192 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



actually cooler than the part not blackened, and thus 

 the extremes of heat and cold be greater than when the 

 wall was left with its usual surface. In the summer-time, 

 however, the wall is not only more intensely heated, but 

 probably retains a great portion of the heat during the 

 night." 



Another writer upon the same subject, Mr. Charles 

 Harrison, writes as follows : 



. " The dark color absorbing the rays of the sun, the wall 

 acquires at least ten degrees more of heat than the walls 

 not colored as directed; thus affording great assistance 

 in maturing the buds upon fruit-bearing shoots, so that 

 the fruit may be productive. In cold and wet seasons, 

 without such aid, I should not have been able to obtain 

 ripe buds upon fruit-trees under my care. This I have 

 had ample proof of by the unfruitfulness of those trees 

 which are against walls not colored, at the same time 

 that trees against colored walls were abundantly fruitful. 

 The wall being colored is also a preventive of insects 

 harboring in it, and also tends to keep it dry." 



The importance of coloring walls will be more espe- 

 cially felt in England, where the sun's rays are never so 

 clear and powerful as in this country. Yet the subject is 



