31st. The most forward vines have swelled their berries so fast that thinning has already been commenced. They are the size of large peas. All the vines now having their fruit well set, syringing has been commenced again. During the whole of May, the conservatory has been well aired, and the plants are in the best condition. June 7th.-Nearly all the plants have been removed from the house. 14th. The grapes have swelled up rapidly, and a few of the clusters, not having been sufficiently thinned, have been looked over again: house opened early, and closed in good season, and well damped and syringed. 28th.-During the past fortnight, the vines have grown well, and the fruit continues to swell freely. The house kept well damped. July 12th.-Vines continue to grow finely, and copious supplies of water are thrown over the walks at noon and night. The wood now beginning to ripen, some of the lowest laterals, which were left to prevent the breaking of the eyes, were now cut off to within two buds of the main shoot. August 1st.—The berries of the Black Hamburgh begin to color, and the Muscadine appears to be approaching maturity. The house closed early, and the walks damped,-wood ripening well. 16th. The Hamburghs have now all attained an even dark color. The house is closed early, but damping the walks to any extent is now discontinued. The Muscadine grape nearly ripe. 31st. Some of the Hamburghs have swelled to a fine size. The wood has ripened exceedingly well, and the vines appear in fine condition. This ends our Diary for this season. The grapes were cut in September, and, though only from two to five bunches were allowed on each vine, they were of superior quality. DIARY OF THE FOURTH SEASON. Before commencing our Diary, we should remark, that the vines were very strong, and were pruned back to half their length, about six feet. This was done in December. The shoots were then bent down, and nailed horizontally along the front in order to keep them back as much as possible. This is always necessary, as the heat is so much greater on the roof that they would start too early. By the 25th of February, the eyes began to swell, and, on the 28th, they were so much pushed that they were immediately loosened from their places, and tied loosely to the trellis. From this period our Diary commences: 1 42 72 60 Some of the vines have burst a few of their 2 39 60 47 3 40 72 50 4 41 72 60 5 43 75 55 6 43 60 52 7 49 62 48 843 60 50 9 49 70 57 10 47 72 53 11 49 75 55 12 41 75 56 13 54 70 56 eyes. Weather warm during the week, and the eyes have swelled rapidly. Weather warm for the season. Vines breaking well: since they were tied to the trellis, they have been freely syringed, both morning and evening, in good weather. Some of the eyes about one inch long, and show their fruit buds. 14 58 68 57 15 54 72 56 16 52 56 50 17 44 54 50 Very cool morning, with considerable frost. 18 44 62 50 19 46 70 50 Nearly all the eyes are so far pushed as to show fruit. A few vines which do not appear to 20 49 79 60 21 53 55 57 22 45 70 64 23 48 75 62 24 48 55 50 25 53 54 50 break even, have had the top of the shoots tied down towards the main stem. Some of the eyes have now pushed to the length of eight inches, and show two or three fine clusters of fruit buds. Syringing continued every night. 26 54 56 53 27 55 68 56 28 49 62 56 Weather mild and fine for the season. Many of the spurs on the old wood, which 31 54 69 58 The month has been very favorable for grapes, there having been but little cloudy or stormy weather. The vines have consequently done well, and some of the shoots, which were upwards of fifteen inches long, have been topped two eyes beyond the fruit buds. Both plants and vines have been well syringed every evening in good weather. APRIL 41 60 58 All the vines were now tied up to the trellis with strong matting, to prevent the weight of the grapes from breaking them down. The vines which were bent down, have broken evenly. Disbudded the shoots again on the spurs, and topped the bearing branches two eyes beyond the fruit. Weather fine, with cool, frosty nights. 2 48 70 59 346 72 50 4 44 70 52 5 46 72 60 6 50 75 60 Weather warm and pleasant. 7 50 72 54 8 56 6858 9 46 70 52 10 44 75 58 11 55 72 56 12 55 70 62 13 50 68 50 14 46 70 52 15 48 69 54 16 48 70 61 17 45 75 60 The weather has continued so pleasant and The clusters of fruit buds now swell out. Cool, frosty, and very windy. Very cool. Syringing discontinued on account of cool weather. 18 56 76 60 Weather fine again, and warm. 19 58 70 58 20 50 75 68 21 58 75 66 22 56 72 58 23 58 78 60 24 60 79 57 25 48 75 60 Weather continues fine: camellias and other plants syringed freely every night. Exceedingly warm for the season. Cooler with rain. Good fires required to keep up temperature. Vines have grown rapidly, and some of the laterals have pushed so much as to require stopping again. Some of the main shoots have reached the top of the house, about six feet. 264885 | 64 27 48 80 60 Cool, with white frost. 28 48 76 63 29 49 75 60 30 47 60 57 MAY 1 52 70 66 2 53 75 68 3 57 75 70 4 59 78 70 5 58 78 70 6 58 73 68 7 57 75 60 8 56 82 65 The month has been a favorable one for the growth of the vines, on account of the few cloudy days. Fires have been lighted to keep up a good temperature; but allowed to cool down except during a few cold days. Some of the most forward vines now begin to open a few flowers. The border not yet having been dug, it was manured with ten or fifteen pounds of guano, and spaded about six inches deep. Vines now growing rapidly, and flowers are open on several of them. Syringed the house, and all the plants for the last time. until the fruit is set. Temperature slightly raised, and house closed earlier than usual. A light fire kindled every night. Cool frosty morning. Vines looked over carefully, and all shoots tied in regularly, cutting off any superfluous ones, and thinning out the bunches of fruit where more than two small ones, or one large one, appear on a spur. All the vines are now in full bloom, except Wilmot's Black Hamburgh. The main shoots, having all reached the top of the house, have been stopped, but the laterals allowed to continue their growth for the present. 9 59 71 65 Cloudy, wind E. 10 65 80 66 |