HAMBURG GRAPES FOR ALL 249 



Hamburg Grapes for All. 



A note of economy was also struck quite successfully in the field 

 of Hamburg grape growing, using the same hot-bed sash idea, built 

 in chicken coop form, resting on two by four double sills close to the 

 ground, vine roots planted in a regular outside border. This diminu- 

 tive cold grapery measured four by six. The vine passed under the 

 sash and carried midway between peak and sill the length of the 

 little building, while sash was hinged for ventilation, and controlled 

 by a short chain at one end to prevent breakage ; there were also 

 alternate two by six inch openings between the two sills. Vine 

 borders in each house were planted with four vines, two on a side, 

 richly made of two-thirds decomposed sod and one-third rotted manure, 

 mixed with bones and sheep heads in goodly quantity. Underlying 

 this eighteen inch deep earth border a drainage bed of small stones 

 one foot deep circumvented that great retardant of the grape 

 wet feet. We had Hamburg grapes as fine as the finest grown 

 in the more expensive houses, well repaying the time spent in thinning 

 out the bunches and the grapes in each bunch. An occasional dust- 

 ing with flower of sulphur kept under foot the industrious and 

 pernicious mildew, another of the grape's arch enemies. The luscious 

 Muscat Hamburgs and enormous bunches of Gros-Colemans did not 

 mature well with this somewhat crude manner of grape growing, 

 so we kept to the plain Hamburgs which were very satisfactory. 



Just as our little graperies reached full bearing, suburban life 

 abruptly ended, to be repeated again, 'cross country, in Red Towers. 

 Years later, the twin manias of farming and house-building seized 

 us as with a grip of steel. 



