526 On the Cultivation of Grapes on Fined Walls, 



the clusters to blossom early in June, so that the whole crop might 

 be set by the end of that month. In bright sunshine only very 

 moderate fires were kept during the day. If the fine weather con- 

 tinued the fire was omitted from the middle of July till the middle of 

 August, after which time the wall had become considerably shaded 

 by the foliage. The fire was then renewed, and kept somewhat 

 stronger than before through the day, until all the fruit was gathered. 



But for some years past there has been so little sunshine in 

 summer, that we have been under the necessity of beginning to put 

 fire to the wall about the middle or end of April, and of continuing 

 it night and day until the crop has been gathered. The heat is 

 very moderate through the day in bright sunshine until the leaves 

 have attained their full size and have partially shaded the wall ; 

 but afterwards it is kept stronger through the day than at night ; at 

 noon, in bright sunshine, the air within three or four inches of the 

 wall is very warm, often 90° or 100°, while at the same time the 

 hand can be held on the hottest part of the wall without incon- 

 venience. We have no thermometer permanently placed at the 

 wall, and I have only tried the heat occasionally ; but I think that 

 during the summer months the air at four inches from the wall at 

 six o'clock p.m. ranged between 60° and 70°, and at six a.m. betwixt 

 50° and 60° ; but it was frequently lower than 60° in the evening 

 and than 50° in the morning. 



When the Grapes are pretty well coloured a net is put over 

 them to guard them from birds ; it also prevents their being in- 

 jured much by wind and rain ; and if the net is previously dipped 

 in coal gas water, and well dried before being put up, the ripe 

 Grapes are seldom attacked by wasps, although Plums and Apri- 

 cots, &c. are often much injured by them. I think the smell tends 

 to keep these insects away. 



I should now prefer our present practice even in favourable 

 seasons, especially in this part of the country ; for I consider there 

 is no additional expence in firing, because in our former practice 



