The sulphuring consists in thoroughly dusting the growing vines, leaves, branches, flower buds and berries with powdered sulphur. The first sulphuring must be done when the grapevines leaf out in the spring, and, when the young shoots are about six inches long, it is about time to commence. Many growers sulphur only once, some go over their vines two times, but our most successful growers,--those who get the best and largest fruit crop of grapes and bunches,--sulphur in unfavorable seasons three or four times. The second sulphuring is done just before the blossoms open, and may even, provided the weather remains cool and windy, be done in the open blossoms with great benefit to the setting berries. Miss M. F. Austin of Fresno was the first to successfully sulphur in the open blossom, the result being very large crops. But not all have been as successful as she, and one of our most experienced vineyardists and raisin-growers, T. C. White, prefers to sulphur just before the blossom opens, as, in case of very warm weather when the sulphur is thrown on the blossom, the latter is apt to blast. We are therefore on the safe side if we sulphur just before the buds have opened, and after the grapes have set. But on cold, windy days when one of the cold electric northwest winds are sweeping down the valleys, sulphuring must be done whether the blossom is open or not, as it is just at this time the sulphur is required the most, in order to counteract the formation of the first stage of the powdery mildew. The vapor of the sulphur destroys the germs of the mildew, and thus prevents the latter from causing the grapes to fall off. After the grapes have fully set, no further sulphuring is required except in the case of heavy rains or in continued cloudy weather, when there is always danger that the mildew will reappear. If heavy rains should occur during the summer, a renewed sulphuring is always necessary or at least advisable, but in ordinary seasons no sulphuring is needed after the berries have set well, as the germs of the mildew are then sufficiently injured to not develop later in the season.