418 THE CULTURE OF THE VINE AT THOMERY. 



Sulphur is the effective cure for this pest, and it should be 

 applied directly after the first pinching of the shoots, at a 

 temperature below 96° Fahr. in the open air. If the heat 

 is too great, the young skin of the grape is liable to become 

 decomposed. In full sunshine at noon the fruit would be 

 burnt up in an hour's time. Sulphuring may be carried 

 on while the dew is falling. There is no fear in this case 

 of soiling the grapes. The operation should not be deferred 

 until the Oidium has made its appearance. The second 



Fig. 235. 



Moveable Scaffold used for thinning the Grapes. 



sulphuring should be performed when the grapes are about as 

 large as a pea, or even earlier if the Oidium has appeared at all. 

 It would be preferable to sulphur while the vines are in flower. 

 The operation is performed with sublimated sulphur, blown 

 upon the vine with a pair of bellows (Fig. 231) specially 

 contrived for the purpose. It may be effectively done with- 

 out the operator standing an instant in one spot, but passing 

 quickly along the line. In these latitudes heavy rains 

 destroy in part the effect of the sulphur, and it is nearly 

 always necessary to repeat the operation three or four times. 



