366 



GRAPE CULTURE IN THE VINERY. 



not disappointed. Laid them down first of 

 December, near the front wall, inside, and 

 covered with leaves and other litter. I 

 also covered the border outside with the 

 like, to protect the roots. 



April 5th, 184S, I uncovered the vines, 

 and found them in good condition. Kept 

 them in a horizontal position, near the 

 ground, till the buds broke, and till some 

 had grown several inches and showed fruit 

 buds. Syringed them every fair day, while 

 in this position, and kept the earth damp 

 around them. First of May, tied them to 

 the trellis. The vines showed more fruit 

 than they would probably have been able 

 to mature. Left from two to five bunches | 

 only on each. During the summer I did 

 not syringe the foliage, but watered the 

 floor of the house frequently in clear wea- 

 ther, to create a damp atmosphere. 



In training and trimming the vines, thin- 

 ning the fruit, &c., I have been guided by 

 the works before alluded to, in which are 

 ample directions. In regard, however, to 

 allowing the vines not to bear till they 

 are several years old, I have not followed 

 the directions generally prescribed. It ap- 

 pears to me the condition of the vines and 

 other circumstances should determine that 

 point. 



From the eight vines that bore, (the 

 others were set out later,) I had twenty- 

 seven bunches, well ripened fruit, — large 

 and handsome ; at the same time, large 

 and well ripened wood. This year's growth 

 measuring two and three-fourths inches in 

 circumference. 



The varieties were White and Black 

 Hamburgh, Royal Muscadine, White Fron- 

 tignan. White Muscat of Alexandria, and 

 ZinfindaL This last bore three bunches 

 nearly a foot in length, with shoulders two- 

 fehirds as long as the main bunch. 



Thus, you see, that in the short period 



of less than eighteen months from the time 

 of plantmg the vines, I obtained most beau- 

 tiful fruit, and in greater quantity than 

 would be expected of any other kind, under 

 any sort of treatment that I know of. 



Mildew attacked the vines slightly in 

 July, which I prevented the spreading of 

 by syringing them with a preparation re- 

 commended by Mr. Russell, in Hovey's 

 Magazine, vol. 12, page 39L The same 

 receipt is on page 40, Allen's Treatise. 

 To destroy the vine-hopper, (a very injuri- 

 ous insect,) I closed the house and fumi- 

 gated with smoke of tobacco. This is one 

 of the advantages of a house. Not only 

 the temperature can be regulated to suit 

 the vines, but the insects can be regulated 

 too. This insect has injured my out-of- 

 door vines very much, in years past ; and it 

 is no small comfort to be able to put a stop 

 to its destructive propensities in about ten 

 minutes' time. It can be destroyed in the 

 same way out doors, it is said,* by throw- 

 ing a sort of tent over the vine or trellis, to 

 prevent the escape of insect or smoke. 

 Morning — early — or a damp day is the best 

 time. 



I will add, that I tried vines in pots dur- 

 ing the same time, with perfect success. 

 A Black Hamburgh, potted last year, bore 

 nine bunches. The fruit was not quite so 

 well coloured as that on the vines in the 

 ground, but was very fine. I also tried an 

 Isabella in pot, as an experiment, giving it 

 the same treatment in training and feeding 

 as the Hamburgh. It bore ten bunches, 

 ripened well, was high flavored, not so 

 large as out-door fruit; berry more oval. 

 [Is not worth the trouble in a grapery.] 



I had, in addition, two Isabella vines, 

 trained on the back wall of the grapery, 

 which were planted out several years be- 

 fore it was built. I allowed them to re- 



* Dr, Harris's Entomology, page IS5, 



