CULTURE OF THE VINE. 17 



propriety of allowing the vines the first year to break or shoot 

 forth as nature dictates, only assisting them at this stage with 

 a moderate warmth, should the weather be unpropitious. The 

 night temperature should not be allowed to range higher than 

 fifty-five degrees, with an increase during the day of ten or 

 fifteen degrees, from the commencement of their showing signs 

 of vitality. Avoid upon all occasions a draught or current of 

 cold air, which is most prejudicial ; and greater injury is often 

 done from this cause than may generally be supposed. At 

 the same time, I strongly advocate a free admission of air, but 

 which ought to be given upon principle, viz., allowing it to 

 pass off from the top of the house, where the temperature is 

 at all times the highest, consequently the impure portion of 

 the air has the more need of escape at the point of collection. 

 If any one will take the trouble to place himself immediately 

 under the top lights, when the sun in the morning throws his 

 cheering and powerful rays on the glass, he will at once 

 perceive the necessity there is of admitting air at that point, 

 and also of the care which ought to be taken in opening the 

 lights by little at a time, particularly if the outward air is cold 

 and piercing, for then even a small admission of the chilling 

 blast is sensibly felt on the person. How much more must it 

 be felt by the young and tender shoots ! The evils arising 

 from a glut or sudden rush of air being at once admitted are 

 incalculable. When the sun is very powerful, with a cold 

 nipping wind (which is often the case even in the months when 

 we should expect a warm and balmy breeze), I would rather 

 allow the internal atmosphere to rise ten degrees higher, than 

 admit air from the front of the house in conjunction with the 

 top, preferring to give all that is available from the upper part 

 before resorting to other means. Many good crops of grapes 

 are destroyed for the want of due care being given to proper 

 and judicious ventilation : and this is often attributed to the 

 border, the situation, or any other cause but the right one. 

 The treatment of the Muscat in pruning and thinning will 



