36 THE FRUITING YEAR. 



light, supposing the leading stems of the vines to be 

 2-| feet (3 feet is not too much) apart, which is as close 

 as ever they should be. When the grapes are set, it 

 is necessary to determine the number of bunches to be 

 left on such vines. My own practice is to leave eight 

 bunches on each rod, supposing such bunches to 

 average, when ripe, 1^ Ib. each : of course, the largest 

 and best bunches ought to be left, and as equally all 

 over the house as possible. None should, however, be 

 left on the leading shoot, which should not be stopped 

 till it reaches to the top of the house. 



It is difficult to give precise directions for thinning 

 the berries ; it must, however, be done as early as 

 possible, after the grapes are set, in the case of the free 

 setters ; but in the case of Muscats it is best to wait 

 till it becomes obvious which of the berries are properly 

 set and taking the lead. Care must be taken not to 

 injure the berries that are left in any way, either by 

 touching them with the hand or scissors. Experience 

 alone can teach how thin they should be ; they should 

 be so thin that every berry is able to swell perfectly 

 without being jammed, and at the same time the bunch 

 should be so firm that, when cut and laid in a horizontal 

 position on the dish, it preserves the same shape as when 

 hanging vertically from the branch. This I consider the 

 perfection of thinning, and can only be attained by ex- 

 perience and a knowledge of the size of the various sorts 

 of grapes, as well as of given vines of the same sort. 



I consider 70 of fire-heat sufficient for .grapes as a 

 night temperature, except for Muscats when in bloom. 

 I may here remark, that in March last I had a house of 

 this vine in bloom, and during the whole month the sun 



