THE FRUITING YEAR. 



33 



time the shoots have run out 3 inches, 5° more ; and 

 by a daily rise from this point, till, in the case of 

 Hamburg's, and the free-setting class, it reaches 70° at 

 night, when the grapes are in bloom. Muscats set 

 best at 75° at night, and 80° of fire-heat during the 

 day, and up to 90° with sun. My own practice is to 

 take off all the bunches that show on a shoot but one, 

 and to stop the lateral on which it grows two leaves or 

 joints beyond the bunch, and to pinch all sub-laterals 

 at the first joint, and to repinch them without leaving 

 an additional joint. I consider this gives ample foliage 

 for perfecting the fruit and keeping up the vigour of 

 the vine ; and it will be found to be as much as can be 

 properly exposed to light, supposing the leading stems 

 of the vines to be 2-^ feet (3 feet is not too much) apart, 

 which is as close as ever they should be. When the 

 grapes are set, it is necessary to determine the number 

 of bunches to be left on such vines. My own practice 

 is to leave eight bunches on each rod, supposing such 

 bunches to average, when ripe, 1^ lb. each : of course 

 the largest and best bunches ought to be left, and as 

 equally all over the house as possible. None should, 

 however, be left on the leading shoot, which should not 

 be stopped till it reaches to the top of the house, this 

 year. 



It is difficult to give precise directions for thinning 

 the berries ; it must, however, be done as early as pos- 

 sible, after the grapes are set, in the case of the free 

 setters ; but in the case of Muscats it is best to wait 

 tni it becomes obvious which of the berries are properly 

 set and taking the lead. Care must be taken not to 

 injure the berries that are left in any way, either by 

 touching them with the hand or scissors. Experience 

 alone can teach how thin they should be ; they should 



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