CULTURE OF THE VINE. 



13 



mitted from the top of the house throughout the night, still main- 

 taining an internal temperature of not less than sixty degrees. 

 After the grapes are well ripened, a greater portion of air must be 

 given both by day and night ; but the greatest care ought to be 

 taken to keep the house as dry as possible, wliich will ensure 

 a longer continuance of the crop in a state of perfection, as well 

 as strengthen and invigorate the wood, and also will add greatly 

 to the perfecting of the buds which are to be the main source of the 

 crop for the following season. Every alternate lateral shoot should 

 be cut off to within an inch of the principal bud, wliich can now 

 be done with safety, and without fear of exciting the permanent 

 buds. The remaining lateral shoots will be sufficient, at this 

 stage of growth, to carry out the circulation of the sap, and, as 

 the wood becomes more ripened and the leaves naturally decay, 

 the remaining lateral shoots must be pruned ; thus giving every 

 assistance to the crop, as well as the bearing portion of wood for 

 next year. It is the practice of some to pick off the leaves con- 

 tiguous to the buds surrounding the fruit, with the idea of ad- 

 mitting more sun and light j but I am confident the practice is 

 not only detrimental to the fruit, but to the wood also, as it pre- 

 vents that free circulation of sap which nature has ordered for the 

 maturing of every bud so connected with the leaves ; the latter, 

 indeed, being part and parcel of the said buds, from which the 

 fruit is to emanate the forthcoming season. 



Grapes, in their growth, are subject to many enemies, in the 

 shape of insects ; neither are they exempt when they arrive at 

 maturity. Wasps and flies are most destructive to them. The 

 best guard against these troublesome insects is by covering the 

 spaces where the lights are opened with perforated zinc or Hay- 

 thorn^s netting. Continue to give plenty of air; and the same 

 system must be pursued in other respects, as previously directed, 

 until the crop is all gathered, and the wood thoroughly ripe, when 

 the vines must then have a season of rest. The border at this 

 time must be attended to by giving it a good dressing, three or 

 four inches thick, of equal quantities of weU-rotted farm-yard and 



