Tlin niACTKAL GARDENER. 



[June, 



In gathering the crop, it is most usually done as it may be 

 wanted; the vine possessing this important advantage over 

 most other iVuit-bearing trees, that the fruit will remain a 

 longer time after being ripe upon the trees without being in- 

 jured ; and some kinds of grapes are materially improved by 

 remaining upon the vines until they begin to shrivel. A free 

 circulation of air, and every means used to prevent any hu- 

 midity in the house, are conducive to this clicct; and when 

 the bunches are cut for use, they should be examined as to 

 their ripeness, for sometimes those bunches wliich appear the 

 highest colored, and in other respects to be ripe, are really not 

 so ripe as others, which, from appearance only, would be 

 supposed to be less so. The cultivator, in this case, has a sure 

 criterion to go by, as he can taste the fruit, and readily judge, 

 by the flavor of one or two, of the state of the whole bunch. 

 Those berries which are nearest the bottom of the bunch are 

 generally the longest in ripening, these, therefore, should be 

 chosen for the test ; and if they be found to possess sufficient 

 flavor, the whole bunch may then be concluded to be ripe. 

 When the bunches are cut, it should be as close to the shoot 

 from which they issued as possible, that is, within an inch or 

 so, leaving as great a length of fruit-stalk to the bunch as can 

 be obtained. They should then be put into a flat fruit-basket, 

 in which is placed a piece of fine paper, to prevent tlie bloom 

 from being destroyed ; and when it is necessary to move the 

 bunch, it should be done by taking hold of it by the foot- 

 stalk, and not by handling the berries. Any of the stalks that 

 supported the berries, which may have been taken ofi" for 

 tasting, or which may have been removed in consequence of 

 becoming decayed, should be neatly cut out with a pair of 

 fine-pointed scissars, so as to give the bunch as entire an ap- 

 pearance as possible. 



During the time from the berries first becoming colored till 

 the crop be all cut, as much air as possible should be ad- 

 mitted into the house, in order to improve the flavor of the 

 fruit and assist its coloring. For this purpose, the sashes 

 should be drawn down to a considerable degree every fine day, 

 but immediately drawn up again on the appearance of rain. 



