GLEANINGS ON llOHTIOULTUHE. 



17 



fruit, should also be stopped one eye in advance of that from 

 which the bunch springs; and the successive laterals, which 

 make their appearance during the season, must also be removed 

 at this joint. It must be borne in mind, that although it is 

 necessary to remove superfluous laterals, none of the leaves be- 

 longing to the main stem, or principal side-shoots, must be 

 mutilated or taken off on any account; for on these not only 

 depends the proper ripening of the current year's crop, but also 

 that of the following season. A branch may be removed without 

 any fear of the stump bleeding, if the vine is in full leaf. When 

 a tendril is once stopped, no fruit is afterwards produced on it, 

 for all tendrils are abortive bunches. The final thinning of 

 grapes should be accomplished before the berries are as large as 

 very small peas. Twelve or fifteen bunches from each rafter 

 ought to satisfy any reasonable person, averaging from one to 

 four pounds each. It frequently happens that, the bunches pro- 

 duce straggling shoulders ; cut them away, or your berries will 

 be badly coloured, especially if there is a sluggish action at the 

 root. The flavouring process is carried out through the instru- 

 mentality of three or four large leaves which accompany the 

 bunch, supposing the shoot to have been stopped one joint heyond 

 the young bunch. From the period of the young shoot expand- 

 ing, until the bunch is fairly developed, the temperature should 

 range from fifty-five degrees at night, to sixty-five degrees by day ; 

 and from this period until the swelling is completed, sixty 

 degrees by night and seventy by day must be secured. In sunny 

 weather, between three o'clock and five, p.m., the extreme tem- 

 perature should not exceed eighty degrees, or a weak and watery 

 growth will be the consequence. The night heat at any time 

 should not exceed sixty degrees, as the vine then requires rest ; 

 therefore, if the night heat be increased, it only tends to dissipate 

 the energies of the tree. I always advocate a liberal ventilation, 

 and not even to keep vines close during the first swelling ; but 

 at this period, give it with very great caution ; half an inch will 

 suffice in the front sashes, even on sunny days, during the early 

 Spi'ing months. The egress of the heated air at the back, at a 

 liberal rate, is advantageous ; if no vines are planted there, it is 

 always desirable to give a little air early in the morning. Light 

 fires daily at two o'clock, and let them burn briskly till four ; 

 when the dampers should be used, and the fire merely kept in 

 during the night, placing as much fuel on at eight o'clock in the 



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