Cultivation of the Grape Vine. 25 



There are other causes, distinctly separate from the preceding, that prevent 

 grapes assuming a proper colour, namely, excessive cropping or superabundant 

 wood, and both inducing general debility ; a decrease of temperature before or 

 while ripening, or extremes at day and night ; and want of sufficient air, light, 

 and space : the former maybe avoided by care in the original plan and construc- 

 tion of the border, &c., and the latter by apportioning the quantity of fruit 

 and extent of wood to the real vigour of the tree, by a continuance of fire 

 heat, when necessary, till the temperature in general equals the minimum 

 amount required at night (this will seldom occur till the latter end of June or 

 beginning of July). Admit air at every reasonable opportunity, and invariably 

 sooner in the morning than under ordinary management ; and, lastly, let every 

 branch occupy sufficient space, the extremities of the leaves be everywhere 

 separate from each other, and a proper interval between the spurs. 



In corroboration of a part of the previous statement, 1 will mention an in- 

 stance which occurred here for several successive years. In forcing an okl 

 house of vines, we admit a continual current of air at the end where the fire 

 enters ; in fact, it is necessary to maintain the temperature at both ends nearly 

 alike. At this end of the house, invariably, until the present year, have been 

 the most abundant, finest, and best-coloured grapes : but in the present year 

 the case has been materially different, in consequence of Dr. Arnott's stove 

 being situated at the other end, which avoided the necessity of admitting 

 air in the usual place and to the usual extent. The result of this experiment 

 was satisfactory, inasmuch as the diiFerence in the quality of the grapes was 

 inappreciable, and totally dissimilar to the experience of former years. It is 

 necessary also, in admitting air, to do so with some regard to the amount of 

 diiference between it and the temperature of the house. Some contrivance 

 should be formed to make the difference as small as possible, by making it 

 pass through a warmer medium, sheds, &c., or apertures at some convenient 

 distances from the foliage, or through wire or other network. The best- 

 coloured grapes that I have seen in the present year are fully exposed to light, 

 and the an- is admitted through a doorway of an adjoining house, and escapes at 

 the light beyond where the vine is situated. Good grape-growers seldom 

 allow a direct current of air, except in extremely warm weather, and even then 

 never through a doorway, unless it be situated at the hinder section of the 

 house, because the temperature there is generally higher than in front ,• and to 

 admit air in front, unless in favourable weather, would cause a difference in the 

 two places very considerable and of some importance. 



In conclusion, I will notice the cause of the shriveling or decay of the 

 peduncular attachment of grapes, and cracking of the berries just previously 

 to turning colour. Both arise, or may be induced, by one or more of several 

 unfavourable circumstances happening in certain periods of a vine's develope- 

 ment, and from some important particulars deficient where the vine is planted. 

 Whatever hinders the full access of solar heat and light, or determines the 

 temperature of the soil much less than the temperature of the air, weakens 

 the principle of vitality. Excessive cropping and superfluous wood will do the 

 same, and is the more inexcusable as it can easily be avoided, while some other 

 equally decisive, though not so general, causes, induce the same almost unac- 

 countably ; for instance, a low temperature after a high one, while the grapes 

 are ripeniui;-, often occurring in summer forcing, from the disuse of fires prior 

 to the nights becoming warm. Excess of moisture prevailing, unaccompanied 

 with a proper degree of heat, will be exceedingly injurious to vegetable sus- 

 ceptibility : if a little antecedent to this, it will be evinced by a disruption of the 

 cuticle of the berry at the time, shriveling, and general decay of detached por- 

 tions, and the whole of some kinds. During the period of ripening, com- 

 mencing from the first appearance of turning colour, the atmosphere should be 

 more than ever pure, and at that standard of dryness and warmth necessary 

 for the perfect developement of the fruit. Further, if the wood of vines has 

 not been ripened well in the year preceding, or, in other words, if the elabora- 

 tion of juices has been incomplete, the quantity of secreted matters will be 

 less, the buds less stored, and the wood immature, most assuredly unequal to 



