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ORAPE-CULTri'.K. 



borders for about a foot, and then put a layer of stones, bricks, bones, <fec., and tli< 

 filled up the entire excavation with a composition of stable and chip manure with 

 rivor sand, to which a bushel or two of lime and ashes hud been added, and the whole 

 intermixed some months before. 



I obtained, early in April, from Messrs. Ellwanger & Baruy, vines of the Muscat 

 of Alexandria, Royal 3fuscadine, Pitmaston While Cluster, and Chassclas Mus(ptee. 

 To these I added two Black Ilavihurgs, and also roots of the Sivectwatcr and New 

 Burgundy, which had been growing in open air for three or four years, doing no good. 

 The vines were watered freely morning and evening when the weather was warm, and 

 by the last of August all of them had reached the top of the house. Early in Novem- 

 ber the vines were taken down from the wires, washed with soot and sulphur in milk, 

 as a security against mice, headed down to nine feet in length, and then disbudded ; 

 that is, I took out with a knife two buds between those left, leaving them on alternate 

 sides of the vine, and removing two thirds of the entire buds that had formed above 

 the plate, and all of them below it. This gives great vigor to the next year's growth, 

 and saves much trouble in pruning. The vines were then wrapped in straw, and 

 lightly covered with earth. The end windows of the grapery were kept open, to 

 keep things cool, except in extreme weather. On the 14th of March, the vines, were 

 taken up and slung with pendant heads loosely to the wires, until the buds should 

 burst. This was imprudently early. After a few warm days, a long succession of 

 cold weather followed. On the night of 29th of March, the thermometer stood at 

 six degrees above zero in the open air, and at only sixteen in the grapery. No pro- 

 tection was given to the vines, except to lay them on the earth; and they did not 

 appear to be injured. While the weather was cold, the house was kept very dry, and 

 the vines watered freely with a small engine, morning and evening, with the return- 

 ing heat, except when in bloom. Four or five times during the summer, at weekly 

 intervals, the vines were treated to a weak solution of sulphate of ammonia ; and on 

 the 15th of June, bunches and berries were severely thinned out. Two pounds of 

 sulphur were also at times sprinkled evenly over the floor' from a dredging box. On 

 the 11th of August we commenced cutting Grapes, and they lasted until the 26th of 

 October. A summer inventory of the grapery gave the following results : 



Xo. I. Iftixcat of Atexandria — no fruit. Headed clear back in March, and a strong cane over 

 an inch iu diameter taken up for next year. 

 Ko. 2. Hamburg — not fruited. 

 No. 3. Hamburg — produced 6 bunche3, 

 No. 4. Chasselas Muaquee — produced 11 bunches. 

 No. 5. Royal Muscadine — " 17 " 



No. 6. Pitmaston White Clmtcr, " 23 " 



No. '7. New Burgundy, 2 caues from one root, produced 37 bunches. 

 No. 8. White Sweetwater, " " " 5G " 



The vines for a temporary purpose were fruited the heaviest, and will be displaced 

 for the permanent ones. All the fruit of this year was large and fair, and ripened 

 except two bunches of Chasselas J^/MSf/iicc, which were affected by shanking; 

 ?, the stems dried, and the Grapes shriveled while ripening. 

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