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JOURNAL OK THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the importance of the matter, though they only too fully realise 

 it in after-experience. In a house With a portion of the roof 

 exposed to the morning sun, in the spring and early summer 

 months the temperature rises rapidly if the ventilators are 

 closed, and if this is not attended to for an hour or so the young 

 man is alarmed upon entering the house, and commonly opens 

 the ventilators widely at once to lower the temperature to the 

 orthodox degree. Everyone knows that this has happened 

 thousands of times, and it is then that the mischief is done in 

 several ways. The inrush of n quantity of cold air is n severe 

 check to tlu* tender foliage and shoots, and even worse than this 

 are the effects produced by the rapid evaporation from the surface 

 of tlu^ berries themselves. A dozen years ago Mr. W. Taylor, 

 of Longleat, drew prominent attention to this in the admirable 

 articles lit 1 contributed to the horticultural press, when it 

 came as a kind of revelation to many practical men who have 

 since proved the accuracy of liis statements. 1 had long held a 

 similar opinion, and further experience and observation have 

 served to confirm it, that this rapid drying and heat exhausting 

 by sudden free ventilation in early morning is answerable for a 

 large proportion of the so-called scalding of berries ; and the 

 adoption of a strictly observed system of early and moderate venti- 

 lation, gradually increased as the sun gains power (never allowing 

 tin 1 temperature to rise high before applying the remedy), will 

 reduce to a minimum tin 1 " scalding " to which some of our 

 best bite Grapes are 80 subject. By early ventilation is meant 

 giving attention to the house before there has been a rise of 

 more than a few degrees of temperature, and, if this be done, all 

 night ventilation is rarely necessary in the early stages. 



Ripcn'uuj and Colouring. — We have now reached the most 

 critical period in the career of our late vine— namely, the time 

 when colouring and ripening commence and onwards until the 

 drapes are in their right condition for use— and the only con- 

 sideration is the best means of preserving them as long as 

 possible. It will not be expected that 1 should give a scientific 

 explanation of ( 1 rape-colouring and drape "bloom," but the 

 subject- is such an interesting one that many like myself would 

 be glad to see it discussed by Pr. Masters or some other member 

 of the Scientific Committee. All 1 can pretend to do is to give a 

 few practical ideas on the subject derived from experience, showing 



