24f Cultivation of the Grape Vi?}e. 



of the vine would hardly break at all, owing to the current of sap setting in 

 strongly to those buds more favourably situated. In the interval preceding 

 inflorescence, a considerable increase of heat may be afforded, and abundance 

 of air admitted ; both are important in strengthening the young shoots and 

 embryo clusters of fruit, and prevent those discouraging s3^mptoms of weak- 

 ness evinced by the decay of the clusters. During inflorescence, the tempe- 

 rature should be never less than 70° nor exceed 80° Fahrenheit. Grapes 

 set best in a sultry atmosphere considerably charged with moisture, supphed 

 by insensible evaporation from pans on the flues, and by sprinklings, &c. If 

 the wind should be cold, or the weather unfavourable, I would advise artifi- 

 cial impregnation, especially in the tender kinds, such as Muscats, Damascus, 

 Sweetwaters, &c. This is best effected by introducing a cluster of some other 

 kind, that can be spared, among the florets of the one intended to be impreg- 

 nated. Such an act will become important in the future distention of the 

 berries ; for it will be seen that the clusters are impregnated, and the berries 

 composing the cluster will be finer and more complete than others not im- 

 pregnated. After this, syringing should be resumed, and continued till the 

 berries have done growing ; but it should be tenderly effected, and with tepid 

 water. During the period included from impregnation to the complete de- 

 velopement of the berries, it is most important to close early, while yet the sun 

 is shining strongly, say at 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon ; for a high tempera- 

 ture, in conjunction with the vapour generated from syringing, &c., will pro- 

 duce results most favourable to the progress of the young fruit, the same as 

 Nature in her happy moods delights in. The genial showers in a summer 

 afternoon, under circumstances of a like kind, produce consequences precisely 

 similar, but greater, because more general ; and so it is in houses where the 

 imitation is complete, and adopted to a right extent. When grapes begin to 

 colour, it is necessary, — yea, as important, to obtain a dry atmosphere, as it 

 was previously a moist one, because the change effected in grapes while 

 ripening is produced under the full influence of light, heat, and dryness : and 

 it is well known that grapes grown in dry heat, or properly managed houses, 

 acquire flavour superior to those grown in plant-houses, or in other places 

 where they cannot be taken care of. If the roots of vines be situated within 

 the house, or a dry season should occur, a plentiful supply of water should be 

 given ; for tliough the vine flourishes in soil of open texture, and situations of 

 a dry nature, yet it is essential to have water, under all circumstances, suffi- 

 cient to dissolve and supply the food necessarj^ for its subsistence ; this, in 

 some cases, is considerable. I have known as many as 200 gallons given to a 

 vine at two waterings while the grapes were small, and after stoning, previously 

 to turning colour at the last stage of developement ; and it was productive of the 

 best result. Hence it is important to have the use of a good pond of water. 

 But, at the same time, it must be borne in mind, that good drainage, or an equi- 

 valent, is necessary, or else the results following will be otherwise than satis- 

 factory. 



After the berries are stoned, the temperature should be maintained at least at 

 70° ; under the influence of light, and an advanced season, it may be more, 

 but the maximum, under all ordinary occurrences, should not exceed 95°. 

 This kind of management is necessary to the termination of the business, even 

 till the wood is perfectly ripe ; for it is exceedingly more important to effect 

 this when the sun is in the ascendant, than in the autumn when it is not so 

 powerful. I must not, however, be misunderstood. I do not mean that it is 

 not requisite to have fire heat in autumn if circumstances require it, such as 

 unripe wood, &c., but that it is more philosophical while the plant is still 

 growing, and there is more certainty of its being effected properly than at any 

 other period of the process. 



Another point of consideration is colouring the berries : this depends upon 

 several contingent and important circumstances, the substantial goocUicss 

 of the border, drainage, aspect, and declination being the chief Whatever 

 affects tlic roots or indeed any part of a vine most lissuredly induces corre- 

 sponding results in the fruit, and want of colour may be cited as an instance. 



