306 



THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 

 Fig. 1. 



process should be completed by giving it a full exposure, as frame B ; the fruit is readily pro- 

 tected from light frosts, as it can be lowered to the ground, where it is less exposed, as in 

 fig. 2, and if necessary can be easily covered ; or, if the ground had been sown with corn or 

 oats as soon as the fruit was sufficiently advanced to admit of elevating the frame, it would 

 form a mat in which the fruit would be imbedded, so as to protect it from light frosts, and 

 would be of service to protect the vine from winter-killing. Thus, by this adjustable frame 

 and method of managing it, tender and choice varieties can be raised and ripened in northern 

 latitudes with less trouble and a better prospect of success. The invention is adapted to a 

 variety of forms, and can be used in several ways : a frame can be so constructed as to turn 

 back against buildings, fences, etc., and dispense with legs and foot-pieces attached, prop- 

 legs (fig. 2) being used instead ; or a row of posts set north and south will support two rows 

 of frames, one on each side, made so as to turn back like a trap-door, as \nfig. 1, being held 

 in any position by means of supporters attached to the frame on the upper side, the other 

 end being held to the posts by pins passing through both; the frame can be elevated or de- 

 pressed by a series of holes in the supporters. 



The claim is for an Adjustable Elevating and Depressing Grape-Frame, with or without 

 supporters attached, and made of any known material. It therefore embraces a variety of 

 modifications not represented in the annexed figures. 



In relation to the advantage experienced from the horizontal training of grape-vines, the 

 London Gardener's Chronicle states that it has received ample evidence from a well-known 

 English horticulturist in respect to the benefit derived from this method. On vines which 

 has been trained horizontally, some twenty in number, the mildew has never appeared, while 

 the produce has been singularly good. In an adjoining house, however, in which the more 

 ordinary mode of training was adopted, the vines have been severely attacked, and when the 

 first evil had been subdued, the disease broke out a second time with equal virulence. 



It is. not difficult to explain the increased fruitfulness arising from this method of training, 



