Jtme.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



737 



The vines sliould be examined, and all those unnecessary 

 shoots, which have been already noticed as useless, removed by 

 the means and in the manner before directed, so that no ex- 

 penditure of the strength of the vines may be permitted, which 

 will now be wanted for the nourishment of the wood and fruit. 

 Those shoots which are retained for bearing next year, should 

 be neatly and carefully tied into the trellis as they advance. All 

 superfluous laterals, tendrils, and decayed leaves, should be 

 removed, as causing confusion, and robbing the vines of a 

 considerable portion of their strength. 



The fruit should, as it becomes colored, be exposed as 

 much as possible to the light and sunshine ; but this is not to 

 be done carelessly by sacrificing too many of the leaves, which 

 is often done to the injury of the fruit. A few of such leaves 

 as are overshadowing the fruit, if they cannot be put aside, 

 should be cut off, leaving the whole length of the foot-stalk 

 of the leaf remaining. The gi'apes will swell much better in 

 a partial shade than when fully exposed to the sun; their 

 color, however, will not be so high, neither will their flavor 

 be so good as if they were more exposed. 



Water should now be withheld from the roots ; the syi'ing- 

 ing should also be discontinued by degrees, and entirely left 

 ofl* when the fruit begins to color, otherwise the fine bloom 

 which enhances the appearance of the fruit will be destroyed, 

 and the flavor will be less saccharine. The state of the wea- 

 ther will now probably admit of the fires being also discon- » 

 tinued, but this must be always determined by the indication 

 of the thermometer. In wet, cloudy, or damp weather, slight 

 fires may be necessary to prevent any decay among the fruit 

 from damp ; all berries, as they ap|>ear in a decaying state, 

 should be instantly removed, and many of them, from the 

 unavoidable wounds they may have received from the sharp 

 points of the thinning scissars, will show symptoms of rotten- 

 ness ; these should be all removed before they infect their 

 neighbours. If the weather continue damy after the fruit is 

 ripe, they should be looked over frequently, to prevent all 

 disposition to decay ; if this be not attended to, many of tlie 

 largest and finest bunches will be spoiled. 



5 B 



