The Lady's Country Companion; Or, How to Enjoy a Country Life RationallyLoudon, Mrs. (Jane)
General
The Lady's Country Companion; Or, How to Enjoy a Country Life Rationally
Loudon, Mrs. (Jane)
Cooking; Country life; Home economics
If the forcing was commenced in February, the grapes will be ripe in
July and August; the Sweetwaters ripening first, the Hamburgs next, and
the West's St. Peter's and Muscat of Alexandria last. When grapes are
wished to be ripe in May or June, the forcing must begin the first of
December, and pines may be grown with the same heat as will be required
for the vines; but, when this is the case, the vines must have an
artificial winter given to them, by ceasing all fire heat as soon as
the fruit is cut, and taking off the sashes; the stems are afterwards
kept in the shade, and as cool as possible through September and
October, and they are pruned in November. When, on the contrary, grapes
are not required before September, very little forcing is requisite;
but the bunches of grapes must be carefully thinned, and not more than
ten or twelve bunches should be allowed on each vine. When the vines
are in flower and the fruit setting, the house should be kept close,
and the pipes or flues frequently sprinkled with water; as a hot dry
air makes the calyx shrivel up before the pollen has reached the ovary,
and, when this is the case, the grapes will be small and frequently
without stones.
It would take too much space to explain to you the other methods of
training and pruning, and I need only say that the long method, which
is the only one except the spur system in general use, consists in
cutting out the old wood every second year, and supplying its place
with wood of the previous season's growth.
You will thus see that the principal points to be attended to in the
culture of the vine are:--1. To prune the plants so as to prevent them
from forming too much wood, but not to cut too near the buds; 2. To
keep the roots and collar of the plants, when forcing begins, at the
same temperature, or nearly so, as the upper part of the stems; 3. To
admit air to the roots as soon as all danger is over from frost; 4. To
thin both the branches and grapes properly and in due time; 5. To keep
the air of the house moist when the fruit is setting and swelling; and
6. To give the plants a proper season of rest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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