1868 . ] 
SETTING THE FRUIT OF VINES AND REACHES. 
89 
are in flower. This is more particularly the case when the general manage¬ 
ment has been good, and the Vines are in good health. When the Vines 
are not very healthy, from whatever cause, I have generally observed that 
the fruit did not set so freely. Muscats, Trentham Black, Black Morocco, 
and other sorts, even under favourable conditions, do not always set freely, 
and to prevent this imperfect setting various means are adopted. A 
common plan is to collect the pollen of other sorts when in flower by 
spreading out a sheet of paper beneath the clusters while they get a “tap” 
with the finger to shed the pollen, and by afterwards throwing the pollen 
thus collected above and around those to be impregnated, by holding the 
paper beneath them in the same position as before, and striking the under 
side of the paper time after time with the hand till all are operated on, 
the process being repeated for a few days in succession—by preference 
during the middle part of the day and while the sun shines. When this is 
carefully done success is almost certain, if accompanied with a night tem¬ 
perature of 72° and a corresponding day temperature. When the clusters 
are large, it will be observed that the shoulders and upper part of the 
bunch flower first, and the point and lower part last; consequently care 
must be taken to continue the process till the whole of the flowers are 
expanded, otherwise the points will not set, and the symmetry of the cluster 
will be destroyed. 
Another simple plan is to go over the clusters when in flower, striking 
them by jerking the forefinger on them, and thus aiding in the process of 
impregnation by spreading the pollen, as a breeze of wind would do under 
more favourable conditions. If this is carefully attended to, and the weather 
is at all favourable, it will be found that even the shyest setters will have 
abundance of fruit swelling off when the thinning season comes. 
When there is a moderate amount of sunshine at this stage of growth, 
I do not find it necessary to reduce the ordinary amount of moisture in the 
atmosphere. It is a prevailing practice amongst good Grape-growers to 
greatly reduce the amount of moisture at this stage of growth, often, I fear, 
checking the vigour of the plants, though it may be scarcely perceptible, 
except in inducing a crop of red spider, the enemy of the Vine under glass. 
A free circulation of air is also very important to aid in the setting of 
the tender Grapes, and to admit of this, if the weather is cloudy, it is 
advisable to keep a considerable amount of heat in the pipes during the day ; 
also to allow a small amount of ventilation at night if the houses are 
close-glazed, indeed, where this is the case, a small amount of fresh air 
should at all seasons and stages of growth be admitted. 
In Peach-houses where the wood of the previous year has been well 
ripened, there is generally, except in early forcing, little difficulty, if the 
trees are in good health, in getting an abundant “ set” of fruit; but where 
