CROPPING VINES UNDER GLASS. 



viduals, who have expressed their views of its quality — differing in their opinions — some 

 wishing a vine; one only, saying, common fox, good for nothing. 



In your February number you have an error; you state me as saying " this grape was 

 found in Maine," whereas I say in Connecticut. Yours truly, J. Fisk Allen. 



February 5, 1852. 



Remarks. — A humbug we suppose to be something that pretends to be what it is not, 

 and thus imposes on the public. Now, if Mr. Sage, who gave the description of this fruit 

 in Mr. Allen's book, in his own words, had called the Sage Grape a large and good fox 

 grape, every body would have understood him, and there would have been no " humbug" 

 in the case. But he said not a word of its being a fox grape; on the contrary, he des- 

 cribed it as having a " pulp very soft and juicy," — while it is quite the reverse. He speaks 

 of it as being the "richest flavored grape he ever tasted," and ends by saying, it " will 

 surpass anything of the grape kind in this country." Now, as it answers none of these 

 high encomiums, we think our correspondents are quite right in calling it a humbug. 



Notwithstanding exceptional fancies, there is something, we must be allowed to add, 

 like a general judgment, as to the quality of grapes, as in everything else. It is not suf- 

 ficient to destroy that judgment, that an individual here and there does not agree. There 

 are some men who prefer rye whiskey to the finest sherry, or pork and beans to canvass 

 back ducks, but they would make but a sorry figure if they were to come out and attempt 

 to palm off these delicacies as surpassing anything eatable or drinkable in the wide world. 



Mr. Allen is right in saying that he did not impose the description of the Sage Grape 

 upon the public. But no doubt many of his readers considered him as endorsing it, by 

 printing Mr. Sage's highly wrought description, without any word of caution or doubt. 

 Ed. 



CROPPING VINES UNDER GLASS. 



BY H. AV. S. CLEVELAND, BURLINGTON, N. J. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. — Dear Sir: The letter of Mr. Chorlton, in the current number 

 of the Horticulturist, suggests an inquiry of much interest to grape growers, and to which 

 a reply can only be obtained by each one contributing the result of his own experience — 

 viz: how early, and how much fiuit may vines (under glass) be permitted to bear with- 

 out danger. 



I have read many such statements as those of Mr. CnoRLTON, of the wonderful success 

 of vines in bearing the first or second year after planting, accompanied with sanguine an- 

 ticipations of future luxuriant crops; but we rarely, if ever, hear anything more about 

 them. I have had a few opportunities of observing the result in similar cases, and I have 

 never known such early bearing to fail to injure the vines. 



According to Mr. Chorlton 's account, his vines ripened, the second season after plant- 

 ing, two hundred and sixty-two bunches, which, on seventy-four vines, is an average of 

 between three and four bunches to a vine, and next season he has no doubt of a crop of 

 eight or nine bunches from each vine. 



Now, I have no doubt of the capacity of any well managed vines, to do what his have 

 done thus far, but I very much doubt their capacity to realize his future expectations; and 



^ earnestly hope, is, that Mr. C. will inform us the next year how he succeeds, and ^ 

 ially if he does not succeed — for experiments which fail, are as valuable to learners m 



m 



