1388 



GRAPE 



GRAPE 



States Dept. of Agric., 1902, article on "Grape Raisin 

 and Wine Production in the United States;" Year- 

 book, 1904, article on "Some Uses of the Grape Vine 

 and its Fruit;" Farmers' Bull. No. 471; U. S. Dept. of 

 Agric. Bull. No. 35; Reports California State Viticul- 

 tural Commission; Gustav Eisen, "The Raisin Indus- 

 try." F. T. BIOLETTI. 



Grapes under glass. (See, also, page 1261.) 



Under glass, the European varieties alone are used. 

 This species, Vitis vinifera, is the vine of the ancients, 

 and is indigenous to the more salubrious parts of east- 

 ern Asia and southern Europe. It is referred to in the 

 earliest mythological writings of ancient Egypt and 

 thence on numberless occasions, notably in the Bible 

 and the New Testament. The story of the spies from 

 the promised land, with its generous illustration, has 

 excited the admiration and perhaps questioned the 

 credulity of many of us. It is only fair, however, to 

 state that the size of the cluster there represented has 

 been amply borne out in recent years. The type Vitis 

 vinifera, if there ever was a type, has become so merged 

 and modified by cultivation in different climates and 

 countries that it is difficult to trace it at the present 

 day. Over 2,000 varieties are described, covering the 

 widest range in size, color, texture and flavor, general 

 appearance and quality. 



For disparity of size, we have the diminu- 

 tive Black Corinth, from which the Zante 

 currants are prepared, and the Giant 

 Gros Colman, now extensively 

 grown for commercial purposes 

 under glass in England; and 

 for contrast in color the 

 beautiful Rose Chas- 

 selas and the Pink 

 and White 

 Frontignans 



-- 



1738. A good lean-to grape-house. The roots run through the 

 wall to an outside border. 



and Muscats, with their superb qualities and flavors, 

 growing by the side of the blue-black Alicante of thick 

 skin and coarser texture, but valuable for its late- 

 keeping quality; and worth more than all the others 

 put together, the Black Hamburgh, combining all the 

 good qualities easy of culture. 



Probably in no branch of horticulture is the garden- 

 ers' skill more generously rewarded than in grape- 

 growing under glass. In England it has been an essen- 

 tial feature of horticultural work for more than a cen- 

 tury, resulting in fruit of a finer quality and flavor than 

 that grown in the open air and very often enormous 

 clusters, weighing from twenty to thirty pounds. 

 Started there as a matter of luxury, it has become of 

 late years a matter of profit, and vineries of large extent 

 have been erected for commercial purposes. Probably 

 this work has been retarded here by the introduction of 

 the many very excellent varieties of our native grapes, 

 V. Labrusca, so easily grown in the open air and so 

 constantly improved by hybridizing with the European, 



and undoubtedly this work will yet result in a much 

 closer approach to the standard of European quality. 



The essential difference between American and Euro- 

 pean kinds is that in the American the pulp separates 

 from the skin, is usually tough and more or less acid, so 

 that it is disagreeable to remove the seeds, while in the 

 European the pulp adheres to the skin, is tender and 

 sweet throughout, and the seeds are easily removed. 

 European grapes, when well grown, are valuable and 

 agreeable for the use of invalids, and, undoubtedly, in 

 the judgment of the majority of persons, surpass in 

 quality any other fruit grown. 



The subject of grape cultivation under glass may be 

 divided under several heads, as follows: The houses; 

 The border; The vines; The fruit. 



The houses. 



Houses are mainly of two forms, span-roof and lean-to, 

 with occasional modifications between. Unless one 

 has ample time and a desire to study their construction, 

 it is better to have plans and estimates furnished by 

 professional builders. 



Span-roof houses are adapted to large places with 

 spacious grounds, and especially where an ornamental 

 effect is desired. On account of their exposure on all 

 sides, they require very careful attention, especially if 

 used for early forcing of grapes. When early work is 

 not desired, or for use without artificial heat, their dis- 

 advantage is not so apparent. Houses without artificial 

 heat, known as cold graperies, were in earlier years in 

 more general use than those with heat, but have about 

 disappeared with the introduction of the modern eco- 

 nomical heating apparatus, and the very great advan- 

 tage in the use of the same, if only to a limited extent. 



Lean-to houses, on account of their snug construc- 

 tion and protection from northerly or prevailing winds, 

 are especially desirable for early forcing of grapes (Figs. 

 1738, 1739). Often a stable or other building may be 

 utilized for the north side, but generally a wall of brick 

 or stone is erected for this purpose. Such a wall can be 

 covered on the outside with Parthenocissus tricuspidata, 

 or Crimson Rambler roses, producing a beautiful and 

 ornamental effect. A good house, on a small scale, can 

 be made of hotbed sash (Fig. 1739). 



Foundations for the other three sides or for a span- 

 roof vinery can be constructed of masonry or wood. 

 Masonry is preferable, as the conditions of heat and 

 moisture requisite are very destructive to woodwork, 

 especially near the ground. With masonry, piers are 

 erected, starting from solid ground and up to near the 

 surface. They should be about 2 feet in length with 

 spaces of 2 feet between, and opposite each space a 

 vine is to be planted inside the house, as hereafter des- 

 cribed. Strong capstones thick enough to come slightly 

 above the surface of the border and about 18 inches 

 wide are then laid from pier to pier. On such a foun- 

 dation a superstructure can be erected with some con- 

 fidence. For the base of the superstructure masonry 

 is preferable, about 18 inches in height being necessary 

 before the glasswork begins. A hollow wall, con- 

 structed of hard brick and cement, is desirable, and 

 openings should be left for ventilation. The upper sur- 

 face of these walls should be covered with cement. If 

 constructed of wood, the same general plan should be 

 carried out, using the most durable kind only. 



Aside from its durability, masonry has an advantage 

 over wood in being a better equalizer of temperature, 

 and the heavy back wall of a lean-to house can be made 

 of great value for this purpose. The general plans of 

 the superstructure are shown in the illustrations. It 

 should present as much glass surface as possible. The 

 frame can be of iron or wood, as preferred. Light, heat 

 and moisture are the great features desired, also a gen- 

 erous supply of air under favorable conditions. The 

 glass should be of good quality, otherwise blisters 

 will burn the foliage and fruit. Small ventilators 



