THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 81 



In earl J forcing, I have covered one half of the border with 

 hot dung and leaves, two feet thick, the other half, six inches, 

 and I never could discover the least difference in the growth 

 of the vines inside, or in the fruit. The larger the leaves are 

 the more light they require to assimilate and decompose the 

 sap ; and this, in mj opinion, is the reason why early forced 

 vines do not shrivel, their leaves scarcely ever being more 

 than half the size of those begun in March, and the hght in 

 May and June is commonly greater than that of July, which 

 is, in general, a dull and showery month. After trying every 

 thing that I had seen recommended as a remedy, and feeling 

 fully convinced, in my own mind, that want of hght was one 

 of the causes, I thought I would try what effect proportioning 

 the heat to the light would do. This I have practised for 

 several years, and with a success beyond my expectation. 



" In dull weather, I keep the house cool, and, when the 

 grapes begin to color, if the weather is warm, I leave the top 

 and front Ughts a httle open, so as to keep up a regular circu- 

 lation of air in the house night and day ; and, if the weather 

 is cold and wet, I shut the front lights, and a little fire is 

 made in the front flue so as to cause the air to circulate, but 

 nothing like forcing is attempted. By this simple mode of 

 management, I have so far conquered the disease, that, in- 

 stead of losing half the bunches, I now only lose a few ber- 

 ries here and there in some of the bunches, and a few at the 

 points of some of them, but not any of any consequence. I 

 never expect to get entirely rid of it, as the great fault lies 

 in the formation of the border. We consider the vine to be 

 a gross feeder, and therefore think that it is impossible to 

 make the border too rich, but this is certainly a great error." 



Vol. 17, page 45. By Robert Wilson, Gardener. " There 

 has been so much discussion on the shrivelHng of grapes, that 

 I make bold to give my humble opinion also, more especially 

 as I consider our friend W. H. (vol. for 1840, page 598,) 

 not altogether correct in thinking that the shrivelling proceeds 

 from the border being too rich and stimulating. Crowded 

 11 



