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INSIDE BORDERS FOR GRAPERIES. 



It has been strenuously advocated that the soil in which foreign 

 grapes are grown should be wholly under the glass, and many of these 

 structures have been so arranged, but not with successful or satisfac- 

 tory results. There were two very distinct and seemingly weighty rea- 

 sons urged by those who advocated this mode, first, that in the case of 

 forcing houses it was essential to have the soil for the roots in the same 

 temperature as the branches; and, second, that in the case of cold 

 graperies, when the borders are exposed, the roots are influenced by 

 rains during the ripening of the fruit, retarding maturity and inducing 

 rot in the bunches. These results may be guarded against by the use 

 of inside borders; nevertheless, as ordinarily managed, they have 

 proved failures. They are useful to a certain extent where early- 

 forced fruit is an especial object of culture. The plants will succeed 

 for a few years very satisfactorily, and by a renewal of both plants and 

 soil from time to time the practice may be sustained ; but, in the man- 

 agement of what are termed cold graperies, the ordinary warmth of the 

 soil is all-sufficient; and as far as regards the second consideration, 

 viz, the protection of the roots from heavy rains when the crop is attain- 

 ing maturity, that may be secured by less costly expedients ; light 

 wooden shutters have been used for covering the borders, and when 

 the surface is sloping a covering of leaves or straw will answer every 

 purpose. The main reason for alluding to these borders here is for the 

 purpose of noting that where it is practicable to remove the sashes or 

 roof, so as fully to expose the border to the action of the weather for a 

 period extending from the ripening of the wood until forcing again com- 

 mences, it will tend to maintain the healthy action of the soil for a long 

 series of years. Winter rains, snows, and slight frosts are all of great 

 benefit, as has been fully realized with an inside grape border in this 

 garden. 



THRIPS OF GRAPES. 



For several years the foreign grapes under glass have been severely 

 injured by thrips. All efforts and expedients to eradicate them have 

 been but partially effective. During the early part of the growing sea- 

 son the insects could be kept in check, either by fumigations with to- 

 bacco, syringing with water in which tobacco had been steeped, or 

 spraying the foliage with a weak solution of quassia chips; but when 

 the fruit approached maturity, or rather when it commenced to color, 

 these applications had to be discontinued, so that the fruit would not 

 be rendered unfit for use; then the insects would increase rapidly and 

 injure the foliage so that the fruit became comparatively worthless. 

 Further than this, the annual destruction of the foliage before the 

 growth was matured was gradually weakening the plants, so that their 



