246 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 



part of the bunch where undue congestion is noticed. The removal of one 

 berry will often cause relief to half-a-dozen. 



Period of Stoning. — This takes place when the berries are little more than 

 half-grown, and then the temperature of the vinery should be reduced by 5 degs. 

 and more air admitted. The " stoning " period is indicated by an arrest in the 



growth of the berries ; they 

 appear hardly to increase in 

 size for a fortnight or three 

 weeks ; by occasionally cutting 

 through a berry the progress in 

 the formation of the stone may 

 be observed. All the varieties 

 that I know, excepting Lady 

 Downe's Seedling, will pass 

 through the stoning period 

 without trouble. The skin of 

 the berries of this variety is then 

 very liable to be " scorched," a 

 term used to express damage to 

 the berry causing it to shrivel 

 slightly and turn black, a 

 damage that is fatal to the 

 quality and appearance of the 

 grape. The best remedy for 

 this, as I said before, is more 

 air, not only during the day, but 

 a little must be admitted both 

 through, the top and bottom 

 ventilators during the night. 



The Ripening Period. — 

 The berries of the grape grow 

 most rapidly during the time 

 between the completion of 

 stoning and full development, 

 and the grower then must be 

 on the alert and take care 

 of water at the roots or from 

 It is a good plan to give a 

 upon the inside border of fresh horse 

 It is wonderful how quickly the sur- 

 face roots multiply in this material, and the atmosphere is more or less 

 enriched by the ammonia emitted. Before the final swelling of the grapes the 

 grower will do well to consider whether the crop is too heavy for .the vine to 

 develop perfectly. If he thinks it is, then a few bunches should be removed 

 before it is too late. It assists the development of the berries to damp the house 

 at closing time with liquid manure diluted with water. But the greatest aid to 



Bunch Properly Thinned 



that the vine does not suffer from want 

 insufficient moisture in the atmosphere, 

 top-dressing (2 or 3 inches deep) 

 manure (with a little soil added). 



