184 



The Grape Culturist. 



all day sometimes, Avheii the weather 

 was veiy cold, but with this addi- 

 tional help, we had no trouble in 

 keeping it warm enough. We intend 

 to put up another building similar to 

 it, on the north side of it, at a cost 

 of about ^1350, and these two will 

 hold all of our crop, which we hope 

 will be about 40,000 gallons this sea- 

 son. We intend to add a few im- 

 provements, however. Instead of 

 four inches space between the walls, 

 we intend to make it six inches, thus 

 making the walls two inches thicker, 

 and instead of a simple floor above, 

 we intend to seal it with tight plank 

 below the joists, fill the space also 

 with sawdust, and lay a floor above 

 this. Then we are satisfied that we 

 have a storehouse warm enough in 

 winter and cool enough in summer, in 

 which our must will ferment speedily 

 and perfectly, and make good wine in 

 the shortest possible time. Both build- 

 ings are entirely above ground, and 

 are much more health}' to work in, as 



they are always dry and the air pure, 

 than underground cellars, with the 

 additional advantage of being light 

 enough to work convenientl}', except 

 in ver}' cold weather, when the shut- 

 ters must all be kept closed. 



There, kind readers, you have our 

 plan. If you doubt its feasibility or 

 applicability, come and see for your- 

 self, and taste the wines stored in it, 

 and after that, we think you will feel 

 inclined to "go and do likewise." If 

 this article should save you time and 

 money, and you feel that we have 

 given you good advice for which you 

 are grateful, hand the Grape Cul- 

 turist to some of your neighbors 

 who plant grapes but do not read it, 

 and urge them to subscribe ; but above 

 all, give us also your ideas and -expe- 

 rience, so that we may all learn from 

 each other. We do not doubt but that 

 many of you may suggest improve- 

 ments yet, and we all ought to 

 learn and improve as long as we 

 live. 



THE PEOSPECTS FOE THE COMING CEOP. 



It seems like if our faith in the 

 reliabilit}^ of the grape crop everj- 

 year should be severely tried this sea- 

 son. First came the frost, Avhich 

 damaged some vineyards considerabl}', 

 and now we hear of destructive hail- 

 storms which have visited some of 

 our grape growing districts. In St. 

 Chai'les and vicinity we hear that the 

 whole crop has been destroj'ed by a 

 terrific hailstorm. Parts of Gasco- 

 nade count}-, especially the southern 

 part, were also severely damaged, and 

 even some of our vineyards here were 



damaged by hail a week ago, to the 

 extent of about one fifth of their 

 crop, while the greater part escaped 

 entirely unhurt, and show a splendid 

 crop of fruit. Our experimental vine- 

 yard, where about seventy varieties 

 are in full bearing this season, presents 

 a splendid sight. The size and num- 

 ber of bunches is truly enormous, and 

 we have not seen any mildew as yet, 

 nor any other disease, on any of the 

 varieties owing as we think, to the 

 dry season we have had so far. We 

 see hardly any noxious insects here; 



