136 WEEKLY CALENDARIAL REGISTER. 



Nov. 1 1th. Fall of the leaf. This interesting event 

 takes place in general about this time. In well shel- 

 tered situations, some vines will retain their foliage to 

 the end of this month, but in aspects that are exposed 

 to the effects of the wind, the leaves are generally shed 

 in the early part of it. 



After the grapes have been deprived of the protec- 

 tion of the leaves, they begin to lose their weight and 

 flavour ;J but if the aspect be favourable, and the wall 

 have a projecting coping, they may be preserved in 

 pretty good condition a fortnight or three weeks longer, 

 after which, however, no reliance can be placed on the 

 continuance of their flavour, although, in some instan- 

 ces, when the weather is very favourable, and great 

 care is used in keeping the grapes dry, and in protect- 

 ing them by proper coverings from the effects of 

 severe frosts, they may be kept on the vine in tolerable 

 preservation till the beginning of January. 



Many methods have been devised to preserve grapes 

 after they have been cut from the vine, but none, that 

 I am aware of, have ever proved very effectual. The 

 best of these, however, will be found, I believe, to be 

 that of cutting off an entire branch of the vine with 

 the fruit upon it, and sealing the cut end with sealing- 

 wax, and then hanging it up in a dry and warm room, 

 in which there is a pretty free circulation of air. The 

 greater quantity of wood that the branch contains be- 

 hind the last bunch of fruit, the longer will the latter 

 keep ; but it may be remarked, that with every pre- 

 caution that can be taken, the fruit may, in general, 

 be preserved much better by letting it remain on the 

 vine, and protecting it by proper means from the seve- 

 rity of the weather. 



