12 THE GRAPE. 



tion, the development of whicli is accelerated by the ex 

 cessive changes from dry to moist, from heat to cold, and vice 

 versa. Fortunately, the erection of glass houses is now 

 so well understood, and material is so cheap, that we have 

 a ready antidote; for, by planting inside these structures, 

 we are enabled to equalize the temperature and overcome 

 the difficulty. There is also the advantage, if we take the 

 whole range of the subject, of being able to cut ripe grapes 

 nearly the whole year round ; and even as a general crop 

 in the cold grapery, with a proper selection of sorts, a sup- 

 ply may be obtained from the middle of July, or the be- 

 ginning of August (according to locality), on to near the 

 end of December. 



Generally it has been thought that the cultivation of 

 this desirable fruit was prohibited to all but the most 

 wealthy, on account of expense, and peculiarly myste- 

 terious skill. As to the first difficulty, good and suitable 

 houses can be erected, when heating app'aratus is not 

 attached, at from $8 to $14 per running foot, on the 

 length of the house, with all conveniences included, and 

 proper fertilizing materials are no great expense ; so 

 that this obstacle can be removed even by those of humble 

 means. In making the above assertion as to cost, it is 

 not presumed that the lesser amount will complete a 

 stately building, but a snug and well adapted small house, 

 such as many would like, can be finished for that amount ; 

 and the greater sum will furnish a profit to the builder, on 

 a structure sufficiently elegant and commodious to gratify 

 the most wealthy or fastidious. With regard to the 

 skill, if the directions hereafter laid down (with a little 

 observation added) be acted upon, a sufficiency of prac- 

 tical knowledge will soon be acquired ; for these direc- 

 tions are the result of the author's experience, and 

 are only what have been and are still being actually 



