FRUIT. 169 



end of January, witli a temperature of 60° to 65°, and in the 

 second house in the middle of February, with 5° less heat, 

 rising gradually with the advance of the season. Some 

 flowers will be opening by the middle of April, when the heat 

 should range from 65° to 70° at night, with a rise of 10° during 

 the day and a drier atmosphere. This is an important stage 

 in the growth of the grape. On the successful fertilisation 

 of the flower depends the symmetry of the bunch and size of 

 the berry, two properties which contribute largely to the for- 

 mation of a perfect bunch. A successful set is believed to be 

 largely due to the favourable state of the weather at the time 

 of flowering ; but experience teaches us that the use of the 

 camel's-hair brush is a great assistance in effecting this desirable 

 result, by removing any exudation from the stigma, and diffus- 

 ing the pollen equally over the flowers. The transference of 

 the pollen of one variety to another, and from those with 

 plenty to others that are deficient, is beneficial in perfect- 

 ing fertilisation. Previous to flowering, remove .all bunches - 

 except the best one on each lateral, and allow none on the 

 leading shoot. After setting, a further reduction of the 

 bunches is necessary to obtain success and to do justice to the 

 vines. It is not usual to lay down rules for the cropping of 

 vines, so much depends on the strength of the plants and 

 other circumstances ; but as we are dealing only with those 

 which are in the very best condition, we may endeavour to 

 define what should be a fair crop on vines three years old or 

 the first season of bearing. Although the perfect finish and 

 colour of the fruit may be a good measure of the capacity of 

 a vine, it may be all that could be desired, and yet the vine be 

 so much overcropped as to very much impair its vitality. To 

 produce exhibition bunches, all vines of equal strength should 

 carry the same weight of grapes, say from six to seven pounds, 

 at three years old. The berries should be thinned as early 

 as possible after they are set. This operation is not easily 

 described, but a few observations will be of some service 

 to those not thoroughly conversant with the process. The 

 object of thinning is to obtain shapely bunches and large 

 berries, giving just as much room to each berry as it requires 



