480 THE VINEYARD. [SEPT. 



forming a step towards the ascertaining of the relative degrees of 

 heat and cold, Sec. in the various climates of the United States, which 

 in practical horticulture and agriculture, is of considerable mo- 

 ment, and the want of such information to me, in the writing of 

 this treatise, is a loss which I greatly deplore. Without well au- 

 thenticated information in this respect, there is no knowing what 

 allowance to make for the difference of season in one climate from 

 that of another, and consequently, the gardener or farmer in a dis- 

 tant state of the Union, will not know how to avail himself of the 

 practical experiments made in a nother, without running a hazard, 

 that may prove unsuccessful, and ultimately deter him from the 

 further pursuit of an object, perhaps, of the first importance, 

 merely for want of a due knowledge of the proper allowance to be 

 made for the difierence of season. Therefore, it would be of se- 

 rious advantage, were such observations to be made in every state 

 of the Union, and confined principally, to such perennial and per- 

 manent vegetable production, as are common to all, or to the grea- 

 ter number. I would propose some of these, but as there are so many 

 Agricultural societies established, I am apprehensive that it might 

 be deemed presumptive in an individual. However, I shall 'make 

 observations on various plants in the neighbourhood of Philadel- 

 phia, as to the progress of vegetation, and with pleasure communi- 

 cate the result to those whom a desire for public utility, or a recipro- 

 city of advantages, may stimulate to similar exertions. 



The public are indebted, for the annexed table to that indefati- 

 gable Meteorologist and very worthy member of society, MR. 

 PETKU LKGAUX of Spring Mill, near Philadelphia ; it being the 

 result of fourteen years observations made by him at said place, 

 and for four years at Guadaloupein the West Indies; as well as thp.t 

 of seventy years made at the observatory in Paris, andat the respec- 

 tive places, by other meteorologists. 



Protecting the Fruit. 



Your early varieties of grapes will now be ripening very fast, and 

 will sometimes be subject to the annoyance of birds, which are 

 more apt to attack the fruit a little before sun rising and about the 

 time of its setting, than in any other part of the day ; it will be, 

 therefore, prudent, to have boys with rattles to frighten them away, 

 particularly about those hours. 



You should, also, destroy poke, wild cherries, and any other un- 

 cultivated productions growing near the Vineyard, the fruit of 

 which might invite a resort of birds. Should you observe an extra- 

 ordinary resort of wasps in any quarter, and that they are destruc- 

 tive to tlvj fruit, hang up phials of honeyed or sugared water in 

 such places, jn which, numbers of them will be caught and des- 

 troyed. 



The ground between your vines must now be kept perfectly 

 free from weeds, and all the branches tied up neatly, in order to 

 afford the fruit th- full advantage of air and sun, for its due perfec- 

 tion. 



