THE GRAPE. 
31 ? 
of Muscat of Alexandria one pound. Some of the berries of the 
former measured three inches in circumference, and the latter 
three and a quarter by three and three quarter inches. 
Another season we intend to use a larger quantity of soap 
suds on the grape border. Have not paid sufficient attention 
to the watering of the border, and the inside, especially, must 
have suffered. Another fault to be removed next year is, to tie 
up all the projecting grapilons as well as the shoulders, which 
would allow the grapes to swell without crowding. 
The grapes in the cold house are swelling finely. The 
bunches were thinned much more severely than in the vinery, 
but, notwithstanding this, they are all filled up, and many are 
too crowded. The berries are also larger than the grapes in 
the vinery, though none of the clusters have attained the same 
size. 
Much has been written upon the subject of the shrivelling or 
shrinking of grapes : none of the clusters in the vinery were 
affected ; but in the cold house, some shrivelling was perceived 
on a few bunches. We are inclined to believe that the moisture 
given after the grapes begin to colour, and want of sufficient air, 
are the causes. 
To insure a good crop of grapes, we are satisfied that they 
must have — plenty of heat — plenty of air — plenty of moisture — 
severe thinning of bunches— and severe thinning of berries. The 
vines, also, must be pruned often, and kept free : the wood never 
crowded. Great attention must be paid to the airing of the 
house, which must be done gradually, that there may be at no 
time a sudden change in the temperature. 
With such attention, and the prerequisite of a rich border, on 
a dry subsoil, good crops of fine grapes are always to be obtain- 
ed. The vines require much moisture until they have complet- 
ed their last swell, when the moisture should be withdrawn.” 
Insects and diseases. When properly grown under glass, 
the grape is a very vigorous plant, liable to few diseases. The 
bleeding which often happens at the commencement of growth, 
usually ceases without doing harm, when the foliage begins to 
expand. If excessive, it may be stopped by a mixture of three 
parts cheese parings and one part lime, applied to the wound. 
The red-spider which sometimes infests vineries kept at a high 
temperature, is usually destroyed by coating over the flues with 
a wash of quick lime and sulphur, after which, the house must 
be kept closed for half a day. The smaller insects which occa- 
sionally prey on the young shoots, are easily kept down by 
syringing the parts affected, with a solution of whale oil soap. 
Varieties. There are in the catalogue a vast number of 
names of grapes, many of which belong to the same fruit. But 
there are really only twenty or thirty varieties which are at all 
