Inclemen. Weather, Diseases, Etc. 279 



reader is referred.* The sad influence of unusual rains upon 

 the crop of 1865, in the grape region of Lake Erie, is well 

 remembered by dealers in table-grapes, for which that section 

 of country has become famous. The fruit would not keep as 

 usual, but very quickly became moldy in the boxes, and was 

 unsalable. 



After a dry season, and as the vintage approaches, an occa- 

 sional shower will appear to swell the grapes, and does, no 

 doubt, cause their enlargement, but it is generally conceded 

 that while the bulk of wine may thus be considerably in- 

 creased, its quality will be impoverished in the same ratio. 

 Dry weather is much more desirable, even at an expense of a' 

 kvf gallons per acre, which is more than compensated by the 

 greater richness of the product.] 



The thinning of the leaves, of which we have already 

 spoken, and, more especially, the mats and cloths, are 

 again the only means of preventing the injurious effects 

 of too abundant rains at the beginning of summer and 

 in the fall. For the last, it will be advisable to replace 

 the shelters toward the end of August, and to leave 

 them until harvest, as we have explained above. 



Cost of Matting. — As we have shown, the use of 

 matting may exert great influence on the vineyard, since 

 it allows us to protect the latter from late frosts. Un- 

 fortunately it is a very expensive process, and applicable 

 with advantage only to those vines whose produce has 

 a certain value. The following is our estimate of the 

 cost of this process for each acre, per year. 



One hundred yards of matting, thirty-two inches 

 wide, with straw and twine, cost : 



* Report Agricultural Department, Washington, D. C, for 1862 ; p. i^. 



