FRUIT CULTURE. 



dispersion of the pollen and so lends to bring about the 

 flower fertilisation. 



A high temperature occasioned by fire heat is injurious to 

 the Vine at this critical stage ; the night temperature, there- 

 fore, must be carefully regulated so that it does not rise 

 above 6odeg. Shaking the rods and gently drawing the 

 hand down the bunches when in flower help to disperse 

 the pollen. Many cultivators make use of a small and very 

 soft brush for passing over the bunches in order to promote 

 " setting." This is more necessary in early forced vineries, 

 when external conditions are unfavourable, than in the one 

 now under consideration. In about a fortnight after the 

 Vines are in (lower begin thinning, and raise the tempera- 

 ture at night from 6odeg. to 65deg. , keeping it so for 

 another three weeks. When the berries are formed they 

 swell rapidly, and encourage them to do so, for il their 

 progress at this stage is checked in the least they will 

 never attain their proper size. On no account allow the 

 border to suffer from want of water. Water it thoroughly 

 with weak liquid manure. With the temperature at 65deg. 

 at night, it may be allowed to rise to 8odeg. on a sunny 

 day before air is given. This must, of course, be gradually 

 increased as the house becomes warmer. After closing on 

 a bright afterm on the thermometer may even reach 9odeg. 

 Plenty of moisture is required again, and should be supplied 

 by the water in the evaporating tanks, by damping the 

 paths, etc. 



In thinning a bunch of Grapes, the object in view is to 

 remove certain of the berries, so that the remaining ones 

 may develop properly. The number of berries to leave on 

 a bunch depends largely upon the variety. Closely clustered 

 bunches, such as Alicante and Madresfield Court, need to be 

 more severely thinned than, for instance, Black Hamburgh. 

 Proficiency in Grape thinning, as in most other work, comes 

 only after practice ; it is impossible to say how many berries 

 should be removed, about half the number usually, unless 



the fully-developed berries become very large or ere closely 

 set together in the bunch. In thinning, hold the bunch by 

 means of a small forked stick with the left hand, while the 

 right hand remains free to use the scissors. By gently 

 tapping the stick with the scissors the remains of the 

 stamens are shaken out, and one is able to see more clearly 

 what should be done. 



First remove the small seedless and badly-formed berries, 

 then as many of those remaining as will leave them about 

 -},in. apart. In performing this operation most of the inside 

 berries must be cut out, and as many as possible of those on 

 the top shoulders of the bunch should remain. The shape 

 of the bunch needs to be considered, and the terminal side 

 berries regulated accordingly. II the upper shoulders be 

 rather large and heavy, slightly raise ! hern by passing a 

 piece of matting underneath and fastening this to ihe 

 trellis above. Avoid touching the berries with the head or 

 hands (as may easily happen il care lie not taken), for the 

 bloom is verv ijuii klv rubbed. As a rule the bum lies 

 have to be gone over a second time before stoning to 

 properly regulate the bunches. 



In a lew weeks the first swelling will be over, and the 

 stoning period then commences. It is easy to ascertain 

 when this takes place, as the berries no longer continue to 

 swell. Endeavour to keep the temperature very regular 

 during the lime of stoning ; it is useless attempting to force 

 the berries to swell. After another fortnight has elapsed 

 signs of swelling will again be apparent, and the berries 

 have commenced their second and final swelling. Raise 

 the night temperature for the last time to 7ode s . In the 

 course of a few weeks some of the bunches will commence 

 to colour. When this is perceived admit rather more air 

 during the dav, though the night temperature must be 

 maintained until the end of August. After then gradually 

 lower it and give more air, until by the middle of Octol ei 

 the thermometer at night registers but 5Sde^., this a 



VINERY AT HECKFIF.LD, 



