174 THE GRAPE. 
exert his best skill. See to the covering of the borders; 
be sure these are right.—(See page 81.) In the first 
early house the vines will be considerably advanced in 
. is day, with sunshine, or 75° without it. When 
is blossoms begin to expand, cease watering overhead 
until the berries are set, but damp the surface of the 
floor, and over the heating apparatus, while the house is 
in the afternoon. The second early house will 
be about starting, for which see page 84. These direc- 
tions will apply to this house now. See, also, page 87. 
RETARDING HOUSE. 
This part of grape-culture has not yet become as gen- 
eral as it ought to be. The object is to keep back or 
retard the ripening of the fruit (fully explained on page 
98), so as to have it fit for use during the winter months, 
To the commercial grower we here more particularly 
speak, as, during the winter months, a higher price is 
paid for grapes than at any other season of the year. 
At present the demand far exceeds the supply. Inste: 
of fine black Hamburgs, or others of like quality, there 
is nothing for sale but the White Lisbon and Black Por- 
_ tugal—two inferior kinds, which are rendered still worse 
: ua ap and the sea-voyage from Portugal and 
other parts uthern Europe. As the grapes ought 
now to be hanging ripe in this house, constant slow fires 
should be used to — a dry atmos. 
, and the bunches free ecaying berries. 
re ere : 
