96 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



or cracking in the least, give a good watering, always 

 with water at 80°. I do not approve of allowing inside 

 borders to get mealy dry, even after the grapes are 

 ripe, or when they have all been cut. Even then the con- 

 stitution of the vine requires that the soil be moderately 

 moist. After vines have borne a few full crops in bor- 

 ders, manure-water may be freely used in a moderately 

 strong state, always avoiding rank doses of any prepar- 

 ation. Sheep, deer, and cow manure make excellent 

 manure-water for vines. 



Ventilation. — Air should be admitted daily from the 

 time the vinery is shut up for forcing. This is neces- 

 sary for the double purpose of changing the atmosphere, 

 and preventing its rising above the maximum tempera- 

 ture. When the air is cold and frosty, as it frequently 

 is early in the season, it should be admitted in small 

 quantities at a good many points. Large volumes of 

 air admitted at a few places cause violent currents of 

 cold air, which is undesirable and hurtful to the ten- 

 der foliage. As the vines advance into leaf, and the 

 sun gets strong, give a little air early in the morning 

 to allow the moisture that may be about the foliage to 

 escape before the sun comes fully on the house. The 

 amount of air should be increased by degrees till the 

 sun is in meridian, and again reduced as the sun de- 

 clines. Unless in exceptionally stormy or cold weather, 

 a little air should be left on all night. This is especially 

 necessary in these days of large close-lapped panes of 

 glass. When the grapes are colouring, give more air 

 than at any previous stage, and when quite ripe, let a 

 constant and more bountiful supply of air circulate 

 about them. 



