20 A TREATISE ON THE 



years, and with the most successful result : Previous tcr 

 the grapes beginning to shrivel, and when they have received 

 all the nourishment they can obtain from the vine, cut the 

 branch off, with the bunch attached, at the distance of one eye 

 before the bunch, and immediately seal the end of the detached 

 piece with sealing-wax. Tie the wood to a rod with the 

 bunches suspended ; each bunch to hang perfectly free, so as 

 not to touch one another: for the convenience of carrying them, 

 no more than two dozen bunches should be attached to one rod. 

 "When the whole are cut, sealed, and tied, convey them with the 

 utmost care (choosing, of course, a fine day) to a dry room in 

 a dwelling-house ; the rods to be suspended from the ceiling, or 

 supported on tressels, only taking care to allow a small space 

 between each, just enough to prevent touching one another. 

 If proper care be taken in occasionally looking them over to 

 remove any decayed berry, they will remain in a perfect state 

 for months. I generally cut those I wish to preserve about the 

 middle or latter end of December ; they continue good until 

 the end of March (previous to which time the young crop is 

 fit to cut). By allowing the fruit to remain on the vines after 

 the leaves show signs of decay, it by no means improves, only 

 tending to shrivel ; and even in the best glazed and ventilated 

 houses grapes are not exempt from damp, whereas, by removing 

 the fruit from light, air, and moisture, they retain in a wonderful 

 degree their size and flavour, which are objects worth attending 

 to, enabling gardeners to exhibit excellent fruit every day 

 throughout the dark months of winter. In thus removing the 

 crop, the vines are greatly relieved ; and it enables the grower 

 to treat the vines in the most advantageous manner for their 

 future bearing, which must be done by withdrawing all artificial 

 heat, and admitting air freely, both by day and night. 



The interior as well as the exterior border must now receive 

 a good dressing of equal quantities of sheep-fold and well- 

 rotted farmyard manure. Remove with care the surface- 

 mould of the border to the depth of one or two inches, or as 



