CHAPTER VII. 



THE EARLY GRAPERY, OR FORCING 

 HOUSE. 



WHEN the gardener aspires to the high attainment of 

 modifying or improving landscape, he ought to possess the 

 marvellous ideality of the poet, and should be acquainted 

 with those nice perceptions of light and shade that the 

 most sensitive painter is endowed with ; but when his 

 abilities are applied to the forcing of the grape, it may be 

 said that he puts his best practical talent and observing 

 faculties in the most elevated position. It is true that 

 there are many details of another character which require 

 as much skill, and they may be as successfully carried 

 out, but the popularity of this justly esteemed fruit eclipses 

 everything else, and he looks with feelings of enthusiastic 

 pride upon the crop, as he views the fine clusters hanging 

 from his thrifty vines. 



Those who are satisfied to have ripe grapes by the mid- 

 dle or latter end of June, need incur no very extraordinary 

 expense, but whoever would require the same at the be- 

 ginning of May, must expect to swallow dear morsels, and 

 there are not many, excepting those who have wealth at 

 command that will attempt it. There is, however, a grow- 

 ing desire to enjoy the luxury, and increased encourage- 

 ment is given to the commercial cultivator in the higher 

 prices that are now to be obtained. May we hope that this 

 encouragement will progress, and that, although it has not 

 hitherto been sufficient, yet it may become so great as to 



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