MAY.] GRAPES. 389 



The fruit will now be in that state, in which it 

 requires particular attention : the bunches must be 

 thinned, in order that the berries may have room to 

 swell fully. This is not a thing in general practice; 

 but every gardener of penetration and discernment 

 will admit its utility ; and further, that of support- 

 ing the shoulders of such clusters of the large grow- 

 ing kinds as hang loosely, and require to be sus- 

 pended to the trellis or branches, in order to pre- 

 vent the bad effects of damp or mouldiness in over 

 moist seasons. 



Of these, the Hamburgh, Lombard} 7 , Royal Mus- 

 cadine, Raisin, St Peter's Syrian, Tokay, and others, 

 should have their shoulders suspended to the trellis, 

 or to the branches, by strands of fresh matting, 

 when the berries are about the size of garden peas. 

 At the same time, the clusters -should be regularly 

 thinned out, with narrow pointed scissars, to the ex. 

 tent of from a fourth to a third part of the berries. 

 The other close growing kinds, as the Frontinacs, 

 Muscats, &c. should likewise be moderately thinned; 

 observing to thin out the small seedless berries only 

 of the Muscadine, Sweet- Water, and Flame-colour* 

 e'd Tokay, 



In thismanner,handsomebunches, and full-swelled 

 berries may be obtained ; but more so, if the clus- 

 ters on over-burdened plants be also moderately 

 thinned away. Indeed, cutting off' the clusters, to 

 a certain extent, of plants over-loaded, and pushing 

 weak wood, is the only means by which to cause 

 them produce shoots lit to bear fruit next year ; 

 and this should be duly attended to, so long as the 



