THE GRAPE. 



131 



will bring on a weakness by a heavy crop, and per- 

 haps that pest of vegetation, the mildew. I must 

 call your attention to thinning the fruit in the bunch, 

 which will require to be done in a neat, clean, and 

 expeditious manner. The time is when the fruit is 

 as large as a small sized pea. For the purpose pro- 

 cure a pair of scissors with long handles and narrow 

 pointed blades. In the operation commence thin- 

 ning the grapes at the point of the bunch, by taking 

 out all the small sized berries and part of the large, 

 in a regular manner ; so that e'ach will have equal 

 room to swell in the bunch to its proper size, which 

 must be judged according to the natural size' of the 

 grape, when fully grown. In this operation care 

 must be taken not to prick any of the fruit or any 

 part of the bunch with the scissors, nor bruise them 

 with the head, hands, or by any other means, which 

 will greatly injure the growth of the berries in this 

 stage. 



The vines may now be regularly gone over by 

 stopping the young shoots, tieing in, and the like, as 

 before directed. 



Stoning the fruit. When the fruit is grown 



nearly to its size, it will begin to swell its seeds or 

 stones, which will be perceived by the grapes ma- 

 king but little growth. At this time the house should 

 be kept in a moderate temperature ; at night about 

 65 degrees, and in the day from 75 to 80 degrees. 

 The vines may now be moderately syringed, but not 

 too much ; as, at this period, it will be recollected that 

 the fruit is not in a growing state, and consequently, 

 cannot imbibe so much moisture. When this pro- 

 cess is over, which may be ascertained by cutting 



