20 INTRODUCTION. 



well in a town as in the country, and, in very many 

 instances, the means for that purpose are possessed in 

 a much greater degree than in the country. The im- 

 mense accumulation of buildings in towns, and their 

 suburban districts, and also those of the metropolis it- 

 self, present an astonishing extent of surface of walling, 

 well calculated to ripen the fruit of the vine. The 

 only obstacle to the growth of that plant in towns, is 

 the impurity of the atmosphere ; but though this im- 

 pediment is sufficiently formidable, certainly, it exists 

 only in the heart of London, and its dense and crowd- 

 ed districts, and in those of other large towns. 



I am persuaded, therefore, that, if the method of cul- 

 tivating the vine on correct principles, and the cer- 

 tainty which, under proper management, never fails to 

 attend the production of its fruit, were more generally 

 known, its propagation and culture would increase both 

 in town and country, to an extent that at present can 

 scarcely be conceived. 



It is for the purpose of diffusing a mode of cultiva- 

 ting this, valuable plant, which is more definite and 

 simple in its nature than any that has hitherto been 

 promulgated, and by which the quantity of its fruit 

 may be prodigiously increased, and the flavor greatly 

 improved, that the following pages have been written. 

 It is hoped that the whole management of the vine is 

 therein made sufficiently clear, to enable every person 

 who possesses facilities for the growing of grapes, to 

 employ them in the most advantageous manner in the 

 production of this highly esteemed fruit. 



