196 



The Grape Culturist. 



vigor has also been apparently im- 

 parted to the young bunches. We 

 hope to he able to report favorably 

 upon it next year. 



"Wishing you much success in your 

 editorial enterprise, and with a desire 

 to contribute a mite to its accomplish- 

 ment, I am, yours, truly, 



Edward P. Hipple. 



Bohemia Fruit Farm, Town Point, Cecil Co., Md. 



[We are glad to hear from you, and 

 hope that you will find grape growing 

 both pleasant and profitable. The 

 time of blooming of the Concord, it 

 seems, is about the same here as with 

 you. Thanks for your kind wishes. 

 Let us hear from you frequent- 

 ly.]-ED. 



BUILDING WINE CELLAES. 



Many of our grape growing friends 

 who have planted vineyards years 

 ago, and expect a rich return of fruit 

 this season, Avill have to build this all 

 important appendage to a vineyard 

 this summer. As we had a chance, 

 during our sixteen 3'ears' experience 

 as a grape grower, to see a good many 

 different ones and compare their mer- 

 its ; as we built a very large one our- 

 selves, which, after a few years' trial, 

 did not quite suit us in all its arrange- 

 ments, wc may be qualified to give a 

 few words of advice in this matter. 



First and foremost, let us sa}', that 

 we do not intend this especially for 

 those who have plenty of cash at 

 their command. These, we know, 

 form but a small part of our grape 

 growing community, and need help 

 and advice least of all. If they can 

 afi'ord to spend §10,000 for a wine 

 cellar, thoy can also find an architect 

 to draw them a plan, and arrange mut- 

 ters to suit all their whims and fancies. 

 It is the poor, hard working man, he 

 who has started with limited means, 

 Ave would try to aid and counsel 

 especially, for he needs it the most. 



And let us tell them at the start : 

 Do not commence building a cellar 

 until 3'ou have realized enough from 

 your vinej'ard to do it Avith. If there 

 is a market for your grapes in the 

 neighborhood, where you can dispose 

 of them at reasonable prices, do so, 

 until you have gained money enough 

 from their sale to build a cellar Avith. 

 Or, if you have no market for your 

 grapes, dig a hole in the gi'ound, say 

 eight feet deep, and as Avide and long 

 as you may need it for the quantity 

 of wine you intend to make; plank it 

 inside, or block it up Avith logs, to 

 keep the ground from falling in, make 

 a rough roof over it, and your Avine 

 Avill be safe enough for the first win- 

 ter. Of course you Avill have to try 

 and dispose of it before the greatest 

 heat of summer sets in ; you may haA'e 

 to take a lower price than you think 

 it is actually Avorth; but itAvill bo 

 much better than to build a cellai', 

 Avhich, Avithall the fixtures, Avill gene- 

 rally cost much more than you at; first 

 calculate — before you can afi'ord it. 

 Or, if you have neighbors Avho also 

 need cellars, club together and build 



