THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 17 



to support the glass, as possible. It is also important, in 

 frigid climates, to guard against the admission of cold, or the 

 escape of heat ; consequently, the ends and the back, or the 

 north side of the house, are usually built of wood, stone, or 

 brick. Oiled paper and cloth, and other preparations on 

 cloth, have been used for covering the roof, but with no good 

 result ; glass is the only article that can be used to advantage. 

 To admit air, which is essential to the flavor of the fruit, and 

 the well-being of the plant, the front lights, or windows, as 

 also the upper part of the roof-sashes, are made to open out, 

 or to run on rollers. 



The curvilinear roof is approved by many. The following 

 description of some houses of my own, wdiich answer the pur- 

 pose for which they were constructed perfectly well, and the 

 manner of building them, together with the cost, accompanied 

 with a view of these, is deemed sufficient for this treatise. 



The account of the cost of two houses, built by other gen- 

 tlemen, that are so very unlike mine in their dimensions, has 

 been added, as they may be the means of affording the infor- 

 mation wanted, in some instances. 



The following is a description of the plan and the manner of 

 building of the span-roofed grapery, which is represented in the 

 drawing as in full fruit, in September.* This is not heated by 

 artificial means, and is what is usually called a cold house. 



After the border was prepared, the stone posts were placed 

 upright, the bottoms of them being three to four feet deep in 

 the soil, and eight feet apart. Holes are drilled about one 

 and a half inches in the sides of these stones, to which the 

 sills are secured by pieces of iron, with the head flattened so 

 as to be nailed to the timber, and the end bent to hook into 

 the hole ; the posts should not be less than six inches square. 

 (Wooden posts, or brick piers, may be substituted for the 

 stone ; the former will soon decay, and, if tlie latter are used, 



* See frontispiece. The view was taken from llie northwest door, and just within 

 the grapery, as the object was simply to give an idea of tlie house, and the arrange- 

 ment of the vines. No attention was paid to the proportions. 



