THE VINE. 



287 



and if kept dry it will retain potency for some 

 weeks. 



The adoption of these expedients is sufficient 

 to ensure a good set of shy-setting kinds, but 

 there are a few exceptions, of which Alnwick 

 Seedling is a notable example. The flowers of 

 this variety, on account of structural defects, 



are not self-fertile ; therefore special means have 

 to be adopted. Sterility in this case arises from 

 two causes, one of which is the deflection of 

 the stamens from the stigma, and the other the 

 presence of a gummy substance on the point of 

 the stigma itself. To remove the latter it is 

 usual to syringe the bunches when in flower in 



Fig. 1069.— Young Bunches of Grapes. 1, Before, and 2, after thinninj 



the early morning, and when dry to fertilize 

 the flowers at midday with pollen from another 

 sort. 



Thinning the Fruit (fig. 1069). — This is 

 generally necessary as regards the bunches; 

 and in all cases the berries have to be properly 

 thinned out and regulated. When more bunches 

 are produced than the Vine can bring to per- 

 fection, some should be cut off. The weight 

 of fruit ought to correspond with the amount 

 of good foliage; but a safe rule to adopt is 

 to allow from 1 lb. to 1 \ lb. of Grapes for every 

 foot run of rod. If the Vines are healthy they 

 will carry this amount. 



Thinning the berries should take place with 

 regard to free-setting kinds as soon as they are 

 set, but Muscats and other sorts more difficult 



to set should be allowed to swell to a some- 

 what larger size before thinning, as the more 

 promising berries can by that time be more 

 easily perceived. 



The general form of the bunches of some 

 sorts is that of an inverted cone, of which the 

 stalk is the axis; in others the main stalk sub- 

 divides and forms shoulders. At the upper 

 part of the bunch branchlets diverge from the 

 axis, and often these again throw out stalks, 

 bearing frequently three berries, namely, two 

 side ones and one terminal. Towards the lower 

 extremity of the bunch the footstalks of the 

 individual berries proceed directly from the 

 axis, which terminates in a single berry. In 

 thinning, the berries which proceed directly 

 from the axis should be first removed, then 



