THE GRAPE. 317 



of Muscat of Alexandria one pound. Some of tlie berries of the 

 former measured three inches in circumference, and the latter 

 three and a quarter by three and three quarter inches. 



Another season we intend to use a larger quantity of soap 

 suds on the grape border. Have not paid sufficient attention 

 to the watering of the border, and the inside, especially, must 

 have suffered. Another fault to be removed next year is, to tie 

 up all the projecting grapilons as well as the shoulders, which 

 would allow the grapes to swell without crowding. 



The grapes in the cold house are swelling finely. The 

 bunches were thinned much more severely than in the vinery, 

 but, notwithstanding this, they are all filled up, and many are 

 too crowded. The berries are also larger than the grapes in 

 the vinery, though none of the clusters have attained the same 

 size. 



Much has been written upon the subject of the shrivelling or 

 shrinking of grapes : none of the clusters in the vinery were 

 affected ; but in the cold house, some shrivelling was perceived 

 on a few bunches. We are inclined to believe that the moisture 

 given after the grapes begin to colour, and want of sufficient air, 

 are the causes. 



To insure a good crop of grapes, we are satisfied that they 

 must have — plenty of heat — plenty of air — plenty of moisture — 

 severe thinning of bunches — and severe thinning of berries. The 

 vines, also, must be pruned often, and kept ft-ee : the wood never 

 crowded. Great attention must be paid to the airing of the 

 house, which must be done gradually, that there may be at no 

 time a sudden change in the temperature. 



With such attention, and the prerequisite of a rich border, on 

 a dry subsoil, good crops of fine grapes are always to be obtain- 

 ed. The vines require much moisture until they have complet- 

 ed their last swell, when the moisture should be withdrawn." 



Insects and diseases. When properly grown under glass, 

 the grape is a very \ngorous plant, liable to few diseases. The 

 bleeding which often happens at the commencement of growth, 

 usually ceases without doing harm, when the foliage begins to 

 expand. If excessive, it may be stopped by a mixture of three 

 parts cheese parings and one part lime, applied to the wound. 

 The red-spider which sometimes infests vineries kept at a high 

 temperature, is usually destroyed by coating over the flues with 

 a wash of quick lime and sulphur, after which, the house must 

 be kept closed for half a day. The smaller insects which occa- 

 sionally prey on the young shoots, are easily kept down by 

 syringing the parts affected, with a solution of whale oil soap. 



Varieties. There are in the catalogue a vast number of 

 names of grapes, many of which belong to the same fi'uit. But 

 there are really only twenty or thirty varieties which are at all 



