OI.RANINOS ON IIOUTICU LTUUK. 



15 



Take- care, afferwardx, to remove all inside berries, as they 

 scarcely ever colour well, and if the grapes have to hang long on 

 the vine, they contribute to mouldiness in damp weather. The 

 above system of thinning, leaves a bunch equally balanced ; by 

 each berry acting its own part, and not robbing another, the 

 bunch will be found to assume a strong forestalk, and be regular 

 as to size in every part. No person should touch the berries 

 with hands wet with perspiration, but he should use a pair of thin 

 gloves, and wear a cotton nightcap, as any perspiration will 

 retard the swelling of the berries, and make them appear as if 

 they had got the rust. When stoned and swelling, thin again, and 

 remove the inside berries, keeping up at this time the temperature 

 to eighty or eighty-five degrees, with a very humid atmosphere, 

 allowing the house to cool down in the after part of the day, 

 you will then do without fire by night. I never allow a vine to 

 be s^'ringed with cold water, having a reservoir inside the house 

 which holds about nine tons of tepid water. If the heat at the 

 roots can be maintained by stable manure at ninety degrees, your 

 prospects will be most cheering. Many would remove the 

 manure from the roots altogether at this time; a very great 

 error! from which arises shanking of the forestalksof the berries. 

 Frontignacs, Canon Hall Muscats,* and even Hamburghs, are 

 often thus disfigured. 



In the early Spring, after the rods of the vine have put forth 

 their foliage, it will be easy to discover which of the rods should 

 be removed ; the hunches at each eye will be visible, and of 

 course where they are few and far between on the branch, it will 

 be taken off, to make room for its more fruitful rival branch: 

 three rods will be amply sufficient from each vine-stem. We 

 cannot enjoy anything, without a perpetual recruiting, and a 

 period of rest; neither can the vine flourish and bear well, 

 unless this important object shall be attended to ; four months, 

 at least, ought to elapse prior to the period of forcing any 

 vine. Should you commence exciting the roots, by means of 

 heat or liquid manure, until the wood is well ripened, it will 

 either prove barren, or the berries will shank and never come to 

 maturity. Even when engaged in lawful occupations, how soon 

 our spirits flag, unless we daily set some hours apart for a 

 requiem, and banish this world's thoughts and anxieties for a 



* Vide Frontispiece. 



