80 THE GRAPE CTJLTURIST. 



advanced to admit of it, and then inclose the entire 

 bunch in a gauze bag, to prevent insects from bringing 

 pollen from other flowers, which they often do, and 

 thereby interfere with our operations. 



If a portion of the flowers were operated upon, say 

 at ten o'clock A. M., by three or four in the afternoon 

 another set will be open, at which time they should be 

 fertilized in the same manner, and more pollen should 

 also be applied to those operated upon in the forenoon, 

 as they may not have absorbed that first applied. 



The flowers do not open all at one time, neither is 

 the stigma always fertilized by the first application of 

 pollen ; but it should be repeated a number of times 

 during several days. When the fertilization has been 

 complete, the miniature grapes commence swelling, and 

 their growth proceeds rapidly. 



The gauze covering should be removed so soon as 

 all the flowers on the bunch show that they have been 

 fertilized. Mark the bunch, and take care that no worm 

 or insect injures it during its growth. 



It is best to thin out the flowers before they open ; 

 cut away at least one-half the number, as it will be more 

 convenient to operate upon those left. Besides, the ber- 

 ries will have more room to grow, and will be larger and 

 mature better than if all were left on. 



When the fruit is ripe, gather it, and proceed the 

 same as recommended for seedlings, in the preceding 

 chapter, being very careful not to make your seed bed 

 where other grape seeds may have been scattered. Many 

 a new grape owes its origin to seeds that were sown acci- 

 dentally, and which grew instead of the ones that were 

 planted purposely. In fact, a very large proportion of 

 the varieties in cultivation are really accidental seedlings, 

 although the introducers and discoverers may have 

 claimed to have raised them from carefully hybridized 

 flowers. In gardens where grapes are grown and eaten 



