was taken not to fall into the same eiTor again. If, by reason of a deficient border, or 

 unskillful management, or deficient sunlight, the vines have made but a slow growth 

 the first two or three years, there is groat danger of over-cropping. 



With some, it has been a question whether it be expedient to use artificial heat, even 

 in a slight degree. The grower of Grapes for tlie market will consult his pecuniary 

 interest by pursuing one course or the other, or perhaps both by using two different 

 vineries — one of them to be a forcing-house ; but with the amateur, who studies the 

 gratification of himself and family, the case may be difterent. AVe speak of a gentle 

 forcing in April and May, by the cheapest mode, which is any old stove with a boiler, 

 to produce constant evaporation, and thus supply moisture. 



The advantages of thi-s hastening of vegetation are as follows : Tou ■\\iri gain some 

 two or three weeks in time. Your Muscadines, or Chasselas, will be fit to cut early in 

 Aiig-ust, when no others are ripe ; the Hamhurghs \d\\ be ready early in September ; 

 and the White Muscats about the middle of the same month. Being ripened in hot 

 summer weather, they will be very sweet, having their peculiar aroma well developed ; 

 and this is a luxury which can not be enjoyed under other circumstances. I have seen 

 this favorite variety, which, on the first of October, was said to be ripe, but the flavor 

 was deficient, and the color green. 



b>ut again, there may be another contingent advantage of a little fire heat. It some- 

 times happens that in the latter part of May, when the \'ines are in bloom, there will 

 occur two or three successive days of disagreeably cold and wet weather ; the temper- 

 ature will get too low, especially for the Muscats, and the impregnation will be imper- 

 fect. Whether it be owing to an immature state of the pollen, or to some other cause, 

 is immaterial, the result will be Grapes badly set. At that critical time, let the temper- 

 ature be raised from fifteen to twenty degrees, and all will go well. 



If it be objected that loarming is expensive, and we may as well leave it all to 

 nature, we reply, What is the expenditure of two or three dollars for a cord of ordinary 

 wood, in comparison with Grapes well set, and ten days acceleration of the fruit ? 



The roots, also, running into the outside border, may be stimulated by laying over 

 them some old sash, which can often be bought for half the customary price. 



We are here led to say a few words on the operation of heat and moisture, the two 

 chief stimulants of vegetation. 



The business of watering will be a light labor until June, as the soil is saturated 

 in winter, and the evaporation proceeds slowly till the middle of June ; but then, as 

 the days are long, and the solar heat becomes ^^owerful, there should be no lack of 

 moisture. No doubt many vines throughout the country, during the past summei', 

 sufi'ered for the want of water. .The result was, a limited growth ; but when the fi-uit 

 matured, it was found to be of an excellent qualitv. Very different was it the previous 

 year (1853). Very fine showers fell in August, and did no injury; but heavy rains 

 continued to fall at short intervals throughout September, and the outside border 

 became completely saturated and prematurely cold. The result was, the Grape juice 

 was too much diluted, and the flavor comparatively tame. The peculiar sugar of the 

 Grape was developed and concentrated last year much beyond what is usual ; so what 

 Ave lack in quantity is compensated for in quality. We learn from tliese facts, that 

 when we have too much rain, we must contrive some way to shed the water 

 About the first day of Julv, when the clusters should be thinned out, the shower 



