. Cassell's popular gardening. Gardening. 338 CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEN]XG. THE VINE AND ITS FEUIT. Ey William Colekan. KEEPING AND PACKING GRAPES. Keeping Grapes through the Winter.— To keep grapes through the winter, they should he thoroughly ripe hy the end of Septemher. Small hunches keep hetter than large ones, and these should he more severely thinned than summer grapes, as it is necessary for the air to have a free passage through the centres to prevent condensation of moisture on the herries. If the roots have the run of internal and external borders, the first should he well watered as
. Cassell's popular gardening. Gardening. 338 CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEN]XG. THE VINE AND ITS FEUIT. Ey William Colekan. KEEPING AND PACKING GRAPES. Keeping Grapes through the Winter.— To keep grapes through the winter, they should he thoroughly ripe hy the end of Septemher. Small hunches keep hetter than large ones, and these should he more severely thinned than summer grapes, as it is necessary for the air to have a free passage through the centres to prevent condensation of moisture on the herries. If the roots have the run of internal and external borders, the first should he well watered as soon as the grapes hegin to colour, when a mulch- ing of short dry manure may he laid on the surface to keep in the moisture, and so feed the roots until the foliage is ripe. The leaves should he kept on the vines as long as possible; but when they begin to fall, their daily removal will be necessary, as decaying vegetable matter always engenders damp, which soon affects the berries. When all the leaves have been cleared away, let the whole surface of the border be well covered with dry bracken as an absorbent of atmospheric moisture, and to prevent dust from rising and settling on the berries. Avoid sweeping the floors when very dry; never admit a pot-plant that will require water, and dis- pense with fire heat as much as possible, consistent with the maintenance of a temperature ranging from 45° to 50'^. Look over the bunches every week for decaying or defective berries, and ventilate freely, with fire heat turned on when the external atmosphere is dry and the warmth of the house is not likely to draw in moisture. In damp, cold weather keep the house close, and, if possible, almost dispense with fire heat, as a temperature of 40° will not hurt the grapes if they can be kept dry. If on such days gentle warmth is found necessary, leave a crevice on each light open at the top of the house ; but on no account open the front, as a circulation would draw in a stream of moist v
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectgardening, bookyear1884
