THE VINE AND ITS FRUIT. 



300 



flower ; a third, after they are thinned ; a fourth, 

 when they are taking their second swelling ; and 

 another when they begin to coloiu-. All vines 

 should be mulched — old vines at the outset, young 

 ones after the fruit is set, for the twofold pur- 

 pose of feeding the roots and securing an equal 

 supply of water to every part of the border. Each 

 watering after the grapes are set should be with 

 diluted liquid, and the quantities should be sufficient 

 to pass through the soil and drainage. In hot, dry 

 summers, the external borders will also require 

 attention. Many growers never think of watering 

 the outside roots ; but when it is borne in mind that 

 they are confined in a porous compost, resting on 

 liberal drainage, and that a broad expanse of foliage 

 in a high temperature, and within a few inches of a 

 glass roof, is constantly drawing up and giving off 

 moisture, it may be readily imagined that a gross 

 feeder like the vine will be none the worse, if it is 

 not a great deal the better, for an occasional drench- 

 ing with the hose. When vines are heavily cropx^ed 

 and perfect finish is doubtful, a good external water- 

 ing through a liberal mulch of rotten manure very 

 often turns the scale in favour, of the grapes. The 

 benefit does not, however, end in the production of 

 jet-black grapes only, of which every grower is 

 proud ; it very often wards off attacks of red spider, 

 which spreads rapidly and leaves its mark in years 

 to come. The same rule aj)plies to internal borders 

 when colouring is doubtful. Often, very often, the 

 old and pernicious practice of withholding water 

 from colouring grapes ends in disappointment, when 

 four inches of good diluted liquid, at a temperature 

 of 80*^ to 90«, would stimulate the roots and produce 

 the desired efi^ect. 



Immediately after the grapes are cut, the vines 

 should have a good syringing with pure water to 

 cleanse the foliage from dust and red spider, which 

 may have made some progress. The inside border 

 should have a good watering with tepid liquid to 

 keep the roots moist and active until the foliage 

 begins to ripen ; and external borders, but too often 

 neglected, will derive great benefit from another 

 mulching of short manure to keep the surface moist 

 during the autumn months. 



During the time the grapes are hanging ripe, they 

 should have a good canopy of stout, healthy foliage, 

 evenly spread over every part of the trellis to pro- 

 tect them from the sun, otherwise black kinds will 

 soon begin to lose their colour ; while, on the other 

 hand, white ones will be improved by exposure to 

 light and solar heat, which can be admitted by the 

 partial removal or turning aside of some of the 

 laterals. After the grapes are cut, all laterals must 

 be removed down to the main leaves on the fruit- 

 tearing shoots, to plump up the buds to which they 



will eventually be pruned. It too often happens 

 that these laterals are allowed to go on for a time ; 

 the vines, relieved of their crop, make a sort of sup- 

 j)lementary growth when they ought to be going to 

 rest, and persist in resting when they ought to be 

 starting into another year's growth. 



Ventilation. — Air should be admitted daily from 

 the time fire-heat is first applied until the vines go 

 to rest. In the case of vines started in January, it 

 often happens that the weather is unfavourable to 

 the admission of more than a chink at the apex ; but 

 be it much or little, a change of air should be se- 

 cured every day by admitting it at as many of the 

 ventilators as possible, in preference to causing cold 

 currents from fewer places. As days increase in 

 length, and the tender foliage begins to expand, ad- 

 mit a Httle air early in the morning to favour the 

 escape of impure gases and condensed moisture, 

 before the sun strikes fully upon the roof. As the 

 sun gains power, increase it until the maximum is 

 reached, then as gradually reduce and finall}" close 

 in time for the atmosphere of the house to run up a 

 few degrees in the afternoon. The temperature for 

 vines in the difilerent stages of their growth has 

 been given in a x^i'eceding paper. The admission of 

 air should always be so regulated as to favour a 

 steady rise until the meridian is reached, and then, 

 if necessar}', it should be increased to j)revent the 

 house from getting too hot, but on no account should 

 it be admitted in quantity that will cause a depres- 

 sion. Neglect of this rule is often very disastrous 

 in early vineries — in fact, in late ones too ; as the 

 sudden admission of cold chilling air which lowers 

 the temperature, checks the growth, produces rust 

 on the berries, and so lays the foundation of a con- 

 dition favourable to the attacks and ravages of 

 insects to which the vine is subject. 



During the stoning process, a period most trying to 

 the vines, sufficient fire-heat should be given to secure 

 a constant supply of air both by night and by day ; 

 and such kinds as Lady Downes and Muscats, liable 

 to scalding, should have a steady circulation, if 

 possible, passed over the hot -water pipes to prevent 

 condensation of moisture on the berries. For some 

 considerable time during this process, the grapes 

 will not make any external progress ; but when once 

 this exhausting stage is passed, they will swell very 

 fast, when more air through the early part of the 

 day must be succeeded by early closing in time to 

 run up some ten degrees above the maximum heat. 

 After the house has been closed for a few hours to 

 swell the berries, a little night air will secure that 

 rest which is so necessary where vines arc cariied 

 forward under high solar influence. When the 

 berries begin to colour, a still further increase will 



