244 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



excellence. Its chief characteristic, that which 

 gives it its greatest value, is the perfection of 

 the ripening process, which reaches every part 

 of the berry. This is fully recognized, and 

 every advantage taken of it by the skillful 

 gardener. He not only places the vine under 

 the most favorable conditions for growth, and 

 carefully removes every cause which may inter- 

 fere with the full development of the fruit, 

 but he applies his art in such a way as to facili- 

 tate the development of the highest condition 

 of excellence that the vine is capable of attain- 

 ing to. In a true sense, he becomes a co-worker 

 with nature. 



Let us take an example, say the Chasselas 

 Musque or the Grizzly Frontignan, and see 

 how the fruit is developed into this excellent 

 condition. The vine, when started, is bent 

 down, to equalize the action of the plant, and 

 secure a good " set " of fruit along the whole 

 length of the stock or cane ; for the gardener 

 dislikes to see the bottom of his vine naked 

 of fruit. When the fruit sets, he finds he has 

 too many bunches, and the bunches are too 

 compactly set. His object is handsome, well- 

 colored, and high-flavored fruit; quality, not 

 quantity ; but still, all the fruit his vine will 



