CULTURE OF GRAPES IN VINERIES. 



siding on the Hudson, at a place where the peach trees are commonly quite short lived, 

 informs us that trees procured where this disease is unknown, grow and flouiish for a 

 much longer period than those fi'om an infected region. 



CULTURE OF GRAPES IN VINERIES. 



EY WAI. CHORLTON, STATEN ISLAND. 



Mr. Tucker — In the Horticulturist of February last, I gave an account of the cold 

 grapery at this place, in which was stated that there was ripened 262 bunches on 74 vines, 

 the season after planting. In the March number, Mr. Cleveland, of Burlington, in a very 

 sensibly written article, thought that the vines would be injured by such early cropping, 

 and requested information respecting their progress this season, which I now with pleasure 

 respond to. It was then stated that I expected to ripen 600 to 700 bunches this present 

 sea-son. The number ripened is 618. The vines showed altogether, over 2,400, many of 

 the shoots from a single eye, throwing out four bunches, which were uniformlj' reduced to 

 one, and at thinning time these further reduced so as to leave from seven to twelve on a 

 vine, according to supposed weight of bunch and strength of plant, so that the energj' 

 might be equipoised. The result has answered my expectations. The growth has been 

 quite as vigorous as can be wished for; the sidespurs, from bottom to top, are uniforniily 

 strong; the wood is now quite brown and hard, with prominent well rounded buds for 

 next year. If proof of quality is required, it is answered by the fact of my having ob- 

 tained the first premium at the last exhibition of the New-York Horticultural Societ}'-, 

 for the best 8 varieties, the weight respectively of which was as follows: Syrian, 2 lb. 

 14 oz.; Xcres, 2 lb. 3 oz.; Victoria, 2 lb. 1 oz.; Black Hamburgh, 3 lb. \{ oz.; Deacon's 

 Superb, 1 lb. 4 oz.; Black Prince, 1 lb. 13 oz.; Reine de Nice. 2 lb. 9 oz. ; Austrian 

 Muscat, T lb. 1 oz. There are now in the house many equally fine and well colored. 



For the .satisfaction of your correspondent, H. B., I may state, that the first grapes 

 were cut well ripened on the 11th August, viz: Malvasia, a beautiful little grape which 

 ought to be in every collection, and Muscat Blanc Hatif, one of the best flavored grapes 

 in cultivation, but liable to crack when swelling to ripen. No heating apparatus of any 

 kind, has been used, and taking into consideration the late spring and cold summer, this 

 will be equivalent to the 2nd August of last year, 



I am obliged to Mr.MESSER, in the September number, for his friendly hints, respecting 

 what he thinks should have been substituted, in composing of the borders, difTerent to 

 what was used, but would say that he fails to convince me that he is right. He saj's, 

 " it is in vain to expect a similar growth the following season, or this present season, with 

 ordinary rates of manuring," adding, "if one-half the quantity of bone dust and stable 

 manure had been used, and a suitable lot of whole bones or cattle's feet, or slaughter 

 house offal, had been added, the fertility of the border would have been more permanent 

 at less cost." To the first assertion, I answer, that last season the canes were quite as 

 strong as the first year's growth, and this season there is no more difference than is more 

 than made up b}' the strong side shoots; the top growth would have been equall}'- strong, 

 (and in man}' cases is quite so,) but for the very reason that the heads were kept down 



on purpose to force the developemcnt laterally, which is a point not often sufB 

 attended to with young vines; some of the wood of the present season is three-fo 



