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GEAPE3 AND GEAPERIES. 273 



as high as 100° and 105° in the shade, yet by means of ventilation I have always 

 been able to keep the houses lower in temperature than the external atmosphere. I 

 approve of C.'s system of pruning — the spur system is the best way of getting heavy 

 crops. So accustomed am I to consider a thermometer a necessary appendage to 

 every glass-hoiise, that I am constrained to ask " C." if that useful little instrument is 

 not to be had in Chicago ? 



I have been a reader of your delightful journal from the first, and although this is 

 my first communication, I crave your permission to add a few more words. I have 

 read \Yith great interest the excellent practical remarks of Mr. Messer, of Geneva, in 

 the March number regarding the ^'^ White Muscat of Alexandria^'' ; although I never 

 saw glass sashes used for an outside border, the advantage of Mr. Messer's plan will 

 be at once obvious to every practical hand. I have often used hot manure for the 

 same purpose, which I have also, at the same time, made subservient to the raising of 

 cucumbers, melons, etc., by the aid of sashes. My opinion is, that the White Muscat 

 is the best jlavored grape I have ever tasted: Downing truly observes — "the most 

 delicious of all grapes." I prefer it to the Black Hamburg for flavor when perfectly ripe, 

 and Mr. M. seems to have had it in this condition, as his fruit had attained a yellowish 

 color. It is a sort, however, which I would hardly recommend for a cold vinery, as it 

 ripens late ; much, however, would depend on the management of the border, which 

 Mr. Messer seems to have managed skillfully, when he has brought this delicious 

 sort to such perfection without the aid of artificial heat. I may add, that some years 

 since I saw the White Muscat and Black Hamburg tested by eminent judges at a 

 Horticultural dinner, when the palm for flavor was awarded to the first mentioned ; 

 as to that world renowned sort, the Black Hamburg, there cannot be a doubt that it 

 is the most profitable of all grapes, whether for a cold or heated vinery. Mr. Down- 

 ing's description of the White Muscat is very correct, except with regard to its thick 

 skin, in which particular I rather agree with Mr. Messer in calling it a thin skinned 

 grape. The White Muscat is always grown in England in forcing houses — the roots 

 planted inside, but having free communication with the outside border. To prevent 

 the roots extending too far, a stone wall is sometime built at a certain distance from 

 the front wall of the house. It has often occurred to me that vine culture would be 

 greatly simplified by forcibly confining the roots all inside the house, more especially 

 when they are forced, so as to have root and top as near as possible at the same 

 temperature. 



There are a few other sorts of grapes Avhich I would venture to recommend to 

 American cultivators — such as as the Orizzhj Frontignan, and the White Frontignan. 

 The White Nice is a pretty good grape, and yields large bunches. I lately saw the 

 Black Tripoli, a superior sort, one of the bunches fully four pounds weight ; but I 

 believe it is rather a diflicult kind to manage. I notice that Mr. Downing recom- 

 mends, in his '■^Fruits and Fruit Trees,''^ the Black Saint Peter as an excellent sort 

 for a cold house. I think he must have been in error with regard to this variety, as, 

 so far as my experience goes, confirmed by that of many other cultivators, I h 

 found it to be a very difficult kind to bring to perfection without the aid of a 



