1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



401 



GRAPE VINE PROTECTOS. 



The above engraving represents a vine protector, 

 patented April 15, 1856, by Abel H. Grennell, of 

 Springfield, Vt., for raising choice varieties of grapes, 

 such as cannot be matured in our climate vrithout 

 protection. This is in the form of an octagon, but 

 may be square, or in any other style, to suit the 

 taste or means of the builder. This one has eight 

 sides, with a post six inches square at each corner. 

 Sills and plates ; there is a space of eight feet be- 

 tween the posts ; the plates are eight feet from the 

 sills. In the centre of the building is a post, one 

 foot square, set firmly in the ground, and twelve or 

 fourteen feet high. At each corner is a rafter, 

 one end of which is fastened to the plate directly 

 over the post, the other to the centre post, three or 

 four feet higher than the lower end. By this means 

 the building is firmly braced and strong. The 

 sash for the roof is made to correspond with the 

 space between the rafters, the lower end being 

 eight feet wider, the other running to a point at 

 the centre, and fastened to the rafters with screws. 



The house may be ventilated by having a joint 

 in the sash about three or four feet from the top, 

 to be raised as in the figure ; or some other device 

 may be used, equally as good and convenient for 



purpose of ventilation. The sides are made of 

 glazed sash doors, two in each space, hung to the 

 posts, and closing in the centre of the space against 

 a temporary standard, set for the purpose, which is 

 to be removed to swing the vines into the open air. 

 The cut represents only one door for each space 

 but it is more desirable to have two. The north- 

 erly sides may be constructed of wood, instead of 

 glass. 



The frames upon which the vines are trained are 

 in the form of a gate or swinging trellis, nearly 

 eight feet square, light, but of sufficient strength 

 to support the vines when swinging in or out. 

 There are two of these frames in each space hung 

 on the same posts, and inside of the glass doors ; 

 and so arranged as to swing out through the open 

 space so far, that when open, the ends will be about 

 five feet apart. When closed, there are two rows 

 of frames and vines round the interior of the build- 

 ing. The vines are planted near the hinges, and 

 trained along the bottom of the frame or trellis ; 

 from this arm, canes are trained up in sufficient 

 number to fill the frame. 



The advantage of this protector over the old 

 foriri is, that the vines are trained upon movable 



