12 



GLEANINGS ON HORTICULTURE. 



grapes are large enough to get hold of with thin pointed scissors, 

 they should be considerably thinned, taking care to preserve 

 those on the shoulders and at the points of the branches, and be 

 sure not to destroy the bloom, nor to bruise the footstalks. 

 These thinnings must take place five times during the season, as 

 it is desirable not to do too much at one time; for one grape 

 lost that ought to be retained, w^ill spoil a bunch. As soon as 

 the vine begins to swell its buds, it wants moisture — i. e., liquid 

 manure outside, after the tarpaulin has been removed (but the 

 stable dung must remain until July), and syringing inside the 

 house, which must be supplied from the different tanks. (Soap- 

 suds, &c., in outside ones.) 



When commencing to force about the end of March, shut the 

 houses up, keeping the temperature during the first week from 

 forty to fifty degrees, until they are in bloom, and then eighty- 

 five degrees should be the maximum; and no air should be given 

 during this particular period, unless the sun happens to be very 

 hot, and to raise the temperature too much. My late gardener 

 would sometimes at this critical juncture, contrary to my wishes, 

 heat the houses to one hundred degrees; and the consequence 

 was, that the grapes were as small again as they should have 

 been. 



" Experientia docet, 

 Obsta principiis mali." 



After the grapes are well set, the temperature of the house 

 must not be let down below sixty degrees; but during the sun 

 heat, it will matter but little if it rises to eighty degrees occa- 

 sionally; these are times to give air, which conduces greatly to 

 their good, but must not be given at the risk of lowering the 

 temperature too nmch; and the roots of the vines outside must 

 be kept in an equal temperature with those in the inside, if you 

 wish to have fine fruit, free from shanking. Therefore, do not 

 remove the dung until after the grapes are nearly ripe in July, 

 and the berries will be large and' globular. Prior to colouring, 

 syringe morning, noon, and night, keeping a very moist tempe- 

 rature, and close your houses early in the afternoon. 



When the last year's shoot reaches the top of the house, stop 

 it. If you wish the branches to have a strong and turgid foot- 

 stalk, early thinning is desirable ; but the following is an excel- 

 lent rule to act upon, in order to produce fine fruits : All shoots, 

 of course excepting the leader, and two bearing shoots from the 

 base of the stem, are stopped when they attain eight feet long, 



