THE CULTURK OF THE GRAPE. 83 



expanded and the fruit is swelling, they will require 

 water at the root twice or three times a week, given in 

 Buch quantities as reason may suggest, using it in a warm 

 state along with the drainage of the dunghill. If all has 

 gone on well, the berries will soon begin to change color ; 

 be cautious they do not receive a check, to avoid which, 

 keep up the heat and moisture in the day. As the 

 grapes- approach ripeness, suspend, by degrees, the hu- 

 midity of the house, keeping up a brisk heat and giving 

 plenty of air. Examine the heat at the roots at the time 

 the grapes are changing color ; if it has begun to de- 

 cline, renovate it, keeping up a heat at the roots as high 

 or higher than the temperature inside the house. You 

 will see the benefit from this, in the grapes swelling to 

 an uncommon size, with no fear of that pest, shanking 

 and shrivelling. After your grapes are ripe, lower the 

 heat of your house by degrees, keeping it cool and dry, 

 removing the dung from the roots, as recommended in 

 previous parts of this work. 



" On the coloring of grapes, we often hear it remarked 

 that, though perfectly ripe, many are not well colored, 

 black grapes more than white ; the loss of color in my 

 opinion, is by an over-abundant crop. By the old me- 

 thod of forcing the vine, it is the general practice in 

 June to put out the fires, and to use little or none until 

 September or October ; the change may happen at the 

 time the fruit is changing color; the house is then 

 lowered in temperature, and kept cool and dry ; by such 

 practice, black grapes will attain a good color, (if a light. 

 or moderate crop,) subject to shanking, and at the ex- 

 pense of size ; and blaik Hamburghs no more answer to 



