISTER. 133 



Protect the fruit, also, as fast as it ripens, from the 

 wasps, flies, &c. 



If the extremities of any of the bunches are not 

 yet ripened, cut them off immediately, as the few ber- 

 ries growing on them will, if suffered to remain, cost 

 the vine a greater effort to mature them, than three or 

 four times the same number has, that are situated near 

 the footstalks. 



October 2lst. Keep the border clear of weeds, and as 

 soon as decayed leaves appear on it, remove them imme- 

 diately, and continue so to do, until all the fruit be cut. 



The beneficial effects of shading the fruit with a 

 continuous surface of leaves, will now be distinctly 

 seen. Grapes so protected, will uniformly be found 

 to ripen earlier, to be larger in size, and bettej flavoured, 

 and to be covered with a bloom, nearly, if not quite, 

 equal to that on grapes ripened under glass. The 

 leaves will, also, be of great advantage in keeping the 

 fruit dry and warm, and in protecting it from the in- 

 jurious effects of heavy rains, which is of great con- 

 sequence ; for, if the fruit be kept dry, it will remain 

 on the vine in good condition, and preserve its flavour 

 for a long time yet to come. But, if it be exposed to 

 the effects of every rainy day and night, all the pre- 

 vious good culture will be lost, and nothing will prevent 

 a great portion of it from perishing, independently of 

 the consideration, that the remainder will be greatly 

 deteriorated in flavour from the effects of the wet. 



In gathering the fruit as it becomes ripe, it will be 

 best to choose first such bunches as hang within two 

 feet of the ground, the berries on these being apt to 

 rot, in consequence of the damp exhalations that now 

 begin to rise from it ; and, next, all such as are on the 

 upper part of the wall above six feet from the ground, 

 (if the wall reach that height,) these being exposed to 

 the injurious effects of the wind ; thus leaving to be 



