FEBRUARY. 



85 



recommend stoves for heating in preference to the common 

 furnace and hot water pipes, but refer only to the principle 

 of ventilation, which can be applied to the common furnace 

 by conducting the air from the house to supply the coal in- 

 stead of the outside air. This plan would as effectually draw 

 off the bad air as my stoves. 



It has been stated that I get two crops of grapes in one 

 year from the same vines. It is true that this year I have ,• 

 but as I have not practised this mode of growing grapes, I 

 cannot recommend it, but should have some apprehensions, if 

 followed up, the vines would be found doing too much 

 for their good. My present judgment would be rather to 

 receive from them one crop in two years than two in one. 

 You Avill notice from this statement that the real advance in 

 horticulture, which I think is secured to us, is, that we may 

 supply ourselves with delicious grapes during the months of 

 January, February and March, which heretofore was consid- 

 ered impracticable by our best grape growers. 



It gives us great pleasure to present our readers with the 

 result of Mr. Simpson's experiment in growing grapes, so as 

 to have them in the highest perfection in December and Jan- 

 uary. Such a thing, we believe, has not before been achieved 

 by the grape growers of this country, numerous as they are. 

 Even in Great Britain, where grape culture has been carried 

 to the highest perfection, we doubt whether a crop was ever 

 ripened so completely and uniformly, in the month of De- 

 cember, as by Mr. Simpson. Indeed, the cloudy sky and 

 humid atmosphere of that climate render it almost impossible 

 to accomplish such a result. The most successful growers, 

 who begin to force as early as September, rarely procure ripe 

 fruit before March ; six months being generally allowed for 

 the ripening of the crop during the winter season. 



The great success of Mr. Simpson is mainly owing to the 

 condition of the border ; and the way in which he overcame 

 the difficulty, heretofore considered so great, of retaining its 

 warmth, shows how much may be done when the mind is 

 brought to bear upon any particular subject. A mere work- 



