96 GRAPE GROWING IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM. 



English Grapes in America. A great trade in English winter 

 Grapes seems likely to become established with America. During the 

 past two seasons regular consignments of English Grapes have been 

 sent from this country. They have been found to travel well and to 

 arrive in good condition, and prove of superior quality to American 

 produce during the winter season. They are sent by the Cunard 

 steamers, reaching New York about ten days after being cut ; some 

 are sold on arrival at New York, whilst others are sent on to 

 Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago, etc. 



37. CROSS SECTION OF A YINERY AT HOEILAERT, BELGIUM. 



Grape growing in Belgium and France. It is not only in this 

 country where the cultivation of Grapes under glass is receiving 

 attention and is followed as a commercial pursuit. At Hoeilaert, 

 near Brussels, and elsewhere in Belgium, a great industry has sprung 

 up during the past twenty or so years, many acres of land being 

 covered with glass, and devoted to the cultivation of Grapes, etc., 

 for the supply of the Brussels and Paris markets. For some years 

 the cultivation here was very crude, and the houses of the plainest 

 and most primitive character. Fig. 37 is representative of the 

 earlier style ; now, however, the culture is greatly improved. In 

 France, also, the country where the Grape Vine is at home, and 

 where le petit Ohasselas has long been esteemed as the best of all 

 Grapes for dessert (the large varieties being condemned), we find two 

 vast establishments at Bailleul and Koubaix, conducted by Messieurs. 

 Phatzer et Cie., devoted to the cultivation of winter Grapes (chiefly 

 Gros Colman) after the English system. The houses are very long 

 span-roofed, and cover from three to four acres ; the cultivation here 

 is excellent. The fruit is all disposed of in the Paris markets at prices, 

 very much the same as Co vent Garden. 



