i88t.] the GRAPE-VINE CONTROVERSY. 561 



permanent Vines, I could supply the family's wants without the two 

 back houses ; and as it was intended to convert them into a large 

 Camellia-house, we decided to cut the Vines out. Circumstances, 

 however, occurred which prevented us from getting the work done at 

 the time, and I left the Vines, with the intention of, at any rate, 

 getting leaves for garnishing, &c. They broke away very well ; and 

 when the bunches began to run out, I helped them with a little fire at 

 night, and again when they were coming into bloom — but this was all 

 the fire-heat they got. They had abundance of ventilation ; too much, 

 indeed, at times found its way through the numerous laps and broken 

 panes in the roof. The Grapes swelled up wonderfully, and coloured 

 up as black as sloes by the end of September, but they realised the 

 fable about "The Fox and the Grapes," for they were very sour. 



A Grape-grower who used to take a prominent position at the 

 Edinburgh exhibitions, happened to call here on a visit at the time, 

 and noticed how well they were coloured. He suggested that they 

 would be of fine flavour, and asked permission to taste them, whicli 

 I granted. He made a very wry face at them, and I laughed and 

 asked him what was wrong with him. " Why,'' said he, " you might 

 as well have a mouthful of tartaric acid," and added that he never 

 would have thought so, judging from their fine appearance. Now 

 here we had everything present that is generally looked for in good 

 Grapes— good colour, good bloom, and fair size of berry — and yet 

 void of flavour ; and what could be the reason 1 Well, in my opinion, 

 it was neither more nor less than want of suflScient heat to elaborate 

 the saccharine juices ; and such must always follow where a too low 

 temperature is maintained in Grape cultivation. 



John Garrett. 



Whittixghame. 



TEMPERATURE FOR GRAPE-VINES during the Flowering and 

 OTHER Periods of Active Growth. 



Notwithstanding what has already been written and said on this 

 subject, by men who are celebrated for the quantity and (quality of 

 their Grapes, there still exists a doubt in the minds of some Grape- 

 growers regarding what is the best temperature to maintain at night 

 during the time the Vines are in flower, especially in the case of 

 Muscat and other shy-setting varieties. 



Of late it has been contended by a few writers on Grape-culture, 

 that it is not necessary for the successful setting of the fruit to subject 

 Muscats when in flower to as high a night-temperature as that recom- 

 mended in books treating on the culture of the Grape-Vine ; and that 

 as good, if not better, results would follow, both as regards the set, in 

 the first instance, and the ultimate finish and flavour of the fruit, if, 

 (luring tlie various stages of growth, the Vines were treated with a 



