GRAPERIES AND GRAPE-CULTUEE. 



store ; and we wish them the good success which we wish to all gardening around 

 Montreal. 



[We publish the foregoing letter from a practical and observing man who feels 

 interested in the state and progress of gardening around him. We must say, how- 

 ever, that some of the criticisms on gardens are not exactly to our taste, though we 

 do not dispute their correctness. We have not been in Montreal for some years, but 

 we remember, when there, being forcibly struck with the taste and good keeping of 

 many gardens, and especially with the excellent vegetables shown in market. We 

 think that, considering the rigorous climate of Montreal, her gardens will compare not 

 unfavorably with any American city, and in private green-houses she is in advance of 

 any other of an equal population. — Ed.] 



REMARKS ON GRAPERIES AND GRAPE -CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



BY JAS. COWAN, GARDENER TO J. H. RIDGLET, ESQ., HAMPTON, BALTIMORE, MD. 



Construction of the Vinery. — Instead of the common practice of building the 

 front wall of the house on pillars, I would advise that a solid wall from the founda- 

 tion be made, as I consider an inside border to be more injurious than beneficial to 

 the roots of the vines. The principal cause of the shriveling of early-forced Grapes 

 is, in my opinion, owing to the roots being over-heated, and not having sufficient 

 moisture. When they extend far into the interior of the house, it is impossible lor 

 even the most experienced gardener to guard against this completely. 



Having given my objections to an inside border, I may add that building a wall 

 will be found a saving of expense. I consider upright sashes of little or no use in 

 front, and I would recommend the back wall to be built much higher than it com- 

 monly is, as the vines always fruit best at their extremeties. I would also have the 

 pathway of the house paved with stone, which would certainly look much better, and 

 be less expensive in the end. Where there is only one house to be erected, it would 

 be much better to have it made circular in front, as it would be more exposed to the 

 sun's rays. 



With regard to the construction of the heating apparatus, I would recommend the 

 hot-water instead of the smoke-flue system, and the use of Week's Conical Boiler. 

 Although it is generally allowed that many a good bunch of Grapes has been grown 

 by the heat of an old smoke-flue, the hot-water system is universally adopted in all 

 new vineries throughout Great Britain. Week's boiler is formed of 2|- to 3-inch 

 pipes, all connected, with the furnace in the center. The body of water being small, 

 and the surface of pipe large, the water heats soon, and circulates rapidly. I would 

 also have the furnace or fireplace made much larger than is usual, so as to aftbrd sufii- 

 cient space for a large, slow-burning fire, in order that the operator may have it in his 

 power to keep a steady heat in the house. When the fireplace is small, he has 

 it often, to keep up the desired heat in cold weather. 



