WEEKLY CALENDARIAL REGISTER. 119 



days that can be selected, and not till after the morn- 

 ing dew has been entirely dissipated. The juice of 

 the grapes is materially concerned in these respects ; 

 for if the weather be very damp and foggy for two or 

 three days in succession, or if a heavy rain continue 

 for twenty-four hours, or longer, the water in the ber- 

 ries will be considerably increased, and their flavor 

 and sweetness proportionately diminished. 



Such branches of the vine as have no fruit on them, 

 should now, without loss of time, be subjected to the 

 operation of the pruning knife. 



14th. In dry weather examine the bunches fre- 

 quently, and carefully cut out all decayed berries. 

 Protect the fruit, also, as fast as it ripens, from the 

 wasps, flies, &c. 



If the extremities of any of the bunches are not yet 

 ripened, cut them ofl' immediately, as the few berries 

 growing on them will, if suftered to remain, cost the 

 vine a greater effort to mature them, than three or 

 four times the same number has, that are situated 

 near the footstalks. 



21st. Keep the border clear of weeds, and as soon 

 as decayed leaves appear on it, remove them imme- 

 diately, and continue so to do until all the fruit be cut. 



The beneficial effects of shading the fruit with a 

 continuous surface of leaves, will now be distinctly 

 seen. Grapes so protected, will uniformly be found 

 to ripen earlier, to be larger in size, and better fla- 

 vored, and to be covered with a bloom nearly if not 

 quite equal to that on grapes ripened under glass. 

 The leaves«ivill also be of great advantage in keep- 

 ing the friut dry and warm, and in protecting it from 

 the injurious effects of heavy rains, which is of great 

 consequence ; for if the fruit be kept dry. it will re- 

 main on the vine in good condition, and preserve its 

 flavor for a long time yet to come. But if it be ex- 

 posed to the effects of every rainy day and night, all 

 the previous good culture will be lost, and nothing 

 will prevent a great portion of it from perishing, inde- 

 pendently of the consideration, that the remainder 



