CULTURE OF THE VINE, &C 



139 



weather, the fruit will become insipid in a long 

 wet season. It is further to be observed, that the 

 berries of many sorts of grapes are very subject 

 to crack in wet weather, after which they gene- 

 rally either soon decay, or become a prey to wasps 

 and flies. 



In some seasons there are many kinds of grapes 

 which will ripen well against common walls, and 

 particularly in the southern counties of this king- 

 dom. But Vines against walls, without any cover- 

 ing, are liable to several misfortunes. The reflec- 

 tion of the wall constantly brings out the young 

 shoots at an early period in the spring : they are 

 frequently injured, and sometimes totally destroyed, 

 by sharp frosty nights, not unusual in the begin- 

 ning of May, and which sometimes happen even 

 at the latter end of that month, 



A cold summer retards the ripening of grapes 

 exposed to the weather, and a wet autumn renders 

 them insipid and of little value. 



In order to save expense, oiled paper is some- 

 times used instead of glass ; but Vines do not 

 succeed well under such a covering, nor are the 

 grapes so high flavoured as when under glass. By 

 the faintness of the beams of light which such a 

 covering affords, the Vines will grow weak and 

 long-jointed, and especially in a dull moist season, 

 when much air cannot be admitted. 



When oiled paper covers are used, they should 

 not be applied till the Vines begin to push in the 

 natural way, and even should be used at first only 



