20 49 79 60 21 53 55 57 break even, have had the top of the shoots tied down towards the main stem. 22 45 70 64 23 48 75 62 24 48 55 50 25 53 54 50 26 54 56 53 27 55 68 56 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. 28 49 62 56 Weather mild and fine for the season. 29 50 70 60 52 70 60 Many of the spurs on the old wood, which were pruned to two eyes, having thrown out a number of shoots, all were rubbed off, (disbudded), except one of the strongest, which is to form the bearing spur for next year: each of these were carefully tied up to the trellis. 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 2 48 70 59 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. 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 68 58 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 fine, that very light fires have been required the past week. Every vine has been tied in its proper place on the trellis, and all have broken very well. Wilmot's Black Hamburgh is a little later than the old variety. The leading shoots are now about four feet long, and have had the laterals pinched off at the first bud. The clusters of fruit buds now swell out. Syringing continued both night and morning. Cool, frosty, and very windy. Very cool. Syringing discontinued on account of cool weather. 18 56 76 60 Weather fine again, and warm. 1958 70 58 20 50 75 68 Weather continues fine: camellias and other plants syringed freely every night. 21 58 75 66 22 56 72 58 23 58 78 60 24 60 79 57 25 48 75 60 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. 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 11 56|75| 62 | Very cool and windy. Many of the berries well 12 55 80 68 set. 13 54 82 68 14 58 84 70 15 60 84 70 16 61 82 70 17 62 84 72 18 64 81 70 Since the 11th, the weather has been warm and pleasant. Berries swell up rapidly, and some of them being as large as peas, commenced thinning. The old spurs and laterals, which pushed their eyes, have all been topped again, and the leading shoots tied Wilmot's Black Hamburgh now in up. bloom. 19 53 78 68 20 58 79 67 Weather cooler, with white frost. Rather strong fires required to dispel damp. Resumed syringing the plants twice a week. Continue thinning the fruit. Weather cool, and good fires required. Cool and cloudy. 27 60 75 68 28 62 72 68 29 62 68 62 30 60 70 65 31 60 71 66 Weather since the 24th cool, with mist and rain. Fires required to prevent damp. Commenced shouldering the clusters of fruit. Weather continues cool and cloudy. JUNE 1 63 80 68 Weather warm again, and grapes now swell up rapidly. 6 62 90 69 7 60 87 65 60 88 66 Grapes have swelled very fast within a few days, and are now the size of Miller's Burgundy when fully grown. The vines having been allowed to make an abundance of lateral wood at the top of the house, where they were stopped on the 7th of May, in order to prevent the breaking of the eyes intended for the next year's crop, they have now been cut quite out to two eyes, as the grapes are now so far advanced as to take the supply of sap, and prevent any danger of breaking. The large clusters have all been shouldered, and such as seemed too much crowded with berries have had a portion of those in the middle of the bunch cut out. House thoroughly damped over all the walks, every warm day, as soon as the house is closed in the afternoon. The greater portion of the camellias and other plants have been removed to the open air. 9 61 90 78 The weather having been quite dry, the border has been mulched with coarse manure, and about a barrel of water given to each vine. Weather cooler; dry east wind; house closed early and well damped. Weather warm and dry. House well damped. |
