THE GRAPE IN COLD VINERIES. 



of 74 feet. A drain three feet deep, and filled with rough stones to the level of the lower 

 base of the border, extends all round the outside, and also another on the lower end to 

 convey the water off, the whole base being on a slight slope. Underneath the whole bed is 

 a layer of oyster shells five inches deep, so that the entire borders rest upon drainage with 

 a fiee outlet for water by the outside drains. The materials made use of in forming the 

 boi'ders, which are not more than two feet deep, (18 inches below and six inches above 

 the level,) are the base soil above mentioned, 60 barrels of bone dust and 40 tons of stable 

 manure well decomposed, being about one bushel of bone to every three, and one ton of 

 manure to every twelve square yards. 



The vines were obtained from Mr. Buist of Philadelphia, and with the exception of 

 three, were one year old. Tliey were all planted inside of the house in March, 1850, the 

 roots being carefully spread out and placed on small mounds on the surface, having about 

 two inches deep of soil covered over them. They were pruned back to the lowest good 

 eye, and when they commenced growing freely, water was administered plentifully over 

 the house, and a humid atmosphere kept up, more particularly in dry and hot weather; 

 excepting on cloudy damp days, the vines were syringed over head every evening, and the 

 floor damped too or three times during the day. During the hot weather the borders were 

 lightly covered with the refuse grass from the lawns. The lower ventilators were not 

 opened till the vines began to show appearance of ripening, and the thermometer kept 

 through the day from 90" to lOO'' while growing freely. On dull cloudy or rainy days, 

 with an east or south-east wind, the house was kept closed, and a little sulphur strewed 

 over the floor to prevent mildew. The laterals were shortened in to an eye as they were 

 produced. In September appearances of maturity were visible, and water was gradually 

 withheld ; the lower ventilators were now opened gradually in the day time, increasing the 

 air as ripening progressed. 



After the middle of October, water was entirely withheld, at which time most of the 

 vines had run up to the top of the house on one side, and as the heads were not stopped, 

 down to the bottom on the opposite side. The leaves were allowed to remain on till they 

 fell off, quite 3'ellow and mature, leaving the canes well ripened and short jointed, most 

 of them being three-fourths of an inch in diameter, with fine plump and well rounded buds 

 and a uniform growth throughout the house. 



They were now pruned in to about an average of si.v feet on the rafter, and each other 

 eye on each side of the cane disbudded, leaving those intended for next season about twelve 

 inches apart. A covering of straw was wrapped round them and they were tied down 

 horizontall}'. The borders outside were covered with salt hay. The house was kept open 

 except in severe weather or rain. 



By the middle of March the buds showed signs of bursting, the vines were uncovered, 

 and a good syringing given, which was repeated two or three times a day in mild, but 

 withheld in cold weather. The heads of the vines were kept down in a horizontal position 

 till all the eyes were well burst, when they were taken by degrees, according to develop- 

 ment, and tied to the wires, the tops being allowed to hang pendant till all parts were 

 equally broken. The flower bunches were now approaching towards bloom, and as it was 

 not intended to allow the vines to bear heavily the first season after planting, most of the 

 lower bunches were taken out to encourage the bottom side shoots to become as strong as 

 the top ones, and on each other eye, higher up the cane, a bunch was allowed to remain. 

 As the blossoms expanded, the atmosphere was allowed to become somewhat drier, and 

 ing was withheld overhead; the bunches were occasionally shaken to distribute 

 and assist in fertilizing the stigmas. After blooming, and when fairly set 



