THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 151 



thod of proceeding to obtain new sorts in the shortest 

 time ; and this is called hybridizing. 



^ 



FLOWER OF THB GRAPE.* 



To do this ]5roper]y, the bunch to be acted on should 

 be thinned of three quarters of the bnds ; the lower part 

 should be cut away entirely (immediately before inflor- 

 escence) ; the strongest buds always to be left. 



Observ^e them closely, and, as soon as the flowers open, 

 with sharp scissors clip the anthers, being careful not to 

 injure the pistil ; with a soft brush, apply the pollen 

 from the kind to be used in impregnation, or, the whole 

 bunch which is to furnish the pollen may be cut from 

 the vine, and gently rubbed or applied to the bunch, by 



* The left hand figure is a magnified representation of tlie bud of the 

 grape; tlie middle one is the blossom. The change from the bud to the 

 blossom is usually rapid, and takes place about 30 to 40 days after the 

 slioot appears in the spring which bears the fruit. This bud which forms 

 the blossom consists of a covering, or cap, and the embryo berry with Hva 

 anthers, which, when the time- for inflorescence has come, is raised, or 

 lifted, by the anthers, and the wind blows this cap free. 



The third is the blossom, or embryo grape, with the anthers clipped and 

 deprived of their farina ; on tlie top of the embryo is the pistil ; upon this 

 is to be placed the farina, or pollen, of the male plant ; when this is done, 

 impregnation takes place; and the embryo rapidly swells off. If the oper- 

 ation has not been effectual, the berry will remain as it is. When the 

 grape has attained one third or one half of its size, it remains stationary 

 two or three weeks, and, at this time, it is perfecting the seed. When this 

 is done, the fruit begins growing again ; thus it appears the seed will vege- 

 tate, even if the -fruit does not ripen sufficiently to be eatable. 



