Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. XII APRIL, 1924 No. 4 
FORCING GRAPES 
One of the most attractive greenhouses at the Garden is 
the forced-fruit house when the peaches, nectarines, and 
grapes are either in bloom or in fruit. After the removal of 
the azaleas, rhododendrons, and ericas several years ago from 
this house to their permanent location in the Linnean house, 
the house was devoted to the growing of grapes, peaches, 
cherries, and nectarines. Here, along each side of the house, 
are to be found such varieties of grapes as Muscat of Alex- 
andria, Foster’s Seedling, Madresfield Court, Buckland 
Sweetwater, Gros Colman, Black Hamburg, and Lady 
Downes. Through the center of the house the peaches, nec- 
tarines, and cherries are trained to the wire supports, and 
these will be made the subject of a subsequent article. 
Just forty years ago Mr. Henry Shaw compiled from va- 
rious sources a small book which was printed under the title 
‘‘The Vine and Civilization.’’ Practically all of the work is 
given up to a discussion of the various kinds of wine, and 
some interesting comparisons are drawn between the advanced 
state of civilization of those people who use wine, as con- 
trasted with those who fail to grow this fruit and to use the 
drink which it produces. The theory is advanced that wine- 
producing countries are the most favored of God’s creation 
and wine drinkers the most temperate of men. The degree of 
the civilization of a people is always in proportion to the 
quality and temperate use of the wine they consume. 
There is also a brief account of the vine, from which the 
following excerpts are taken: 
‘‘Of the vine, its fruit, and the wine made from it, the 
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