A FEW REMARKS ON LATE QRAPE CROPS. 



A FEW REMARKS ON LATE GRAPE CROPS 



BY WILLIAM CIIORLTON, STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK. 



T will, no doubt, be well remembered by many, that on the 4th Nov., 

 1854, there was a severe frost, which entirely destroyed the leaves of 

 the grape-vines in most of the late graperies in this part of the coun- 

 try ; and also after the following severe winter, when the plants ought 

 to have burst with usual vigor, that the buds broke weak from excessive 

 bleeding, which proceeded from longitudinal strips along the canes, 

 and this to such an extent that, in some instances, heading back 

 had to be resorted to in order to again get healthy wood, the col- 

 lective consequences of which were, that some crops were below 

 medium, and others partially injured. So sudden and unexpected 

 was this frost, that it is doubtful if one in ten would have applied 

 fire heat if they had had the means ; notwithstanding, there was an opportunity 

 for assailing the principle of growing the exotic grape under glass without artifi- 

 cial heat. Now, while we admit that a temporary heating apparatus is of service 

 occasionally, there is no reason in condemning in toto, as is often done, either this 

 or any other equally economical qualification, when a little foresight and under- 

 standing will remedy the expected contingency; and perhaps there could not be a 

 better example than the one now before us to prove the necessity for a gardener 

 to possess some knowledge of the anatomy of plants. To make this appear plain 

 — supposing a man, in whom is combined physiological and practical experience, 

 on seeing the wholesale slaughter of the leaves, those sources of assimilation and 

 evaporation upon which, only the day before, he cast such a cheerful look, he 

 would thus soliloquize to himself : These leaves are destroyed too soon, before 

 they have done their destined duty ; they have not evaporated so much of the 

 moisture as they would have done provided they had not been cut so prematurely ; 

 consequently, it will be best to prune immediately, that the light and air may act 

 upon the surface of the bark more readily, by which the drying process will be 

 somewhat assisted ; they must also remain exposed so long as the weather will 

 permit, but with all that can be done, there will be an excess of fluid in the canes, 

 rendering the cells more than usually subject to distension and rupture during 

 severe frosts. Some extra covering will also be necessary, and this placed loosely, 

 so that a free circulation of air may pass amongst the vines. So far as can be, 

 cold must be excluded, and sudden changes of temperature avoided. 



After such severe winters as the last and the previous, he would again 

 reason : With all the care taken into account, it is likely that some laceration of 

 the cells, which are formed longitudinally amongst the vascular tissue, may have 

 occurred in consequence of the expansion by frost of the over-abundant liquid 

 matter contained, and which ought to have been dissipated in the fall, and, to 

 prevent further mischief, it will be advisable to endeavor to obtain an even action 



