THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 148 



raant eyes at their base, from two to six shoots, and most 

 of the shoots had fruit hunches.* 



February 15th. — First blossoms opened to-day on three 

 of the vines ; shortened back, and tied out to the rods, 

 the side shoots on several vines. 



February 21st. — Blossoms Iiave opened on the eight 

 Vines nearest the furnace, and, on the two first, the berries 

 are swelling off; continued to stop, and to tie up, and to 

 thin out, any of the shoots that are not wanted. 



March lat. — The temperature, at night, was kept at 

 60° to 10° ; by day, when cloudy, 70° to 75° ; by sun- 

 shine, 80° to 90° ; as much air admitted as could be, 

 with safety, allowed ; began to thin some bunches on 

 three vines ; ten vines were in blossom on the front, and 

 four on the back of the house. 



March 10th. — More than half the vines were in blos- 

 som, and the grapes thinned on eight vines ; the laterals 

 on the spurs were cut back to one eye, and this check was 

 repeated as they required it. I advise the cutting out of 

 the laterals, situated between the fruit and the main stem, 

 allowing those only to grow that are beyond the bunch, 

 and these should be stopped at one eye every ten or four- 

 teen days, as they iriay grow with more or less vigor 

 during the season, 



March 15th. — ^Temperature the same as from the first 

 of the month ; have been thinning the grapes the past 

 fortnight ; they are now finished, for the first time, and 

 the earliest vines have been thinned two or three times.f 



* Tlie tendrils should be cut smoothly out when they first appear, 

 f The .shoulders of very large bunches (the Syrian) alw.iya require to bo 

 spread out ?,nd supported by strings, to permit a free circulation of air. 



