268 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



laer has especially improved on other structures of 

 the same kind, which we have seen elswhere. The 

 current of air follows the same course as usual in 

 houses of this kind; that is, it enters at the openings 

 in the low wooden wall below the sashes, (boards hung 

 on hinges,) and escapes at the movable sashes at the 

 top of the roof; a mode which passes a stream of fresh 

 air, entering at one's command, over the whole growth 

 of the vines, from the floor to the topmost branch. 



These movable sashes are swung on centre pivots; 

 a mode allowing them to be more easily opened and 

 shut than sliding sashes. Usually, sashes of this 

 kind are opened and shut by means of cords, which, 

 owing to the expansion and contraction of the mate- 

 rial, effected by the atmosphere, is found a most im- 

 perfect mode. 



Mr. Van Rensselaer has ingeniously obviated this 

 difficulty, by employing a forked iron rod, (see figure,) 



Section of Vinery. 



a, for opening and closing the sashes. This rod is 

 about half, an inch in diameter, plays, perpendicularly, 

 up and down, through an iron socket, b, in the top rail 

 of the trellis in the middle of the house. There is 

 a thumb screw in this socket, which presses against 

 the rod and fixes it at any desired height. Each 

 branch of this ventilating-rod, where it is divided at 

 the top, is only about a fourth of an inch in diameter : 

 so that the fork is so elastic as to give it sufficient 

 play to allow the sashes to rise and fall easily and 

 freely, while, by means of the thumb screw, they can 

 be held firmly in any position. 



We have omitted to say that this is a "cold vine- 

 ry;" that is, one in which no fire heat is employed, — 

 a species of structure every day coming into greater 

 favor in this part of the country. To grow the for- 

 eign grape in the highest perfection, it is only neces- 

 sary to have the temperature of the house at that com- 

 mand which the full sunshine, and the admission or 

 exclusion of the outer air, gives, without resorting to 

 fire heat; and so abundant and powerful is the sun- 

 shine in this latitude that the Muscat of Alexandria, 

 which in many sesons requires fire heat to mature 

 perfectly in Boston, ripens regularly and fully on the 

 Hudson in a cold-house. 



The vinery at Clinton Point is, a span-roofed 

 house 80 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 14 feet high. 

 Mr. Van Rensselaer has deviated from the usual 

 course, in placing it on a north-and-south, instead of 

 an east-and-vvest line; and the results shows how 

 wisley, for this climate, as the vines on both sides are 



equally exposed to the longest influence of the sun, — 

 enjoying it from rising to setting; while at the hottest 

 time of the day they are all far less likely to be in- 

 jured by any excess of heat than vines on the sunny 

 side of a house facing directly south. 



We have, so far, only spoken of the vinery itself: 

 but, as we are always inclined to judge of the tree by 

 its fruit, we may add that all that we have said of the 

 merits of the structure, is fully sustained by the ex- 

 traordinary growth of the vines, and the magnificent 

 grapes which they have produced this season. We 

 have only seen them equalled in one instance, that of 

 G. R. Russell, Esq., of West Roxbury, whose fruit 

 bore off the palm at the Massachusetts horticultural 

 exhibition last year. 



The vines were only planted a year ago last July, 

 and, of course, have not been allowed to bear a full 

 crop this season; but the strong, vigorous, healthy 

 wood with which they have filled the house, and the 

 wonderfully fine clusters of fruit, of the highest flavor, 

 which they have produced, show the advantages of 

 the best structure and the best culture. The border 

 in which they grow affords, indeed, a supply of food 

 which explains, in part, the extraordinary growth of 

 the vines, — since it runs under the whole house, and 

 extends over a wide space all round it, being 80 feet 

 wide and 120 feet long, by nearly 3 feet deep, and 

 very thourougely manured. 



The house contains a very complete collection of 

 grapes, obtained from Mr. Buist, of Philadelphia, and 

 we were glad to learn that every vine had proved 

 correct. Besides the standard varieties, we noticed 

 Deacon's Superb — perhaps the most beautiful of all 

 new white grapes, — the clusters very large, berries 

 oval, and closely set. Heine de JVice, (not ripe when 

 we saw it,) was also laden with large clusters of 

 very handsome fruit. Xeres, another white grape, 

 also attracted our attention by the size and beauty of 

 its clusters; while some bunches of the Palestine 

 grape, more than 2 feet long, made us comprehend 

 the biblical account of the grapes of the land of 

 Canaan. 



Camomile. — A few roots of this plant should have 

 a place in every garden. Not only are its medical 

 qualities highly valuable, but its presence aiming 

 vegetables is supposed to be an iE^is of protection 

 aganist many diseases to which they are subje< ■ 

 It should be transplanted into warm and rich soil, 

 in the spring, and be a 



opment, by copious manuring and frequenl pressure. 

 When plants, late in the season, exhibit symptoms 

 of decay or general debility, the 

 root of camomile in their vicinage is frequently the 

 most speedy and efficacious r< medy that 

 plied. The odor, or aroma, diffused by thi! 

 also known to be highly repellanl to re 

 winged insects, and its presence among ti. 

 of plants and vegetables infested In 

 will protect them more effectually than aim 

 other agent known, and at comparatively small ex- 

 pense. — Selected. 



Cleaning Trkes. — Trees and vines whi 

 the cleanest, bear the best: like the human body, the 

 pores of their skin become clogged with dirt, ami re- 

 tain gases which should escape. Trees, the bark 

 of which lias been scraped ami scrubbed, become more 

 thriving, and more vigorous. 



