106 WEEKLY CALENDAPJAL REGISTER. 



footstalks of the bunches of fruit a small supplemen- 

 tary bunch, consisting of a few grapes at the end of 

 a long slender stalk, constituting a sort of bastard 

 "shoulder." When such an appendage to a bunch is 

 protruded, it should be cut off, as the berries on it 

 seldom come to perfection, while they unproiitably 

 consume a portion of the nourishment destined for the 

 bunch itself. 



22d. Now that the bunches have been reduced 

 to their proper number, examine the vine, and see if 

 there be any vacancies in the foliage, through which 

 any of the bunches are exposed to the direct rays of 

 the sun ; and if so, unnail the adjacent shoots, and re- 

 nail them in such positions, as will effectually shade 

 the fruit. If, however, this cannot conveniently be 

 done, put a long narrow shred round the footstalks of 

 such bunches as are thus exposed, and drawing them 

 gently aside, nail them in a position, in which the ad- 

 jacent leaves will shade them. In doing this, take 

 care not to twist or injure the footstalks, nor draw them 

 too far out of their natural direction, which would de- 

 range their functions; as through these very slender, 

 but beautifully constituted organs, must flow the 

 chief part of the nourishment required to bring the 

 fruit to perfection. Observe also, that in no instance 

 should there be more than the thickness of one leaf to 

 shade the fruit. The solar rays being thus transmit- 

 ted through the medium of the leaves, are divested of 

 their scorching elfect, and are also modified in such a 

 manner as to operate most beneficially on the swelling 

 of the berries. Grapes that are exposed to the direct 

 operation of the sun's rays, scarcely ever attain their 

 proper size or flavor; while, on the contrary, the 

 finest and most highly flavored fruit will uniformly 

 be found to hang in close contact with the wall, and 

 to be moderately shaded by the leaves. The leaves, 

 also, not only serve as a chastened medium for the 

 solar rays to pass through, but they prevent, in a con- 

 siderable degree, the heat from escaping from the 

 wall, and, as a necessary consequence, make the tern- 



